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Brie Carrillo began her dance training here in Grand Junction at the early age of four studying various styles of dance such as classical ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical, and modern from various instructors and studios including with Theresa Kahl. Along the way Brie has had many opportunities to study with some of the nations most renowned choreographers, dancers, and instructors such as Emmy Award winners Wade Robson and Mia Michaels, Andre Fuentes, Malaya, Mandy Moore, and Tony Testa just to name a few. Brie has been teaching and inspiring dancers for nearly ten years now and has been with Absolute Dance since it's inception in June of 2007. She has been Assistant to the Director for several Absolute Dance productions as well as choreographs and trains many of our competitive pre-professional dancers. Currently Brie is the Director for both our Mini Company and Hip Hop Company at Absolute Dance. She has received several scholarships and awards for her dancing talents and innovative choreography. Brie loves to inspire and be inspired by her students. Since she began teaching she has been able to instill in dancers one of her greatest dance traits, confidence. Her students love her upbeat approach she has to offer, plus she teaches them to utilize their own personalities and styles,and most importantly to dance from the heart.

Vickie grew up in Lander, Wyoming where she trained in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, and clogging. Since the age of 9, Vickie has traveled to competitions in Casper, Denver, and Las Vegas. She has been dancing for 16 years and has had the opportunity to perform in Washington D.C., New York City, and at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Vickie moved to Grand Junction in 2005 to continue her education in dance at Mesa State College where she got to perform choreography by Tony Coppola, Jay Franke, Holly Lampe, and many more. She graduated in 2008 with a degree. She also has been teaching Bodyflow and Floor Barre at Crossroads Fitness for two years. Vickie is excited to get back to teaching dance and working with kids again.

Anthony Noa - Head Ballet Master

I have been in the professional dance field for over 30 years. I danced professionally for 15 years as a soloist and principal dancer, both here in the U.S. and Europe. I have acted in the capacity of Program Director, Ballet Master, Choreographer and Artistic Director for organizations in the private, non-profit and state institutions.

I have a comprehensive background as a dancer, artist, teacher and administrator. I have taught for many different type of schools, from recreational dance programs, credited secondary and college dance programs, pre-professional training programs and professional ballet companies

Jo Sanburg joined our faculty in August 2012 to offer vocal and acting classes. She offers different

skills and play lab classes in acting as well as music direction in voice, piano, and guitar.

Jo has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and Education and a passion for the arts which has led to

professional experience in music direction with the Cabaret Dinner Theater in Grand Junction, stage management at SeaWorld San Antonio and the Cabaret, dance and musical theater accompaniment with various arts companies, and the creation of rehearsal and performance tracks and compositions.

She has comprehensive experience with children’s arts organizations, including her own performing arts

studio and as director, teaching artist, music director, and instructor. She is an accomplished pianist and accompanist as well as a strong sight reader. She has music directed for over twenty years, and has been a voice teacher/vocal coach on the Western Slope and in the Denver area for thirty years. Her

professional work as Director of Educational Programming at the Cabaret Dinner Theater enhanced her skills at direction, music direction, outreach development, management, and customer service.

We are excited to bring her to our team to continue to be the most extensive Performing Arts and Dance Organization between Denver and Salt Lake City.

Brie Carrillo - Hip Hop - Assistant to the Director

Rachel Roseberry was born and raised dancing ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop in Grand Junction. In her early career she performed as Clara in the Nutcracker with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, as Maggie Anderson in Brigadoon with Colorado Mesa University, and as the Duck in Peter and the Wolf with the Grand Junction Symphony. She has performed in Colorado with Dance Fusion Inc., High Desert Opera, Beyond Boundaries Dance Collective, and Aspen Dance Connection. She was also female dance captain for the production of Cats with Broadway at the Avalon.

Rachel spent one year training in jazz and contemporary at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. In New York City she performed with LiNK Dance Company directed by Ginger Cox. Rachel started teaching and choreographing at age fourteen and is now pursuing a career as a contemporary choreographer and teacher.

Krystal von der Lieth (formerly Young) Growing up in Los Angeles, CA Krystal began studying Musical Theatre at the early age of 3. She became even more involved after discovering how much she loved the dance aspect of performing.

In addition to training at performing companies such as The Harvest School of Performing Arts and The Adderley School of Performing Arts she studied dance at Ballet Studio By the Sea in Malibu, CA, Shawl-Anderson in Berkeley, CA and L.A.'s acclaimed Westside School of Ballet and the Edge Dance Studio, among others. She found a love of teaching while taking classes at the Adderley School for the Performing Arts and began assisting her instructors with both dance and musical theatre classes. Soon she was directing and choreographing her own musical theatre classes and teaching ballet and jazz for students of all ages.

In 2006, her now husband's job brought them to Grand Junction and she spent 5 years teaching ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop and musical theatre at Grand Junction Academy of Dance. She has also performed with different companies around Grand Junction playing Sylvia in Showtime Productions' rendition of "The Women" and multiple shows with The Cabaret Dinner Theatre, most recently Velma in their production of "Chicago".

Katie has grown up taking classes from Theresa since the age of ten. She has taken many different forms of dance such as Jazz, ballet, hip hop and tap. Katie has competed in many competitions and has gone to Salt Lake City, Denver, and Las Vegas for many workshops. Katie has always enjoyed working with little kids so she is very excited to start teaching and get involved with a dance studio again.

Ally Mitchell grew up in Grand Junction, CO. She started dancing in her Mothers studio in Paonia, CO. She moved to Grand Junction and started dancing with Colorado West Ballet when she was six. She had many wonderful teachers and experiences through the studio. She has had years of training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, and Lyrical. She competed under the instruction of Theresa and had many wonderful experiences in doing so. She is currently a student at CMU working towards degrees in Math and Statistics. She has attended Ballet and Jazz classes at CMU. She is very excited to get to work with kids and teach them the world that she loves.

Matthew Imbriaco has been studying dance for four years, primarily in hip hop and break

dancing. He has worked with Ryan "Bosco" Baker, Lady Lex, and Ricky Rocany ( aka Stuntman). He has

also taken workshop classes and competed at New York City Dance Alliance and Adrenaline. This is

Matthew's first year teaching, and he is very excited to see his students grow and what all this year will

bring!

Mary Compton is a native to Colorado. Growing up in Estes Park and moving to Grand Junction to attend CMU, where she recently graduated with a BA in Acting/Directing. Mary has been involved with the arts for her entire life. From little family TV commercials, to Professional stage performances. Mary is excited to be a part of Absolute Dance so she can broaden her artistic horizons with some wonderful and talented individuals.Mary Compton is a native to Colorado. Growing up in Estes Park and moving to Grand Junction to attend CMU, where she recently graduated with a BA in Acting/Directing. Mary has been involved with the arts for her entire life. From little family TV commercials, to Professional stage performances. Mary is excited to be a part of Absolute Dance so she can broaden her artistic horizons with some wonderful and talented individuals.