Quick Links to Dance Insturctor Bios
Brock Ashton (BA)
Brock Ashton Has been involved in the Colorado dance scene for 24 years of his 26 year life. Being raised by a Dance studio owning mother has given him training in all forms of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, ballroom, as well as all styles of hip hop. Brock began teaching at 16 years old and has been choreographing for 10 years all around the state of Colorado, as well as teaching masters classes in Kansas and Missouri. Brock has attended various conventions and workshops such as Monsters of Hip Hop, Urban Jamm, Jazz on Tap, Joel Ruminers Dance, L.A. Elite, and Showstoppers where he has won many scholorships in HipHop and outstanding performance. Brock was a resident dancer at Rise Nightclub in denver for 3 years and danced for numerous events such as Global Dance Festival(2003-2005), Michael Jordan’s all star gala, G-Unit and Lloyd Banks for Kenyon Martins Birthday Bash, and Winterfest and “Mil N’ Honey” Fashion shows. As the creator of Elevation Dance Crew, in 2004 Brock lead Elevation to win the KS107.5 You Got Served Contest and also performed with J-Kwon at the Summerjam Afterparty. Brock loves to teach kids to not only become amazing dancers but to have fun while being respectful, bright, and caring people who grow every day!
Jill Bishop (Jil)
Jill was born in Denver in 1992 and started dancing at age three. She has been dancing with Millers since she was 7. Her favorite dance style is ballet, but also studies jazz and lyrical. She has been in multiple recitals and has begun dancing featured parts, most recently as Wendy in Peter Pan. This past summer she participated in the Colorado Ballet’s summer intensive program and in previous summers attended ballet intensives with Arvada Center. Over the past two years with Millers, Jill assisted several classes, including Mommy and Me, Preschool and Kindergarten as well as substitute teaching when needed. When not assisting, she takes classes 3-4 days a week.
Jill is a senior at Grandview High School. After graduation, she plans to double major in Dance and Athletic Training. She has already been accepted into the CSU Dance Major program.
Dena Blank (DB)
The dance industry has been a home for me these many, many years, ranging from teacher to director. The love and devotion from my students has been heartfelt. I love teaching all venues; Tap, Ballet, Jazz, and Musical Theater. My philosophy is to develop self esteem in all. Her love for working with young children is her passion. We are so happy to have this extrodinary teacher part of our staff.
Jada Blankenship (JB)
Jada Blankenship has graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance Dance. During that time she worked with artists, Adam Parson, Malaya, Cindra Che and Lorieta Livingston from LA and Jeff Amsden from New York. She also has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and here in Colorado with 7 Dancers Performing Company. Before moving to Colorado Jada performed West Side Story and Will Rogers Follies with Lyric Theater during their professional summer series. She also was a Yard Dawg dancer for the Oklahoma City Arena Football Team.
Patti Brooks (PB)
Mia Brown (MIA)
Mia Brown has been teaching in the Denver metro area for 10 years. She has trained locally as well as in Los Angeles. Her performing credits include nationwide industrial shows and concerts. Mia choreographs for several high school dance teams and works with Tour De Force, where she has received several high scores for her choreography. Mia travels each summer to extend her choreography skills to others. Currently, Mia performs with The Damsels, a contemporary jazz dance company.
Kelly Browning (KB)
Not available yet
Donna Cleary (DC)
Chandra Cowdrey (CC)
Stacy Dion (SD)
Stacey Dion, a Denver native, currently works for Miller’s Dance Studio in Aurora, Colorado, where she choreographs for their Tour de Force Competition Company and has received awards both regionally, nationally, and internationally for her choreography. Stacey is the resident Performing Arts Specialist and Instructor for the Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning.
Stacey received her training from the University of Northern Colorado, where she majored in Musical Theater and Dance. Since 1998, Stacey has performed with TIBS Production Company, Little Theater of the Rockies, Colorado Dance Theater, Greeley Conservatory of Dance, and UNC Theater and Dance Company. She is a founding member of the Tone Def Tap Troupe. She directs musicals annually with the St. Michael’s Players Theater Company, choreographs for many musicals in Denver area schools, and has taught Master Classes at the Denver School of the Arts. Stacey has also received Master Class instruction from Savion Glover, Robert Barnett, Cory Finn, Alexander Bennett, Gil Stroming, and Bril Barrett to name a few. She loves to teach and share her enthusiasm and love for the art of dance with all of her students.
