Danza Staff
Danza Dance Academy boasts an outstanding faculty of staff who
work to fulfill the potential of every student. The dance teachers
bring their expertise and passion for dance, consolidated by successful
performing and teaching careers. Click on the names below to read
a short biography of each staff member.
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.
Email Denise
Laura Hinton
Instructor
Laura began her dancing career at the age of six. At the age
of eleven she went to dance for The Colorado Ballet where she
performed in their annual production of the Nutcracker. Throughout
high school, she danced on Senior Company at Michelle Latimer
Dance Academy where she worked with famous choreographers such
as Dee Caspary, Terry Beeman, Ray Leeper, and Tina Caspary-Cyphert.
Laura was the lead roll of Wendy in "Peter Pan" spring
of 2003 for Michelle Latimer Dance Academy. Laura has attended
many dance conventions including New York Dance Alliance, L.A.
Underground, and West Coast Dance Explosion. In 2004 Laura's jazz
and lyrical choreography was award winning with platinum and gold
first places at many dance competitions, including Dance Rave
and StarPower where her pieces received first, third, and tenth
over all top scores. She is very proud to be a part of the excellent
teaching staff at Danza Dance Academy.
Email Laura
Terrell Davis
Instructor
Terrell Davis was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He has
a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in dance from Western
Illinois University (WIU). His dance training began at Lincoln
Park High school in Chicago with Cheryl McWortor. He was a full
scholarship student at the Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre.
At JHCDT he trained with Rodni Williams who introduced him to
the Horton Technique. Mr. Davis was also a full scholarship student
at the American Dance Festival, for two consecutive summers. At
WIU he trained with Candice Winters-March, Heidi Clemmons, and
Denise Breakfield. He also co-directed the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural
Center Dance Troupe with Keesha Jackson and was a member of the
University Dance Theatre.
He got his professional start with the Dayton Contemporary Dance
Company where he was mentored by Terrence Greene, and worked with
the legendary artist Sherri "Sparkle" Williams. His
journey then brought him to Denver, where he danced with the Cleo
Parker-Robinson Dance Ensemble for six years. He was a principle
dancer and also served as Assistant Rehearsal Director for the
company. While at CPRD he danced many lead roles and also worked
and trained with many great teachers and choreographers such as
Milton Myers, Donald Mckayle, Christopher Huggins, Marceline Freeman,
and Randy Brooks, just to name a few. He also danced with Moraporvida
Contemporary Dance Company, founded and directed by Jacob Mora.
Mr. Davis’s teaching experience in Denver has been at the
Cleo Parker-Robinson Dance School, the Academy of Classical Ballet,
and many other dance schools in Denver. He currently teaches at
the Academy of Colorado Ballet, Dance Kaleidoscope, Hannah Kahn’s
Open Studio, and at Manuel High School. He is thrilled to be a
part of the Danza Dance Academy staff.
Email Terrell
Amber Shipps
Instructor
Amber is honored to join the talented teaching staff at Danza
Dance Academy. Through middle school and high school she
was a member of the Competitive Dance Team at Michelle Latimer
Dance Academy, and was a scholarship student there during High
School. Amber has completed several Master’s Classes
at many prestigious studios including Debbie Allen Dance Academy
and Edge Performing Arts Center. She has studied under a
diverse range of instructors including Mia Michaels, Dee Casbery,
Terry Beeman, and Wes Veldink.
Email Amber
Morgan Wallace
Instructor
Morgan began her dance training at the age of seven, while living in Connecticut.
For six years she studied the Vaganova method of ballet under the esteemed Dorothy
Zerio. At the age of ten she was chosen to dance the lead role of Clara (Marie)
in the Dance Incorporated Ballet Company’s rendition of The Nutcracker Ballet.
Two years later she was selected, along with a small group of dancers, to perform
at the Bushnell Theater on Christmas day, for a Charity event sponsored by 96.5
TIC radio station.
When Morgan reached the age of thirteen she relocated to Colorado and began
dancing at Danza Dance Academy. She auditioned for Danza’s Competitive Dance
Troup, and was the youngest dancer to be placed on Danza’s Senior Company. In
her second year at Danza Morgan was chosen to compete a solo which won multiple
platinum and gold awards. At the age of fifteen Morgan was featured in an HD T.V.
video demonstration produced by Malone Media. That same year, Morgan was chosen
to play the part of Tinkerbelle in Danza Dance Academy’s Production of Peter
Pan, and she won the Danza Dance Academy Scholarship for her hard work, dedication,
and leadership qualities.
During the three years Morgan spent at Danza she trained in all avenues of
dance including lyrical, jazz, ballet, modern, and hip hop, and studied under many
renowned choreographers, including Brian Friedman. Morgan moved back to Connecticut
in 2006 to study Yoga. Recently she completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training
at the world renowned Kripalu Center, and is registered as a yoga teacher with
Yoga Alliance. Morgan infuses her passion, dedication, and in depth knowledge
into each of her classes. Every class experience is a unique, eclectic, and
inspirational blend, and she strives to set a welcoming and positive environment
where every student can thrive.
Email Morgan
Autumn Hillner
Instructor
I grew up in southern California and began my dance training
there at the age of 4. I attended Dance Unlimited where I took
jazz, tap and ballet. I also was a completive ice skater for 4
years. When I was 10, my family moved to Arizona and I joined
Jeannes School of Dance, studying under Nadja Langenhorst. I
took 4 years of ballet and began my Pointe training there. I danced
with Ballet Etudes, a pre-professional company located in Mesa,
AZ . The Nutcracker, Cinderella, and Toy
Shop were a few of the pieces I performed in. Then my family
moved again, to Colorado! I took a year of ballet at Belliston
Academy in Littleton before I joined Danza Dance Academy!
I am now on my 12th year of dancing and love it! I’m
a senior dancer here, taking ballet, Pointe and lyrical. I enjoy
teaching the little ones as much as I love dancing myself.
I am so excited to have an apprentice opportunity here at Danza.
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.
Email Amanda
Kelly Frazer
Instructor
Kelly recently moved to Colorado from Florida where she grew up.
She holds a B.S in Finance from the University of Central Florida.
Kelly’s dance training began at the age of four in Clearwater,
Florida with Alice Quessy. As Kelly got older she began training
at five different studios throughout Pinellas County to gain a broad
variety of skills and techniques.
After graduating high school, Kelly began touring with the traveling
show Best of Burlesque for two full seasons. At the age of twenty,
Kelly moved to Orlando, Florida and began dancing at the Walt Disney
World Resort’s Magic Kingdom. Kelly danced in numerous roles while
at the Magic Kingdom.
Kelly has studied dance and taken master classes with many talented
teachers and choreographers including Savion Glover, Gregory Hines
and Anne Reinking.
Kelly absolutely loves to dance and is honored and excited to be
a part of the Danza Dance Staff.
Email Kelly
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