The 2011-2012 Faculty

School Director/Owner Lisa Tuska is the founder and president of the Colorado School of Dance. She has a B.A. Degree from Wright State University, OH, a Professional Dance Teaching Certification from Ohio University, and did her post graduate dance studies at Sinclair University, in Dayton, OH. She has more than 20 years of teaching/directing experience, and continues her education through annual seminars, regional conventions and teacher workshops. She has owned and operated her own studios since 1993 (north of Cincinnati, OH) and has an extensive list of credentials as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. Tuska also is the Founder and Executive Director of the Annual Nutcracker of Parker. She believes her school is a vehicle for her dancers in bringing them together not only with the talents of a professional staff and quality facilities, but giving them true community and opportunity as both dancers and young leaders. Whether their goals are recreational, regional success or professional, Tuska wants her students to come away with impeccable technique, responsible discipline and a positive character that goes with them throughout their lifetime. Tuska's vision and passion for the performing arts is what makes her a successful teacher and leader in the community.

Juan Borona began his career in Madrid with the Victor Ullate Ballet Company, one of the most prestigious companies in Spain, with which he toured the country and performed at The Royal Theater of Madrid. He also toured Spain with the Carmen Roche Dance Company. He then moved to New York and began his career as a dancer, choreographer and teacher, drawing on his extended knowledge of multiple styles of dance from ballet to modern jazz to musical theater. His enthusiasm to communicate a high level of craft and artistry to his students, together with his remarkable ability to bring real-world experience to the classroom make him a sought-after teacher. His work as a teacher and choreographer is know all over the world: USA, Spain, Mexico and Italy.  Juan's visionary ideas have been part of worldwide projects like the last Michael Jackson tour: This Is It. He has collaborated with pop star Gwen Stefani and choreographed in remarkable locations such as The Manhattan Center, The Rainbow Room (Rockefeller Center) and City Center among others. Colorado School of Dance welcomes Juan to our Faculty and Artistic Performance Team Program as a teacher and choreographer.

Anika Brackett began dancing at a very young age attending Millers Dance Studio and Colorado Dance Academy. She founded the first drill team at Smoky Hill High School and became the team’s dance choreographer and captain. Having choreographed several dance showcases for Smoky Hill High School, Anika discovered she was an equally proficient instructor as well as performer. Anika attended University of Colorado/Colorado Springs and Metro State College where she continued education in Dance and has over 20 years of combined dance experience in the areas of Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, African and Hip Hop with a major in communication and minor in dance, and sociology. Anika is currently a teacher in the Children’s Program here at the Colorado School of Dance and specializes in teaching Jazz as well as other areas. Anika is passionate about teaching others the art she loves.

Amy Colwell is the Children’s Director at Colorado School of Dance. She is a former dancer with the Hilltop Dance Studio in Kansas City, KS where she studied ballet, jazz and tap for 13 years, and Pointe for 7 years. While in college Amy started teaching dance to young children and loved it. She graduated from Baker University in Baldwin City, KS with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management and Psychology. While establishing her career and starting a family, Amy continued to teach dance at various locations in the Denver area. Amy specializes in teaching the younger students and is great teaching children foundational technique and a love for dance. Her main objective is to make sure all of her students enjoy dance and have fun. Amy has over 13 years of teaching experience and has been with the Colorado school of Dance since it’s opening in the fall of 2002. She is also CSD’s Production Manager for the annual June recitals. Amy lives in the Parker area with her husband and their 4 children.

Jessica Danko Jessica Danko is a Colorado native and trained locally at Colorado Dance Center for 14 years in Jazz and Ballet, spending 5 of those years on pointe. She also spent 4 years assisting with the Children’s Summer Performance Program, where she taught and choreographed children. When she was not dancing she was working at Penny Robin Dancewear, where she gained experience in shoe, apparel and costume fitting, as well as client management and customer service. She danced on the Thunder Ridge Poms Squad and traveled to Florida where she competed and ranked nationally. She is now living in Parker with her 5 kids and wonderful husband and is excited to be joining the Colorado School of Dance.

Laurie Davis comes to Colorado School of Dance with an extensive resume as a teacher, studio owner and choreographer. She specializes in tap and acrobatics, and when she is not teaching, she is a judicator with Showbiz and Primetime Dance Competitions. She has more than 25 years teaching experience, and has trained many talented teachers and studio owners in Colorado. Laurie works with all levels of students, sharing both her joy and love for dance.

Rebecca Dean is the Ballet Director of CSD's Ballet Department and Colorado Youth Ballet Company. Rebecca graduated with an honors BFA in Ballet from the University of Utah with a teaching and performing emphasis. Rebecca directs the Annual Nutcracker of Parker and the Evening of Classical Ballet Fundraiser. She has directed and choreographed the Snow Queen Ballet, the Wizard of Oz and looks forward to directing Sleeping Beauty in 2010. Rebecca has over 8 years of teaching experience and has been with Colorado School of Dance for 4 years. She currently dances professionally with Apex Contemporary Dance Theatre in Parker. She has also danced professionally with David Taylor Dance Theatre, 7dancers, Kim Robards Dance and Ballet Magnificat! in Jackson, Mississippi. Rebecca’s training includes: North Carolina School of the Arts, Milwaukee Ballet School, Ballet West, New Tampa Dance Theatre, Firethorn School of Dance and Blake High School of Performing Arts. She enjoys dancing the part of Sugar Plum Fairy as a guest artist for the Nutcracker of Parker.