Barb Eversoll (BE)
Barbara Eversoll began dance training at the age of 5, and started teaching in her early teens. She is the recipient of DMA Scholarships, dancer and choreographer for Miss Nebraska State Miss America Pageant. She was a performer and choreographer for University of Nebraska-Lincoln Flag Corp, and a dancer with Nebraska-Lincoln Dance Company. She regularly participates in Tremaine, NYC Dance Alliance, LA Underground, West Coast Dance Explosion and LA Dance Force dance conventions. She was a teacher in Kansas Theater Clinic classes for statewide third graders. She loves teaching all ages and abilities.
Allison Eversoll (AE)
Lanette Gonzalez (LG)
Lanette Gonzalez is a Colorado native. Lanette works part time for a Computer Consulting Firm, raises a family full time and is on the Board of a Youth Sports Organization. Lanette’s first love was helping people, which lead to her first career in the medical field. It was there that she learned about “alignment” of the body from a Doctor of Osteopathy and a Chiropractor. She got addicted to feeling well after an adjustment but found that it didn’t last. Meanwhile, Lanette attended many aerobics classes for exercise and later taught as a way to off set the money she paid for attending classes. Though aerobics was fun and an effective way to stay in shape she felt a disconnect within her own body. Though she has always been active, this disconnect lead to a void of a serious exercise program in her life.
She happened upon Pilates through a neighbor and it has literally changed her life. Lanette trained to be a Pilates instructor in a program which occupied approximately 35 hours a week for a year and a half. Not only was she learning to teach, she learned what the rehabilitation benefits of Pilates are and how Pilates relates to Dance, Sports and everyday life. She learned the history of Pilates, the theory behind how the body works, proper body mechanics and how breathing facilitates healthy muscles and a healthy mind. She sincerely enjoys attending Pilates classes to help with her personal and professional Pilates growth. By teaching Pilates, Lanette has kept in line with her first love of helping people, utilizes her medical background and has the privilege of imparting knowledge of an exercise which promotes proper body alignment and movement which is attainable by learning ones own body.
Donovan Helma (DH)
Since the age of three, Donovan Helma has been dancing under the direction of his mother’s dance studio in Denver, CO. He currently continues his education in New York City. When he is not taking class or performing, Donovan teaches for numerous studios and national conventions across the United States. Some recent performances include General Motors, Charles Schwab, Holland’s International Shipping Yard grand opening and a performance on a Monday Night Football halftime show with the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. He has recently performed for Montreal’s Danse Encore International Festival in a production by Tap’d Out. In 2004, 2006, and 2009 Donovan toured the United States, Europe and South Africa as a lead tap dancer in Tap Dogs. Currently, Donovan is touring with the new Greorgy Hines tribute show, Thank You Gregory. Donovan looks forward to continuing his dancing career and inspiring audiences and students nationwide.
Kailyn Helma (KH)
Kailyn Helma has been dancing at Millers since the age of three and has loved every minute of it. Over the years she has studied with many great artists keeping her passion alive by traveling to places such as New York to freshen up on her knowledge in dance. She has taught since the age of 17 at Miller’s and started assisting when she was 12. Her desire to share her enthusiasm in dance with others came natural and she learned a unique way of reaching out to her students. She feels deeply about giving the knowledge that she has learned over the years at Miller’s back to her students and is now choreographing for Tour de Force and working closely with her mother to further her dance education.
Her biggest accomplishment is seeing her students take pride in their accomplishments as they enjoy her classes. Kailyn is a very energetic, bubbly teacher and is very proud to be a teacher for a studio that cares so much about the students and hopes that she will be able to continue to bring the joy of dance to her students.
Lesley Henry (LH)
Lesley Henry is happy to be teaching at Miller’s Dance Studio, the studio where she trained herself for 13 years. She has danced professionally with David Taylor Dance Theatre, Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet, Boulder Ballet and Ballet Quad Cities before becoming a mom to one-year-old daughter, Jordan. Lesley attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts on a talent scholarship and earned her BFA in dance. She loves to teach and choreograph and is thrilled to be sharing this love with the students at Miller’s.
