Canyon Concert Ballet is very proud of our talented dance teachers. In addition to our resident dance faculty we often welcome guests to teach Master Classes or create choreography. Many of our dedicated instructors have graduate degrees in dance education and have won teaching awards. All are committed to our philosophy of excellence in dance education, quality performance, and helping students reach their full potential.
Canyon Concert Ballet Faculty
Sarah Bailey
Young Dancer Program Instructor
Sarah grew up dancing at the school of the Washington Ballet and continued with ballet and other genres at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Following college, she performed with 4M Dance in San Francisco and Oakland, California. She returned to school to earn a M.Ed. degree in Early Childhood Education and later trained in Anne Green-Gilbert’s methodology of dance instruction at the Creative Dance Center in Seattle. She joined the CCB staff in 2015, focusing on dance with toddlers & parents together and the Young Dancer’s Program. Sarah was honored to attend the CSU Carl S. Bimson Dance/Movement Education Seminar for Colorado K-12 Educators during the summers of 2016-17. Sarah works as a teacher at First United Methodist Cooperative Preschool in addition to being a dance educator.
Judy Bejarano
Advanced Modern Instructor & Choreographer
Judy Bejarano teaches Modern Dance Technique for Canyon Concert Dance Center. She has also staged contemporary works on Canyon Concert Ballet’s Company. Bejarano received her Master of Fine Arts from C.U. Boulder in dance with an emphasis in choreography. She also teaches Improvisation, Choreography and Modern Technique at Colorado State University. Bejarano is the artistic director of IMPACT Dance Company, a dance/theatre company whose performances speak to issues in our everyday lives. She collaborates and creates custom events with area art groups as well as for private events. Bejarano is increasingly interested in redefining the relationship between performer and audience, therefore; IMPACT’s work can be found in nontraditional spaces, from art galleries, to storefronts, to airplane hangars. Bejarano is also interested in exploring the use of dance as a collaborative outreach tool and has a long term relationship with the arts programs at Pathways Hospice. The company also has a well established integrated arts outreach program called Every Voice Matters. Bejarano’s work has been selected for many regional and national festivals including National American College Dance Festival, Colorado Choreographers Showcase, and Gala Concert for the National Dance Association Festival. Her “topic driven work” often uses original text, dance and projection, and continues to be commissioned at the university level and by independent dance, theatre and music groups. Bejarano, an enthusiastic and demanding instructor, teaches workshops and residencies throughout the region.
Laura Bitterman
Children’s Ballet Instructor
Laura grew up in Fort Collins and started dancing at age four with the Mary Constantine-Nelson Dance Centre, currently known as The Studio. She studied ballet, tap, and jazz during her twelve years there. When she was sixteen years old, she started training at Canyon Concert Ballet and is currently a member of the CCB Company. She has also received training from the Colorado Ballet and the Pennsylvania Ballet through various summer programs. Laura is excited to be a part of another season at CCB and is grateful for the opportunity to share her passion through teaching!
Melissa Corr
Ballet Mistress, Advanced Ballet Instructor & Artistic Advisor
Melissa Corr is a native NewYorker. She began her training with Russian Prima Ballerina Liana Hausler. She eventually joined her company, Genesee Civic Ballet and later Hausler and Company, where she enjoyed many solo roles in the Classics.
Upon arriving in Colorado, she continued her dancing with Denver Civic, now Colorado Ballet.
Through the years she became very interested in pedagogy, and continued to study again in NYC , taking vigorous classes with such greats as Melissa Hayden, Patricia Wilde, Basil Thompson, Nadine Ravine, Zena Romett and Gelsey Kirkland.
Returning to Colorado and rekindling her admiration and love for her Russian training, she studied and danced for Misha Tcherpakova, Meelis Pakri, Pavel Rotaru, Jilliana, Lorita Travaglia, and Dmitre Roudnev.