Oleg Dedogryuk is an Artistic Director for the Annual Nutcracker of Parker and Principal Teacher of the Colorado School of Dance. After graduating from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. Throughout his 20 years in the professional ballet world he danced as a Principal Dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet Grigorovich Company, Leningrad Modern Ballet Theater (Eifman Ballet), Moscow Renaissance Ballet, The National Opera and Ballet Theater (Novi Sad, Yugoslavia), the City Ballet in San Diego, CA, and the soloist with Colorado Ballet from 2001 to 2005. While with Colorado Ballet, he has choreographed numerous works including MIRACULA, SONG OF LOVE, MARIONETTES, ZORBA, PASSIONS He has performed in A LITTLE LOVE, as well as in the roles of Dracula and Lord Arthur in DRACULA, DON QUIXOTE and many other classical and modern roles. In CSD Oleg co-choreographer ballet of "Snow Queen" in 2008 where he danced Troll, SLEEPING BEAUTY in 2010. He enjoys dancing the part of Herr Drosselmeyer, Cavalier and Arabian Prince as a guest artist for the Nutcracker of Parker. Oleg joined CSD in 2005.

Kimberlee Hultslander, a native of Frederick, Md., has been teaching dance for over 8 years. Her training began at age four at Dance Unlimited in Frederick, Md., where she trained, competed, and performed all styles of dance, voice, and theatre. Throughout those years, Kim received scholarships to attend various summer intensives with the Atlantic Contemporary Ballet Theatre, Point Park Dance Conservatory, and the Academy of International Ballet. Other dance highlights include various top solo, duet, trio, and group awards at national dance competitions, various local and state dance scholarship awards, and a Nutcracker season with the Moscow Ballet. Kim began pursuing a B.F.A. in Ballet and Jazz at Point Park University, but finished her undergraduate studies at Elon University in North Carolina. She recently moved to Colorado and completed her Masters in Education and now teaches 4th grade in Cherry Creek Schools. She is very excited to be a part of the wonderful dance program at CSD.

Cricket Keller began dancing under the instruction of her mother Jeffie Hamar, owner of The Dance Academy in Clovis New Mexico. In 1998, Cricket auditioned for and became a scholarship student at The EDGE Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, CA. Her training includes dance, acting, voice, gymnastics, stunt, bungee, and theatrical diving. She was regularly featured as a dancer on NBC’s “American Dreams”, and has appeared in the Hillary Duff movie “A Cinderella Story” and the American Music Awards performance of “Most Girls” by pop artist Pink. Cricket was an original cast member of the stunt show “Mystic Rhythms” at Tokyo Disney Sea where she performed as an acro-aerial / underwater soloist. Cricket also adjudicates and teaches master classes throughout the United States and Canada. Cricket graduated with Cum Laude honors from UCLA where she studied contemporary modern, dance composition, dance education, arts activism, and inter-disciplinary / multi-media performance. Cricket has a Bachelor’s of Arts; her major was World Arts and Cultures.

Taryn Oliver is a member of our Hip Hop, Contemporary and Children's Program here at CSD. A student of the highly acclaimed West Lake Dance Center in Seattle, Washington, she trained for 8 years under several highly qualified Hip Hop staff. Her specialty includes West Coast Pop Style Hip Hop, and her amazing choreography was recently featured on "Dance Stage" website. Taryn also has years of training and experience with ballet, modern and jazz. She has more than five years teaching experience and continues to attend PULSE dance conventions to stay up-to-date on the latest styles and trends in Hip Hop dancing. Taryn is excited to share her love of dance and expertise with our young students.

Stephanie Schmidt is the team coach of the CSD Mile High Majorettes, Colorado State Half Time Champions 2009-2011. The director of baton twirling for CSD has also coached local, state, regional, and national NBTA Champions. She has taught baton twirling, all types of dance, and tumbling for over 15 years, in addition to coaching several pageant winners. Baton was studied with USTA World Champion Annette Luccero, NBTA National Champion Shannon Teufel Meis, and NBTA Coach Barbra Snook. Dance education was with Jackie Creamer Dance Studio in Kansas where she studied ballet, jazz, tap, and pointe for 12 years. Growing up she was competitive baton twirler and dancer. Stephanie was a member of the national champion Vision Dance Team, Miss Majorette of Kansas 1986-1992, Miss Kansas American Pre-teen, Miss Charisma Girl of Kansas, and 2rd runner up for Miss Charisma Girl of America. Fort Hays State University was where she obtained B.A. in business administration with emphasis in marketing and studied in Thailand for international classes. She is also a licensed baton twirling judge for National Baton Twirling Association (NBTA). Stephanie enjoys watching students develop a love and talent for twirling. Helping students grow from basic twirling tricks to twirling fire at at college football games on a twirling scholarship, is an amazing journey! Twirling is a rare talent that incorporates dance and gymnastics and CSD has an award winning program.

Brittney Wakefield is originally from Orem, Utah and is an instructor in our Children's and Acro Programs. She has been coaching for the past ten years, teaching preschool students through adult. Growing up, she was a competitive gymnast, all-star cheerleader and dancer in multiple styles for fourteen years, winning many different titles as a team member and individual. She has experience teaching gymnastics, cheerleading, poms, jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip hop and her absolute favorite, ballroom dancing. Brittney toured and competed in the South Pacific, Ukraine, Western Europe and Asia during international ballroom dance tours with Brigham Young University. She even met her husband on the dance team in college and has been happily married for three years. She also has a Bachelor's Degree from Brigham Young University in Marriage/Family/Human Development and has taken numerous courses focusing on child psychology and early childhood development. Brittney loves teaching and instilling a love for dance in students.