Tony Hill (TH)
Tony a.k.a. “Shake” Hill was originally born in Savannah, Georgia and moved to Montgomery, Alabama as a child where he began dancing. In 2002, “Shake” moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue his career. In L.A., he trained with some top choreographers such as John “Prozak” Gillette, Stephen “Twitch” Boss, Wade Robson & Shane Sparks. In 2004, “Shake” returned to Montgomery where he began teaching at Tonya Speed’s Dance Connection. While there, he was recruited to Patty Rutland Jazz, a dance company based out of Dothan, Alabama where he traveled the country and performed. He also taught at Mann Dance Studio in Alabama. “Shake” recently moved to Denver where he dances for Motion Underground Dance Company and is excited to be teaching hip hop classes at Miller’s Dance Studio.
Amy Jessop (AJ)
Amy is a native of Denver. She has been dancing since the age of 3, with training in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, pom, and hip hop. She has trained in L.A. and New York City with some top choreographers such as NappyTabs, Luam, Jermaine Brown, The Beat Freaks, and others. Here in Denver she has trained with Ken Jimenez, John “Prozak” Gillette, Tony Hill and Kevin O’Keefe. She has taught at several studios throughout the Denver-metro area including The Arvada Center, Core Movement Studio, Mad Monkey Get Down Station, Express Yourself, and for the Denver Public School system. She recently worked with NappyTabs in L.A. on John Gillette’s first music video for his single “Raise the Bar” as one of the back-up dancers. She currently dances with the Mad Monkey Dance Crew and is excited to start teaching hip hop at Miller’s Dance Studio.
Tina Miller (TM)
Tina Miller began dancing with her father at the age of 3. Early on she developed a love for tap, her father’s favorite. She started teaching for her father in 10th grade while continuing her own dance education with Kit Andree and Phan Peterson. While dancing with Kit and Phan she performed at the Paramount Theatre doing 4 separate shows celebrating the 100th anniversary of the historic Moffat Tunnel with the remodel and reopening of the Paramount Theatre. She also performed in Hello Dolly with Theatre Together, Gotta Dance - Stars Fight Leukemia with Joan Van Ark, Robert Shields, and Donald O’Connor. She lived in New York for almost 5 years while continuing her dance training with Thommie Walsh, Chet Walker, Bill Hastings, David Howard, Finis Jung, Henry LeTang, After returning to Colorado, she joined her sister in running Miller’s Dance Studio. She started teaching the adult tap 6 years ago and is enjoying teaching again.
Sabrina Miller-Helma (SH)
Sabrina Miller-Helma began her life-long love for dance at age three when she began her dance training at her parent’s dance studio. Her technical dance training includes ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and ballroom dancing. Her extensive training includes instruction from dance greats such as Tommie Walsh, Gus Giordano, Danny Hoctor, Roni Mahler, and Al Gilbert. While training, she discovered her enthusiasm for teaching at the age of 14. She continued her dance training at Colorado Ballet and Ballet Now throughout college and began perfecting her teaching skills. She has hosted master classes and received master instruction from Lane Alexander, Henry LeTang, Cory Finn, Gregg Russell, Mike Minery, Germaine Salsberg, Jason Samuel Smith, The Tap Dogs and Savion Glover.
In 1976 she opened her own studio at Chambers and Hampden. A second location, Smoky Hill, was opened in 1992 and a third location, Parker, in 1994. She then opened up another studio in Saddle Rock at Gun Club RD. & E470 in 2007. Despite her busy administrative schedule overseeing the three studios and a faculty of 45, Sabrina still finds time to teach. Sabrina is currently a national competition judge for Spotlight Dance Cup, Kids Artistic Revue, and Dance Champs. She enjoys her family, and watching young children succeed in life with the gift of dance.
Heather Mueller (HM)
Heather began studying dance at the age of three at Miller’s Dance Studio in Aurora, CO. Throughout the years, her studies have ranged in every technical style of dance, with an emphasis in ballet, jazz, lyrical and tap. Heather has been performing with dance companies and teams across the nation since 1995, including Tour De Force, Pyramix, DU Dance Team, Dance Movement, and Trinity Dance, Co. Heather began her teaching career at Miller’s Dance Studio where she taught from 2000 to 2005. In 2001, Heather studied at the University of Denver where she founded the DU Dance Team, in which she participated on for three years as a member, choreographer, and President. In 2006, Heather worked as Director of Dance for Starlight, a Pennsylvania Dance Camp with over 250 young dancers. Since then, she has returned back to Colorado and remains heavily involved in the local dance community. Heather is now very excited to return back to her roots at Miller’s Dance to help lead and inspire the next generation of dancers.
