The 2008-2009 Faculty

School Director / Owner, Lisa Tuska is the founder and president of the Colorado School of Dance. She has a B.A. Degree from Wright State University, OH, a Professional Dance Teaching Certification from Ohio University, and did her post graduate dance studies at Sinclair University, in Dayton, OH. She has more than 20 years of teaching/directing experience, and continues her education through annual seminars, regional conventions and teacher workshops. She has owned and operated her own studios since 1993 (north of Cincinnati, OH) and has an extensive list of credentials as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. Tuska also is the Founder and Executive Director of the Annual Nutcracker of Parker. She believes her school is a vehicle for her dancers in bringing them together not only with the talents of a professional staff and quality facilities, but giving them true community and opportunity as both dancers and young leaders. Whether their goals are recreational, regional success or professional, Tuska wants her students to come away with impeccable technique, responsible discipline and a positive character that goes with them throughout their lifetime. Tuska's vision and passion for the performing arts is what makes her a successful teacher and leader in the community.

Jody Arnoldi brings to the CSD 10 years of gymnastics experience along with 6 years of cheerleading. She has coached at a high school level, and has taught preschool gymnastics at a private school in Minneapolis, Minn. She has a musical background, which includes singing in a college swing band and many ye ars of singing at weddings and private parties.

Samantha Byrne has her B.A. from London University and a Post Graduate Certificate of Education from Oxford University. Along with extensive years of training and performance, she is certified by the British Ballet Organization, and has taught for 13 years. She specializes in Levels I – IV, Ballet, Tap and Pre-Pointe, but is one of the most well-rounded faculty members teaching ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical. She has been with the Colorado School of Dance since it’s opening in 2002.

Amy Colwell is a former dancer with the Hilltop Dance Studio in Kansas City, where she studied ballet, jazz and tap for 13 years, and studied Pointe for 7 years. She is great with teaching children foundational technique and a love for dance. She taught for The City of Highland’s Ranch from 2001-2004, and for the Colorado School of Dance since it’s opening in Fall of 2002.

Rebecca Dean is the Ballet Director of CSD's Ballet Department and Colorado Youth Ballet Company. Rebecca co-directed and choreographed the Snow Queen Ballet in 2008, The Evening of Classical Ballet in 2007, the Wizard of Oz in 2007 and the Nutcracker of Parker 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Rebecca graduated with an honors BFA in Ballet from the University of Utah with a teaching and performing emphasis. She currently dances professionally with Apex Contemporary Dance Theatre in Parker and 7dancers based in Denver. She has also danced professionally with David Taylor Dance Theatre, Kim Robards Dance and Ballet Magnificat! in Jackson, Mississippi. Rebecca’s training includes: North Carolina School of the Arts, Milwaukee Ballet School, Ballet West, New Tampa Dance Theatre, Firethorn School of Dance and Blake High School of Performing Arts. She danced the professional lead of Sugar Plum Fairy at the Nutcracker of Parker in 2005, 2007 and 2008, where she continues to direct annually.

Oleg Dedogryuk is an Artistic Director for the Annual Nutcracker of Parker and Head Faculty Member of the Colorado School of Dance. He is a graduate of the Leningrad Vaganova Ballet Academy in Russia. Throughout his 25 years in the professional ballet world he danced as a Principal Dancer with the Bolshoi Theatre, Leningrad Modern Ballet Theatre, Moscow Renaissance Ballet, The National Ballet Theatre, the City Ballet in San Diego and is known best locally as the soloist with Colorado Ballet from 2001 to 2005. During his career he has danced leads such as Prince Sigfried in Swan Lake, Poet in Les Sylphides and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. Regionally, he is best known for his portrayal as”Dracula”, and Bodies of Work, Song of Love and Marionettes—just to name a few. Oleg joined CSD in 2005.

Brooke Ebel has a four year degree in education. As a former school teacher, she turned her love for dance into a career of working with our preschool students at the school. With a dance background, and further dance teacher training at CSD, she has been both an asset to the preschool program and a nurturing teacher to our students since the Fall of 2004.

Lisa Freyschlag is the Asst. Children's Programming Director. She is a renowned children's dance and tap teacher in Parker since 1994. Along with her more than 18 years teaching experience, she has extensive dance training, a degree in Elementary Education and she is a part-time teacher at Core Knowledge Charter School in Parker, CO. Freyschlag is a major contributor to the Children's Curriculum & Planning at the Dance School. Much of her work will be seen throughout the 2005-06 in Preschool and Children's Dance Classes.

