Academy of Colorado Ballet Faculty
Bobby Ball
Director to the Academy of Colorado Ballet
Mr. Ball performed as a Principal Dancer with the Atlanta Ballet, the Milwaukee Ballet and as a Soloist with the Ballett der Oper Bonn and the Dortmunder Ballett in Germany. Upon retiring from the stage, Mr. Ball became Director of the Milwaukee Ballet School and also served as Interim Artistic Director for the Milwaukee Ballet. Most recently, Mr. Ball was Artistic Director, then Executive Director of Ballet Pensacola in Florida.
Tami Bing
Central- Jazz, Hip-Hop and Lyrical
Tami Bing has been teaching dance for over 15 years. Bing graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Dance and Psychology. She specializes in jazz, hip hop, tap and Lyrical. Bing danced as a Denver Nuggets Dancer as well as a dancer with the Colorado Contemporary Dance Company, formally known as The Damsels from 2000-2003. Bing joined the Academy of Colorado Ballet as a teacher in 2006 and was the director of Aspirations from the inaugural season in 2006 through 2009.
Mindy Bor
South- Primary, Jazz, Tap, Turns & Leaps and Musical Theater
Mindy began dancing at age three and trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical and modern for over fifteen years. She danced and competed as a member of the junior and senior dance companies at Concert Dance Conservatory and Dance Movement and the pre-professional company at Denver Contemporary Dance. She had the privilege of studying with such instructors as Debbie Marcus, Debbie Mercer, Brian Manning, Paula Morgan, Kenneth Green, Thomas Dixon, Kathy Saenz, Corrine Reed and Franca Talesio and also attended master intensives led by Prof. James Clouser, John James Beasant III and Savion Glover. Mindy also enjoys performing on stage and working behind the scenes as choreographer and dance captain. Mindy began teaching in 1994 and has acted as a director of a liturgical dance group in Littleton and was director at Theatrical Instruction for Castle Rock Players from 2004 through 2006. She taught acting, class voice and tap for Danza Dance Academy from 2005 through 2007 and joined the staff at the Academy of Colorado Ballet last year through the tap program at the central location. Mindy currently dances as a company member of Davis Contemporary Dance.
Janelle Cooke
Central- Ballet
Janelle Cooke trained as a scholarship student at Belliston Academy of Ballet, Academy of Colorado Ballet and the School of American Ballet. She graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy and joined Colorado Ballet in 1995. Janelle is currently a soloist with the Colorado Ballet. She has taught at schools around the Denver for over 10 years, including Rocky Mountain School of Dance, Startstruck Academy of Dance, State of the Arts and Belliston Academy of Ballet. Janelle joined the Academy of Colorado Ballet faculty in 2006.
Alisa Felin
Central- Pre-Ballet and Ballet
Alisa began taking tap, jazz and ballet at the age of three. She was a student at Arizona Ballet and while in college at Arizona State University, she studied modern dance, improvisation and ballet while getting her bachelor's degree in Communications and Sociology. Alisa has taught dance at Cherry Creek Dance, specializing in children's classes including tap, jazz and ballet. She has also taught for the Colorado Ballet's outreach program.
Remy Marin-Fenske
South- Adult Cardio Dance, Pilates
Remy started her dance career at age six, won a scholarship to the San Francisco Ballet Company at age twelve, and performed with the Garlutzo Dance Academy and Colorado Ballet as a teen. Remy has also performed with the University of California, San Diego, the TKO (Technical Knock-Outs) musical theatre group, at Knotts Berry Farm, and in Disneyland. Most recently she performed at the Mrs. Wyoming Pageant in 2007. Remy began teaching again in 2002. She taught adult cardio dance and pilates at various gyms. Remy has been teaching pilates for five years and is certified on Reformer, Cadillac, Spine Corrector and all mat work.
Diana Fantano Hoffman
Adult Ballet
Diana graduated from The Juilliard School in New York City where she earned her bachelor of fine arts in Dance. Diana performed as a soloist with several ballet and modern dance companies in New York and Virginia including Ballet Long Island, Contemporary Ballet Theater, Zawacki Dance Company and the Eglevsky Ballet, and she represented the United States in the International Festival of Dance Academies held in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Diana appeared on TV in the Live From Lincoln Center PBS broadcast of Juilliard at 80, and is an award recipient of the National Arts Recognition Search. In addition to ballet, Diana is trained in Martha Graham, Jose Limon, and Paul Taylor modern dance techniques.
Molly Holberton
Central- Ballet
Molly Holberton began her professional ballet career with the Kansas City Ballet where she performed pieces by George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey and Anthony Tudor. Molly trained at the School of American Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and received a scholarship at the Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet. After retiring from dancing Molly earned a B.A. in History from Columbia University and an M.A in Educational Psychology from the University of Colorado at Denver. Molly has experience teaching ballet to students age 3 through adult and is thrilled to be returning to the faculty of the Academy of Colorado Ballet for her third year.