Jared Olszewski (JO)
Carrie Parker (CP)
Carrie Parker is a Denver native and a product of Aurora Public Schools. Carrie knew at a very young age what was born to do: teach. As a child, she had many Barbie’s left in packages as she chose making up new dance routines as more exciting than playing with dolls. She started dancing at the age of three under the direction of Kathy Drnec. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop and lyric until she was 17. From there Carrie taught for many dance studios and small theatre companies such as: Show Stoppers, Dance Movement and Millers Dance studio. She graduated from Metropolitan State College in 1997 with a degree in Sociology and Psychology a minor in Spanish and a certification to teach K-6. Currently Carrie teaches for Douglas County School District where for the last 10 years she has taught Kindergarten and First grade. Carrie is proud to tell people that she is returning to teach for Miller’s Dance Studio. “It is a wonderful feeling to be a part of something that you know is making a difference for so many.”
Jodi Sagastume (JS)
Jodi Sagastume has been dancing since the age of three. Ms. Sagastume has taught and choreographed for 13 years. She is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and modern. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado, majoring in Dance Performance with an emphasis in Choreography. She has performed numerous leading roles in the Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Carmina Burana, Paquita, Stars and Stripes, and Miranda’s Nightmare. Jodi has performed with the UNC Tour Troupe, Colorado Ballet Theatre, Burklyn Ballet, and Seven Dancers. She has Choreographed Guys n’ Dolls for Regis University. My fair Lady for Sundance Entertainment, Scrooge for Woodmen Valley Chapel and was a resident choreographer for Seven Dancers. She judges for Spotlight, Dance Champs and Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company. Ms. Sagastume is currently teaching conventions for Spotlight, teaching Pilates, and teaching and choreographing around Denver.
Stefan Scheuermann (SS)
Stefan Scheuermann began his ballet training at the Ft. Collins School of Dance in Ft. Collins Colorado where he performed numerous original roles created for him by F.C.S.D. While in Ft. Collins he trained and performed with Canyon Concert Ballet, dancing in their productions of The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and various original C.C.B. productions over the course of 5 years. Stefan moved to Mississippi, where he danced with Ballet Theatre South, performing roles such as Sigfried in Swan Lake, Florimond in Sleeping Beauty, Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the Prince in Cinderella, the Snow King in The Nutcracker and numerous original roles classical and contemporary. While in Mississippi, he commuted to New Orleans to train and rehearse with Ballet Hysell and other local studios. Stefan moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico where he performed in the inaugural season of The Old Santa Fe Music Hall before returning to MS and continuing with B.T.S. as a dancer, teacher, choreographer and assistant artistic director. Stefan returned to CO and joined Encore ballet where he wrote, choreographed and directed original ballets. He is delighted to take his 20 years of ballet teaching experience to Miller’s and work with their talented staff and fantastic young dancers.
Andra Stecklein (AS)
Andra Stecklein has a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance from the University of Colorado. In her earlier years she was a member of the Colorado Concert Ballet Company (now known as the Colorado Ballet.) She owned and directed the Colorado Academy of Dance for 2 1/2 years prior to working for Miller’s. A move to Aurora and the start of a family resulted in joining the staff at Miller’s where she has been a permanent fixture for the last 25 years. Although she has cut back tremendously on her hours, she still enjoys sharing her knowledge of dance with students of all ages. She continues to teach our most advanced level jazz dancers and thrives on the challenge. Andra has choreographed many award winning dances for Tour de Force, Miller’s competitive dance company. In addition, she has enjoyed choreographing numerous musicals for neighboring Aurora high schools. Her expertise probably lies in her ability to fine tune a dancer’s technique and help them achieve their fullest potential.
Tyne Stecklein (TS)
Tyne Stecklein trained at Miller’s starting at the age of 3. There she had numerous performance, competition, and workshop opportunities which paved the way for her professional dance career.
At age 17 she served as an assistant teacher for L.A. Dance Magic Conventions for their national touring season. She was chosen as an apprentice member of Evolution Dance Company directed by Mark Meisner, and was a featured dancer in Soul Escape Dance Company directed by Justin Giles. She has continued to perform with Soul Escape for the last two seasons as well.