Melissa has been a pillar in the Fort Collins ballet community, working with the Chamber Orchestra, Fort Collins Symphony, Fort Collins Opera, and the theater companies as well. She has taught and performed throughout the United States and Canada for over 50 years. She has been a member of CCBs fine staff since 1979.
Melissa retired from Colorado State University Music Theater and Dance Department in 2010, where she was the intermediate and advanced ballet technique professor.. She restaged many classic works and also choreographed numerous works of her own during those many years.
For the last 6 years she has taught during the spring semester for Escuela Profesional de Danza De Mazatlan,Mexico, a 4 year dance degree program, and also company class for Delfos, a world renown contemporary company. She has been invited to teach in several states in Mexico and also the National School of Ecuador.
Melissa splits her time now between CCB and EPDM, and is always excited to see her students, where ever they are in the world.
Laura Daugherty
Advanced Ballet Instructor
Laura recently relocated to Fort Collins with her family from Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, where she was on faculty at St. Croix Ballet. Her early training began at Dancers’ Workshop in Jackson Hole, and continued at St. Croix Ballet, Andaházy School of Classical Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts, Classical Ballet Ensemble with Carol Roderick, the University of Utah, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, and the Kirov and Harid summer programs.
She has performed works by George Balanchine, Rudy Van Danzig, Galina Yordanova and Petipa with Colorado Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Manitoba Opera, Dance Theatre of Wilmington, St. Paul Ballet, and Metropolitan Ballet.
With over 20 years of teaching experience, Laura has been on the faculty at The Academy of Russian Ballet, Ballet Arts, Spotlight Productions, Minnesota Dance Theatre, St. Paul Ballet, and St. Croix Ballet. Her guest teaching is extensive and includes the Summit School of Dance and Ballet Royale, among others. Along with teaching technique, pointe, and repertoire, Laura has designed costumes and most recently staged Act 1 of The Nutcracker for St. Croix Ballet. She has choreographed numerous variations and ensemble works for school performances and dance competitions and is experienced teaching ages four and up, including beginning to advanced adult classes.
Laura has studied ballet pedagogy with Carol Roderick and Bonnie Mathis and continues to attend ballet workshops and dance medicine conferences. She most recently became certified in PBT, and she completed the National Dance Education Organization’s Early Childhood Education course.
She has coached students for the Youth American Grand Prix and the Youth International Ballet Competition, and many have gone on to professional performance, teaching, and dance-based careers. Laura is passionate about teaching classical ballet and providing a well-rounded education that students can take with them in any endeavor they pursue.
Gracie Eaton
Hip Hop Instructor
Terri Jo Englund
Modern/Adult Ballet Instructor
Terri Jo Englund was born and raised in central Illinois where she first danced with the Springfield Ballet Company as a teenager in their company. Her love of dance took her to the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music to pursue a BFA in Dance. It was there that she studied the Lester Horton Modern Dance Technique under the tutelage of James Truitte. It became her passion and her thesis for her MA. Upon graduating, she returned to Springfield to become the Ballet Mistress and Principal Dancer for the Springfield Ballet Company where she performed leading roles in The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Coppelia. While there she also choreographed original works and staged choreography for their productions and taught classes in ballet, pointe, creative movement and introduced them to the Lester Horton Modern Dance Technique. With a desire to perform more, she moved to Chicago to be on scholarship with the Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago company.
Living in Chicago opened many doors for Ms Englund. She was able to take classes at the Ruth Page School of Ballet, Lou Conte Dance Studio, River North studio, and most recently at Visceral Dance Center and Dance Center Evanston while teaching ballet, modern and jazz at several local studios and performing guest roles with different companies. In 1994, Ms. Englund self produced a dance concert and formed T J & Company to give area dancers a place to showcase their talents and perform together. In 1996, Ms. Englund added a junior company and T J & Company Dance Theatre became a 501 (c) 3 organization. The company was designed to produce 2 major performances each year as well as perform at many local venues, festivals and senior centers, Ms. Englund’s original, full length production, The Cracked Nut was a holiday favorite for 10 years.
