Denise Danzo
Director/Owner/Instructor

Denise received most of her dance training in Steamboat Springs, CO. She spent many intensive summers training at the famous Perry Mansfield School of the Arts, located in Steamboat. She is a previous company member of Ballet North West.

She has 15 years of dance teaching experience, and has spent the last 10 years teaching dance in one of Denver’s most prestigious dance schools. She has an Associate of Arts Degree specializing in business and art.

Denise has been the Director and Choreographer for the Denver Nuggets Professional Dance Team. She has performed in and choreographed for two Ford Truck commercials, one Ford Car commercial, and a dance video “Reality” for Cabana Boy Records.

She has spent the last couple of years working with many cheerleading and pom squads in the Denver Metro area choreographing state routines, and musical theater for high school productions. She specializes in children’s dance and is excited to bring the highest quality of dance to the Castle Rock community.

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Amanda Heffernan
Instructor

Amanda Heffernan was born in Pueblo, CO where she studied at The Pueblo Ballet and was one of the first company members of The Sangre de Christo Ballet Theatre. She graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, MI as a dance major and was part of their regional performing dance troupe. After graduating she studied as a trainee with The Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. Upon returning to the Colorado area, she studied at the Colorado Ballet and has performed with many regional dance companies including the David Taylor Dance Theater and Kim Robards Repertory Dance Company as well as having danced as a freelance artist throughout the region. Some of her favorite roles to perform include, Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy from the “Nutcracker”, Swanhilda in “Coppelia”, and solos from “Paquita”.

Amanda has been teaching dance in the Colorado area for the last ten years. She has been fundamental in forming and directing youth dance companies, dance and theater camps, and syllabus based dance programs in Denver area studios. She teaches a wide variety of dance for all ages including ballet, tap, jazz, ballroom, musical theater, and creative movement. She loves working with children and has extensive experience with ages 2-18. Some of her accomplishments include choreographing and setting full scale ballet productions such as “The Nutcracker”, “Coppelia”, and “Peter and the Wolf” as well as choreographing for children’s musical theater productions and many dance recitals. She has most recently directed and performed in “The Nutcracker of Parker” in Parker, CO.

Her goals for the future are to continue bringing an appreciation for the art of dance to many more students and give them an opportunity to build strong minds and bodies in the process. “Dance gives students the opportunity to develop motor skills and be exposed to such concepts as use of space, timing, rhythm, and the idea that movement can be used as a mode of expression. The disciplines of a dance class help children build character and physical strength in an enjoyable manner” says Heffernan.

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Dena Blank
Instructor

Dena recently relocated to Castle Rock from California. The dance industry has been her home for many years. Not only has Dena been an instructor for many years but she's also had experience being the artistic director of a studio in California.

The love and devotion from her students has been heartfelt.

Dena enjoys teaching all styles of dance. Tap, ballet, jazz and musical theater are a few of her favorite talents. Her philosophy is to develop self esteem and a passion for dance in all her students. Dena is pleased to be a part of the Danza Dance Academy family.

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Kevin O'Keefe
Instructor

Kevin has an extensive background in hip hop, break dance and house. He received training from industry pioneers Clyde Evans, Eric Finn and Quickstep. Kevin has begun to spread a fire about the history of hip hop and a vision for where it will go. He has brought this unique flavor to many studios in Colorado, including CU Boulder and CSU Ft. Collins. He’s been a guest artist at The Arena in Switzerland, The San Francisco Hip Hop Festival, The Colorado College Dance Festival and The Breaking Pointe in Montana. Kevin is a former member of Motion Underground’s hip hop company EOM and one of the top 5 finalists at Colorado’s Best Dance Crew Competition in 2008.

Currently, he is the artistic director of True II Form Dance Group in Boulder. Established in 2002, it has been moving Colorado audiences to the beat of hip hop culture. In an effort to educate the public about the unity, freedom of self expression and foundation elements that are hip hop; True II Form performs and teaches throughout Colorado. In 2005-2007 the group produced two full length hip hop dance productions. Having a successful run in Loveland and Denver, "The Art Gallery" used dance, visual, art and slam poetry to demonstrate the journey hip hop has had in our society. In "Uprooted Funk" True II Form collaborated with local musicians and a beat boxer to create a funky fusion of live music and hip hop dance, while paying homage to the influence of funk music on today’s hip hop culture. "Uprooted Funk" played to packed audiences in Loveland and Boulder. True II Form provides their community with a positive inclusive view of hip hop. In doing so they are a favorite at local B-Boy jams, colleges and festivals.