Michelle Gravlee has a four year degree from Belhaven College where she minored in dance with an emphasis in ballet. She has three years teaching experience and was a former dancer with Belhaven Dance Troupe. After graduation, she recruited for the Belhaven College dance department for two years before she was drawn to the Colorado mountains. She is now enjoying getting to know the CSD family as she works at the front desk and is beginning to teach under the instruction of Ms. Tiffany.

Kara Kunz is a former professional dancer with the Denver Contemporary Dance Theatre. She has been a teacher and choreographer since 1989, working with both competitive teams and high school musicals. She teaches high level jazz, tap,modern, hip hop and ballet, and is one of the head choreographers for the Senior APT Team at CSD.

Tiffany Lengyel is the Children's Programming Director. She studied dance with Joan Pelkie School of Dance and Carol Grover Dance Academy in Spokane, Washington, and is a successful dancer, teacher, choreographer and actress. She is a former school teacher, business woman and choreographer for local theater groups. Along with awards for her winning choreography, she is dynamic with children--and they love her! She started teaching with the school in March of 2005. She believes, as does the school, our foundation begins at the preschool level, and these are the stars of today, and tomorrow alike.

Misty Little is a former dancer of Southwest Dance Arts and studied ballet, tap and jazz for 15 years before moving into the arena of cheer. She has a love for the “little” ones and is joining the family at CSD in August 2008 and will be a great addition to the childrens program. She will be training under Ms. Tiffany and is excited to continue and pursue her dream of teaching the preschool dancers how precious dancing really is.

Stuart and Carol McArthur of Parker both have extensive experience teaching and performing ballroom dance. They began their teaching careers at BYU where they both earned degrees in dance and performed with the Ballroom Dance Company. Carol spent one year as the Director for the performing team that took first place in the world team competition at Blackpool, England. Stuart has performed in movies and television commercials.

Heidi Nichter is currently Co-Founder, Associate Artistic Director and CEO of Apex Contemporary Dance theater as well as the director of the Senior Artistic Performance Team at Colorado School of Dance. In 2003 she graduated cum laude from Point Park University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. In addition, she has trained with the Metropolitan Ballet Center, American Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive, and as a scholarship student with Steps on Broadway. Heidi has 12 years of experience teaching and choreographing in many reputable schools in Michigan, Pittsburgh, New York City, Denver, Dayton and Cleveland. Her professional experience includes Xpressions Contemporary Dance Company, The Pittsburgh Playhouse, Dayton Contemporary Dance Theatre II, Kim Robards Dance and Apex Contemporary Dance Theatre.

Christine Rucks is a former dancer with Canyon Concert Ballet and The North Dakota Ballet Company. Christine graduated from Colorado State University with a BA in Journalism and a Minor in Dance. She is now going to CU Denver to earn her Masters Degree in Elementary Education. Christine has shared her joy for dance with children for the past eight years. She began teaching at CSD in the winter of 2007 and is excited to be apart of the CSD family.

Stephanie Schmidt is a baton twirling instructor from Kansas. She has coached local, state, regional and national NBTA champions. She taught the Hays Twirlette’s Baton Club for 11 years. She is a former dancer with Jackie Creamers Dance Studio in Kansas where whe studied ballet, jazz, tap and pointe for 12 years.

Joanna Smith specializes in teaching hip hop, poms and tumbling classes. She has five years teaching experience and was a former dancer with the Elm Street Dancers. She trained at the Mckinney Dance Academy in Mckinney, Texas where she studied hip hop, ballet, tap, pointe, musical theater, jazz, poms, cheer and tumbling. She was also on the Stomp Team at Mckinney High School. Prior to living in Texas, Joanna competed in poms and cheerleading for two all-star teams in California. She has been dancing for 8 years, teaching for 5 and is currently in her 3rd year of her college studies.

Heather Webb comes to CSD from Salt Lake Dance Center, Salt Lake City, UT, where she developed the Competition Team Program and directed her teams for seven years. She is a national award-winning choreographer, and many of her students have gone on to perform in cruise lines, acting schools and professional dance companies. She trained under her mother, Jillana Webb, a former dancer with New York City Ballet. Heather has trained at Broadway Dance Center in NY and Edge Performing Studio in LA. She is well skilled in Ballet, Hip Hop, Modern, Classical Jazz and Modern Lyrical, and is a reputable teacher for ages 3 to adult.

Roman Zinovyev is a former dancer with the Sarasota Ballet and several national ballet com panies. Originally a dancer for Russia, he is trained in Vaganova Technique. He has taught both professional and pre-professional levels was formerly with the Flex Dance School in Florida. Roman is new to our staff, currently subbing for Oleg and working with our Snow Queen Ballet. An amazing teacher, and more bio to come this fall.