While in Chicago, Ms. Englund was the Program Assistant in the Dance Program at Northwestern University. She was also adjunct faculty teaching ballet to majors and non majors. She was extremely excited to be given the opportunity to choreography for the Dance Works production 3 times. Ms. Englund has taught dance to all ages and levels for over 30 years. In addition to dance, she is certified to teach aerial yoga and Gyrokinesis and she enjoys circus arts, rollerblading, hiking, paddle boarding, wind surfing, crotcheting and puzzles. She recently moved to Fort Collins to enjoy being outdoors more often with her family.
Tiana Farnsworth
Children’s Ballet Instructor
Tiana Farnsworth grew up in Colorado Springs, CO. She performed and studied ballet at Colorado Ballet Society and was introduced to modern in her adult years. She started her dance education at Pikes Peak Community College (PPCC) where she danced under Stephanie Kobes-Newcomb. She performed with the student company, High Altitude Dance Ensemble (HADE), for four seasons. She completed her Associates in Dance in spring of 2015 and is now attending Colorado State University (CSU) for her B.A. in Dance and B.S. in Health and Exercise Science: Health Promotion. Tiana learned the complexity of choreography, modern technique, ballet technique, and teaching modern and ballet. She also enjoyed dancing in the Ballet Reparatory Ensemble for two semesters. She was a featured dancer of the Ballet Reparatory Ensemble in the Le Corsaire Suite adapted by Madeline Harvey in the “Pas De Trois Des Odalisque” as the first soloist. Tiana currently teaches at Canyon Concert Ballet as a children’s ballet instructor and is excited to spread her joy and knowledge of dance to her students by including history, technique, and fun within her classroom.
Matthew Harvey
Advanced Ballet Instructor
Matthew Harvey, a native of Allentown, PA, began his dance training with Repertory Dance Theatre, under the direction of Jennifer Haltzman Tracy and Trinette Singleton. He has received scholarships to attended summer dance intensives at Joffrey Ballet School and Chautauqua Institute. From 2006 to 2007, Matthew danced as a trainee at North Carolina Dance Theatre, now Charlotte Ballet. He moved to Greenville, SC and joined Carolina Ballet Theatre in August of 2007. Matthew has been featured as a guest artist with Olney Ballet Theatre, Piedmont School of Music and Dance, Universities of North and South Carolina, and in various cities across South America. In addition to performing, Matthew teaches a variety of dance styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary, and pas de deux. Matthew has been choreographing since 2006, creating works for Carolina Ballet Theatre, Foothills Dance Conservatory, DanceArts Youth Company, Repertory Dance Theatre, and the Youth American Grand Prix.
Vanessa Hearn
Pre-Professional Ballet Instructor
Vanessa Hearn began her dance training at CCB at the age of 3. A dedicated student, she became a member of the CCB company at age 15 and has taught ballet focusing in the Vaganova and RAD techniques for 6 years at CCB. In addition to teaching, Vanessa has also choreographed numerous dances and set pieces for the CCB company. Vanessa is trained in several dance disciplines including: Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Tap, Hip Hop, Swing, and Salsa, and has performed in over 50 productions. She enjoys teaching children and adults alike. She trained under Mia Michaels of So You Think You Can Dance, Misha Tchoupakov of Salt Lake City Ballet and Regional Dance America, and Lorita Travaglia of Colorado Ballet. Vanessa graduated with honors from CSU and served as CCB’s Interim Director during the 2014 Fall Semester.
Amy Hughes
Children’s Ballet Instructor, Choreographer
Amy joined Canyon Concert Ballet as a Company dancer in 1993. She began teaching for the school in 1995, and loves working with students and helping them to be the best dancers they can be. In fact, many current Company dancers started in her Ballet 1, 2, and 3 classes. She received her dance training from Colorado Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Ballet West, and has received instructor training in both the Royal Academy of Dance and Vaganova styles. Amy also choreographs ballets, solos, and contemporary ballet pieces for CCB’s Youth Ensemble. As well as teaching dance, Amy teaches sixth grade English at Lincoln Middle IB School.