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Hailee Willcox
Instructor

Hailee took her first dance class when she was three years old and has continued ever since then. Her dancing has took her from Michelle Latimer, and The Dance Company, to the Sundance Studio and to Danza Dance Academy. She has studied all types of dance from ballet, jazz, hip hop, to lyrical, tap and clogging. In high school she was on the varsity cheerleading team for all 4 years for Douglas County High School and went off to dance on the dance teams at Barton Community College and Wichita State University. Hailee is now back to join the teaching staff of Danza Dance Academy and hopes to spread her love of dance to everyone.

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Justin "DTM" Oliver
Instructor

Justin "DTM" Oliver's drive, love and passion for Hip-Hop dance came at the young age of 11.  From the moment he saw his future friend and mentor dancing in one of the studios, he was in love.  Justin began dancing at Centerstage Starz in Littleton in the autumn of 2004 and adored it.  Justin auditioned for Centerstage's competition team in 2008 and made it onto one of the top teams.  During this time, Justin began showing interest in teaching so he began substituting and assisting at Centerstage. In 2010, Justin landed his first teaching job at Streetside South, also in Littleton.  After taking some time off for personal reasons in 2010, Justin has exploded back into the Hip-Hop scene and is diving headfirst into the choreography/teaching world.  Justin has been teaching for a little over 2 years and has previously taught at Centerstage Starz, Streetside South, Artistic Fusion Dance Academy, and has choreographed an end-of-the-year piece at DCS Montessori in 2010.  Justin has also taken classes from various professional choreographers such as: Dave Scott, Wade Robson, Leslie Scott, Chase Evered, Skye Edwards, Danza's own Kevin O'Keefe, and many others.  Justin is extremely excited to be a part of the Danza family and would like to thank Denise for the opportunity to be a part of such an awesome studio! 

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Herb Neil
Instructor

Bio Coming Soon

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Jeffory Elliott
Instructor

Jeff Elliott started dancing in September of 2001 at the Canyon Concert Ballet. In June of 2005, he was invited to study on full scholarship at the prestigious Washington School of Ballet, in the District of Columbia, under the direction of the late Rebecca Wright. Following that summer, he was invited back for the next academic year to attend the school in the highest level of the school, where he did some company work as well, and trained principally with the distinguished dancer and teacher Rudolph Kharatian. During his residence in Washington D.C., he performed as the Nutcracker Prince in Septime Webre's The Nutcracker, and Principal Male roles in George Balanchine's Divertimento and Serenade, which was done in the spring. In 2006, Jeff returned to the Colorado State University as a student, where he taught Men's Ballet. That year, he served as a guest artist for the David Taylor Dance Theatre, and Canyon Concert Ballet. Jeff teaches predominantly Vaganova style ballet, although he has extensive knowledge of Cecchetti and French techniques. In addition to ballet, Jeff is also trained in Hip Hop (predominately East Coast style), Musical Theatre and has 15 years of classical vocal training. He has recently graduated CSU with a degree in International Studies and a French minor and speaks French, conversational Italian and Arabic. Jeff gained a tremendous wealth of artistry from his studies, and is thankful for all of the opportunities that he has acquired.

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Alicia Brady
Instructor

Alicia Brady was born and raised in Canon City, Colorado. She started dancing at the age of six and immediately fell in love with it. Alicia trained with the Colorado Jazz Dance Company. While there, she studied ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, tap, and musical theatre. Upon graduation from high school, Alicia decided she wanted to continue dancing. After being accepted to the third ranked dance school in the nation, she headed to the University of Arizona to continue her training. In May of 2010 Alicia graduated from the U of A with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance. She spent the last year in Colorado teaching at various dance studios. Alicia loves being back in Colorado, and is excited to be a part of Danza Dance Academy.



Nicole O'Farrel (photo and bio coming soon)