Giana Jigarhan
South- Ballet and Principal Teacher for the Pre-Professional Program
Giana Jigarhan is a graduate of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy and received a Masters Degree in Ballet Instruction, Choreography and Stage Production from the prestigious Moscow University of Theatre Arts having studied with Prof. Marina Semyonova. She also trained for two years as a Ballet Instructor and Choreographer at the Bolshoi Theater and is a member of the Russian Professional Art Association. Ms. Jigarhan was a soloist ballet dancer for fourteen years with the Novosibirsk Ballet Theater, Moscow Ballet Company, Her repertoire included the most famous classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Cinderella, Giselle, La Bayadere, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, La Corsaire, as well as ballets by the most prestigious modern Russian choreographers. In the former USSR, Asia and Europe, Ms. Jigarhan’s choreographic credits include ballets Paquita, Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, Bakhiana Brasiliana by Villa Lobos, concert pieses and dances for operas Aida and Rigoletto. She has coached both students and artists for ballet competitions and performances. Ms. Jigarhan has taught ballet and coached at many well known institutions including: the Polish National Ballet School, the Moscow Musical Theater, Asami Maki Ballet Company in Japan, Star Dance Ballet, Japan; the National Ballet Theatre, Poland; the Prague National Theater, the National Theater of Korea, the Universal Ballet Company in Korea, the EWHA University Dance Department in Korea, the Washington School of Ballet (Dir. Mary Day), the Kirov Ballet Academy USA, Tulsa Ballet and the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University, USA where she choreographed an original version of the full length ballet Coppelia. She currently teaches at Johns Hopkins University and several local ballet schools.
Leslie Morton Justi
South- Ballet
Leslie Morton Justi was a scholarship student at Joffrey Ballet School and the School of the Hartford Ballet. In addition, she trained at Boston Ballet School, Palm Beach Ballet Center and South Florida Ballet Academy. Leslie began her professional dance career with the Hartford Ballet in 1993. After dancing with Memphis Concert Ballet and Bay Ballet Theatre, she joined Colorado Ballet in 1997. With Colorado Ballet, Leslie danced soloist roles in classical ballets such as The Sleeping Beauty, Midsummer Night's Dream, Cinderella, and Swan Lake. In addition to the classics, Leslie has performed works by noted choreographers as George Balanchine, Anthony Tudor, Sir Fredrick Aston, Agnes de Mille, Stanton Welch, Doug Varone, and Donald McKayle. Leslie has taught for Colorado Ballet, International Ballet School, Kim Robards Dance and Rocky Mountain School of Dance. Most recently, she has been part of the faculty of Atlantic Arts Academy in Florida. There she co-staged and choreographed ballets such as Coppelia and Cinderella and worked closely with the Artistic Director on creating the ballet syllabus for the school.
Maria Mosina
Central- Ballet
Maria Mosina was born in Moscow, Russia and educated at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography. She was invited to join the Bolshoi Ballet Grigorovich Company as a principal dancer and in 1995 she was invited to join Colorado Ballet as a principal. She has performed principal roles in all major classical, modern and contemporary productions with the Company. She has danced as a guest artist throughout the United States and Europe, as well as Asia and Africa. In 2007 Ms. Mosina completed her master's degree in Methodology and Pedagogy at Moscow State Academy of Choreography in Russia. Ms. Mosina is in her 15th season with Colorado Ballet and joined the Academy faculty in 2007.
Heather Prokhnitski
Central- Ballet
Heather Prkhnitski is from Norfolk, VA and received her training form the Old Dominion University Ballet School. She was a full-scholarship student at the Kirov Academy in Washington D.C. and studied at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersbeurg, Russia. Heather danced with Colorado Ballet for ten seasons and began teaching at the Academy of Colorado Ballet in 2008.
Kim Robards
Central- Modern
Kim Robards is the artistic director of Kim Robards Dance, a professional modern dance touring company that has been based in Denver for 22 years. She has been the modern dance instructor for The Academy for more than a decade in addition to her regional, national and international work as a choreographer, teacher and dancer. Kim and her company have been the recipients of numerous awards including the Governor's and Mayor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts, The KUSA "9 Who Care" Award from Channel 9 News, among others.
Elizabeth Shipiatsky
Central- Principal Teacher for Pre-Professional Program
Elizabeth Shipiatsky was educated at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Russia and joined the Kirov Ballet upon graduation for one season. Since 1985 she has worked across Europe and the United States as a freelance ballet mistress and company teacher with companies such as Samatra State Opera and Ballet Theatre, the St. Petersburg Theatre of Musical Comedy, the St. Petersburg Chamber Opera Theatre and was a choreographer and stager for several graduation classes at the Vaganova Ballet Academy. Additionally, she was principal ballet teacher at Brighton Ballet Theatre in New York from 1989 through 1992. She has twice worked with Colorado Ballet, having served as an assistant ballet mistress and chief choreographer and also as an associate director for Colorado Ballet II. Shipiatsky returned to the Company in 2008 as a ballet mistress and teacher. Most recently she was the artistic director for the Russian Ballet. Shipiatsky holds a master’s degree in Choreography and Rehearsal Direction from St. Petersburg State Conservatory.