After graduating from High School, Tyne relocated to L.A. to pursue a professional career in dance. In her first year there, she was selected as a dancer for the national “High School Musical Concert Tour” as well as for the South American tour. She was a dancer in the movies, High School Musical II, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Stepbrothers, 17 Again, and the remake of Fame.
Her television credits include Dance Revolution, Grammy Awards, Rose Bowl Parade Opening number, Dancing with the Stars, Academy Awards,an episode of Glee, a music video for Gym Class Heroes, and a commercial for Cafe Latte. She has also done numerous modeling jobs includling Adidas, Ryland Homes, and Varsity Spirit.
At 19 Tyne was chosen as one of Cher’s dancers for her Las Vegas show at Caesar’s Palace. After doing that show for a year, she auditioned for Michael Jackson and became one of only two girls selected to dance for his 2009 London Show! Although this dream job never came to be she was honored to be a part of his memorial.
Whenever she gets the chance, Tyne comes home to Miller’s to offer workshop classes and to choreograph competition pieces for TDF. She is always grateful for their training, loyalty and support.
Robin Stewart (RS)
Not available
Elvira Stewart (ES)
Elvira Stewart is very excited to be joining the teaching staff at Millers Dance Studio. She has danced professionally with Colorado Ballet, Béjart Ballet, Blue Moon Dance Company, Helander Dance Theatre, Boulder Ballet, and most recently as a guest artist with David Taylor Dance Theatre. Her formal dance training began at Ballet Arts Boulder under the direction of Barbara Demaree. She has trained with Carol Roderick, The Academy of Colorado Ballet, and with the late Béjart’s, Ecole-Atelier Rudra Béjart, in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 2005, Elvira co-founded the production company Delusions of Grandeur and produced the sold out multi-media production Pandora’s Muse. Elvira has been described as “the best young choreographic talent we have in the area,” by James Wallace, Artistic Director of David Taylor Dance Theatre. Elvira enjoys teaching all levels of students and is well versed in the varying schools of classical ballet. She loves sharing her love for dance with her students.
Whitney Stone (WS)
Whitney Stone is returning to Denver after three years in Chicago, where she worked professionally in musical theatre and studied dance at the Lou Conte Dance Center. She holds a B.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Northern Colorado and has been a teacher of all ages and styles for six years. As a teacher, Whitney loves to have fun while helping her students build solid technical skills.
Ann Weinland (AW)
Ann received her training by studying ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical and hip hop for twelve years at Centre Stage Dance Company. Ann was a recipient of the “Excellence in Dance” award for four years for her participation in her high school dance program. Once eighteen, Ann turned professional, performing for Moments Notice Entertainment. Ann also performed for four years as a Denver Nuggets Dancer. She was chosen to represent the NBA in the 2001 Goodwill tour, where she traveled throughout Europe promoting goodwill and the NBA. In 2006 Ann was a company dancer for 7 Dancers, a Denver based dance company that was created to both entertain and educate the community through the art of dance.
Kristin White (KW)
Kristin White starting dancing when she was 4 years old and has grown up at Miller’s. She was a regular participant in recitals and some of her favorite roles were Daisy Duck, Sebastian in “The Little Mermaid”, the Enchantress in “Beauty and the Beast”, the Genie in “Aladdin” and Peggy from “42nd Street”. She also performed in many fall ballets and enjoyed her roles as “The Scottish Doll”, “Sapphire Fairy”, “Columbine Doll”, “Mirliton” and a sylph. She began assisting classes when she was 12 years old and from that moment on decided that she wanted to teach dance classes at Miller’s because she fell in love with teaching. She began teaching her own classes in high school and was a member of Tour de Force competition company for 8 years where she performed as a soloist and in group dances touring on cruise ships and to Disney World. She was a member of the Eaglecrest Dance Company as a dancer and choreographer and captain her senior year and is now a guest choreographer for Eaglecrest High School and a choreographer for Tour de Force. She has taken many master classes and studied with excellent teachers which has added to her diversity. She graduated from EHS in 2004 with honors. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development from Metropolitan State College in May 2009, and has a Colorado Teaching License and currently substitute teaches in Aurora Public Schools. In addition, she is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society in Education, and the National Education Association. She is also a competitive Irish dancer receiving many top awards in local competitions and has reached the top level of competition in Irish dance, Open Championships, and has competed at the state, regional, and national level. She is a very diverse teacher at Miller’s and loves working with students of all ages and abilities.
Holly Zanini (HZ)