Alayna Maddocks
Young Dancer and Children’s Ballet Instructor
Bio coming soon!
Erin Merkley
Tap Instructor
Erin began her dance training at the age of 5, and started competing shortly thereafter. Her main focus was in percussive dance styles such as Irish, Clogging and Tap. During her freshman year of college she joined the LMT theater company as their lead choreographer. From that point forward, she immersed herself into the world of theater and dance instruction. She has choreographed several award winning shows and she received the title of “Best Choreographer”. Erin is excited to teach and inspire the students at CCB in their creativity and love for the arts.
Erica Mugoye
Pre-professional Ballet Instructor, Assistant Artistic Director
Erica Mugoye started dancing at Canyon Concert Ballet in 1990, and has performed in more than 50 CCB productions. She has been teaching at CCB since 2000, and is currently the Assistant to the Artistic Director as well as the Company Manager and Ballet Instructor. Ms. Mugoye trained under well known dance instructors Gabriella Komleva, of the Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia, Galina Yordanova, resident guest teacher and choreographer for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Canada, Carol Roderick, Director of the CSU Dance Teachers’ Institute, and Lorita Travaglia, Ballet Mistress for Colorado Ballet. In addition to ballet, Ms. Mugoye has studied many forms of dance including Jazz, Modern, Contact Improvisation, Spanish, Swing, Salsa, Character, Tap, and Hip-Hop.
Joy Prendergast
Advanced Ballet Instructor
Joy Prendergast started her dance training in Colorado. She attended the University of Utah as a Ballet Major, and in 2007 relocated to San Francisco to continue her training at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance under the direction of Summer Lee Rhatigan. Joy has performed works by notable choreographers Jiri Kylian, William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, Malinda LaVelle, Alex Ketley, Robert Moses, and Christian Burns. In 2009 Joy joined Alex Ketley’s, The Foundry. She has worked and performed for local Bay Area companies and choreographers such as Allyce Finnwall Dance Theater, Katie Faulkner, Amelia Rudolph, Robert Moses, Eric Kupers and Dandelion Dance Theater, and Woodminster Theater. In 2010 Joy became a founding member of Malinda LaVelle’s Project Thrust. Then, in 2011 she began creating her own Choreography through the Garage Residency Program (RAW) and The San Francisco Conservatory of Dance.
Joy’s choreography has been performed at Z Space Theater, The Garage, SFCD, presented in the Annual San Francisco Summer Dance Series, San Francisco Dance Tiny Film Festival, Performa (Tel Aviv), Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Machol Shalem, and HaMiffal Artist House (Jerusalem). She also served as a faculty member of San Francisco Youth Ballet Academy and taught as a guest teacher at San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, City Ballet School and other local San Francisco schools and academies. In 2014, Joy moved to Israel. There she served as faculty at Bikuray Hi’aitim, and taught at The Maslool (professional training program), Shira Ganor Dance School, and The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. In 2018, Joy completed her Bachelor Degree in Dance, with an emphasis in choreography, from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. Joy has recently relocated to her home State of Colorado, to embark on new ventures in teaching, dancing, and choreography. She is excited to join the team at Canyon Concert Ballet.
Jenna Smith
Jazz/Contemporary Instructor
Jenna Smith is originally from Maple Grove, Minnesota. She started training in dance at age 4, and moved to Colo. in 2005. Here she joined the Colorado Youth Ballet, where she studied with Patricia Hoffman, Holly Marble, and Jacob Mora. She began her college training at Colorado State University as a dance major, and graduated in 2012. While at CSU, Jenna was chosen to perform with many guest artists including Viktor Kabaniaev, Katie Elliot, Pilobolus, Gabe Masson, and Tommy Parlon. She performed excerpts from La Bayadère, Paquita, The Nutcracker, and Don Quixote, and danced featured roles in many original works by guest choreographers and the CSU dance faculty.