LaRana Skalicky
Central- Modern Assistant
LaRana Skalicky is the Associate Executive Director of Kim Robards Dance where she has been a principal company member and administrator for more than 20 seasons. LaRana teaches in KRD's educational programs, for The Academy, has been a guest teacher for The Aesthetic Education Institute of Colorado, and currently serves on The Scen3 Tier III marketing committee. She holds a BFA in Dance from Stephens College and a minor in Philosophy where she graduated cum laude as one of four $20,000 Four Year Honors Scholars.
Danielle Sunseri
South- Ballet
Danielle, an Ohio native, has training in ballet, character, modern, and jazz and has studied with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School and Graduate Program, Mercyhurst College Dance Department, the School of Ballet Arizona, and Colorado Ballet Apprentice Program and the Academy of Russian Ballet. She has studied under German Zamuel, Patricia Wilde, Luigi, Kee-Juan Han, Sergei Kozadeyev, Elizabeth Shipiatsky, and Nikoloz Makhateli among others. Danielle danced with Colorado Ballet for two seasons. She performed with Kim Robards Dance for two years and has been a guest artist for Kanopy Dance Company and The Russian Ballet. She currently dances with David Taylor Dance Theatre. Daniellle has more than ten years experience instructing young students in the foundational levels of classical ballet and strength and conditioning. She was a faculty instructor for beginning ballet levels for three years at the Academy of Colorado Ballet and has taught for several other professional academies and competitive dance schools including the School of Ballet Arizona, Pittsburgh Youth Ballet, Belliston Academy of Ballet, Youth Ballet Colorado and Rocky Mountain School of Dance, among others. Most recently, Danielle directed the youth ballet program for two years for the David Taylor Dance Theatre Academy of Ballet and the Ascot Ballet Academy. Danielle serves as a Steering Commmittee Member and dance residency instructor/choreographer for the Federally funded "PEAK" Project in conjunction with the Englewood Public Schools and David Taylor Dance Theatre.
Allyson Svigel
Central- Jazz
Allyson Svigel was born and raised in Denver, CO and has been dancing for 12 years. She is trained in numerous dance styles including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop and poms. Allyson is a recent graduate from Colorado State University with her degree in accounting and continues to pursue and share her passion for dance at Colorado Ballet.
Maria Tyukova
Central- Ballet
A native of Russia, Maria Tyukova completed her formal dance training at the Perm State Ballet School. Upon graduation, Maria joined Perm Ballet Theater, where she performed in the extensive repertoire of classical works and frequently appeared in company tours worldwide. After her arrival to the United States in 2000, Maria continued her professional career with Ballet Internationale and subsequently, with the Cincinnati Ballet. Maria brings significant expertise in the Vaganova technique and classical repertoire.
Joey Westervoorde
South- Hip-Hop, Tap
Joey is a previous dancer and college cheerleader. She has taught a variety of different ages in both dance and cheer since 2003. Joey's earlier training began at Laura’s Dance Academy in Fontana, CA. At the age of 16, She was elected to join the junior Olympic Dance team that performed at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Jennifer Long, one of the choreographers for the Olympic team, then asked her to perform with her dance school. This lead to opportunities such as dancing along side high profile music icons such as Jennifer Lopez, E-40, Da Brat, Bone Thugs N Harmony, and Missy Eliot. In 2000, Joey was hand selected by Donald Fisher, CEO of GAP Inc., to be featured in a GAP commercial. Starting in 2004 Joey has cheered for competitive open all girl teams, Level 6, out of RC Club Cheer and SoCal Elite Outlaws. She was also a member of the ten times nationally ranked Orange Coast College Small Co-ed team. As well as cheerleading, while in college, she danced for a national championship hip hop team called TOUCH, where she trained with master choreographers such as Shane Sparks, Dave Scott, Dan Karady, Wade Robison, Laurie Ann Gibson, Debbie Allen, and Ava and Risa Bernstein.
Brian Young
Competing Company Director and Jazz, Lyrical and Tap at both locations
Brian Young, a Colorado native, began singing and dancing at a very young age. After graduating high school, Young moved to Las Vegas, NV to attend the University of Nevada in Las Vegas (UNLV) as a Dance Performance major. From 1999 to 2000 Young sang back up for Barbra Streisand in Timeless: The Millennium Concerts at MGM Grand Garden Arena under the direction of Marvin Hamlish. Brian has trained Gus Giordano, Pattie Obey, Frank Hatchett, Sherie Zunker-Dow, Eddie Ocampo, Debbie Tillman and Emily Yewell. His work as a professional dancer includes dancing with Gus Giordano Jazz Dance, LA Jazdanz Company and Young has taught master classes across Colorado. Young has been a guest teacher and choreographer at the Denver School of the Arts as well as at the Manhattan Dance Project tour. Young has set choreography on David Taylor Dance Theatre and Colorado Ballet and has choreographed numerous award winning pieces for students, including both first and second place contemporary ballet pieces at the Youth American Grand Prix.
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