Jenna spent two years in CSU’s Tour Dance Company, performing and participating in lecture demonstrations in schools across Colo., and has been a guest performer with the Aspen Dance Connection in Grand Junction, Colo. Upon graduation, Jenna briefly worked with Cleo Parker Robinson’s 2nd company before joining IMPACT Dance Company in the fall of 2012. She remained both a company member, and publicity and marketing director until moving to Tennessee in 2015. In Nashville, she had the pleasure of studying with Banning Bouldin of New Dialect, and performed one of her original works as a part of their summer “Choreographers” intensive. In the fall of 2015, she was offered a position in FALL aerial ballet company in Nashville. With the company she performed all over Nashville, and was also invited to dance in multiple projects with choreographer Laurel Desmarais. Currently, she in an active member of IMPACT Dance Company, and has appeared in several performances with Denver based dance company, Industrial Dance Alliance.
Her choreographic work has been featured in IMPACT Dance Company’s show, “Words, (Wo)men and Song, as well as the 2018 Fringe Festival show, “Women Working: Movement Stories by 3 Colorado Choreographers” which received the Salt Magazine “Movers and Shakers” award. She is happy to be back in Colorado helping to inspire the next generation of young dancers!
Greta Sugai
Contemporary Instructor
Alta Thuesen
Musical Theater Instructor
Alta has been dancing for 14 years and is happy to be an apprentice this year at Canyon Concert Ballet. Alta danced with Colorado Conservatory of Dance formerly known as Ballet Nouveau Colorado. She has performed in many CCB performances including three CCB Nutcrackers. Alta joined CCB when she was 13 years old and has enjoyed the time and teachers’ dedication to the art form. She thanks her teachers Melissa Corr, Alicia Laumann, and Laurel Whisker for their support and hard work.
Brenda Van Fossen-Moore
Young Dancer and Children’s Ballet Instructor
Bio coming soon!
Analía Weber
Children’s Ballet and Modern Instructor
Analía Alegre-Femenias Weber is a dancer, choreographer and improvisational artist whose works focuses on the relationship of the self and others providing a unique sense to see the world. She obtained her BFA with High Honors from New World School of the Arts under Daniel Lewis and later received the Deans Fellowship for her MFA in Choreography from University of Iowa. Analía has performed works by Charlotte Adams, Robert Battle, David Dorfman, Jennifer, Kayle, José Limón, Donald McKayle, and Bill Young among others. Her choreographic work has been presented at Judson Church and 100 Grand in New York city as well as in Chicago, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Puerto Rico
Currently Analía is faculty at Canyon Concert Ballet and Front Range Community College were she teaches ballet, modern, improvisation and contemporary styles of dance as she continues her dance career with IMPACT Dance Company in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Outside of dance Analía is a Pilates instructor with over 10 years of experience helping dancers and non traditional movers move past injuries and gain more control over their instrument. Her students have continued to dance in prestigious colleges and programs like Juilliard and Point Park University as well as NW Dance Project and Martha Graham. Through her movement work Analía strives to provide her students and clients with tailored instruction to achieve not only their fullest potential but complete joy in movement to live better and more creative lives.
Haley Westmoreland
Jazz/Tap Instructor
Haley Westmoreland discovered her passion for dance at the age of 12 when she began training on competitive teams at Airborne Dance and later at Dance Dimensions in her hometown of Longmont, Colorado. She has a strong foundation in tap, ballet, jazz and hip hop. Haley is a current undergrad student at Colorado State University majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies and minoring in Anthropology and Entrepreneurship/Innovation. Haley recently completing a RYT-200 yoga training in Chiang Mai, Thailand which transformed her practice and ultimately brought her back home to dance. Through her dance training and yoga practice, Haley now crafts her movement through intentionality and mindfulness. Haley is a new teacher at Canyon Concert Ballet. She is teaching Tap 1, Jazz 1 and 2. She is excited to share her training, passion and exploration for dance with her students.
