Ixchel has taught, choreographed, and performed in the northern Colorado region since 1990. From her years of performing professionally and studying classical ballet and modern dance with many master teachers, Ixchel has a breadth of experience to share with her students. She is known for her precision in teaching proper technique geared towards minimizing injury and maximizing consistent student progress. Ixchel seeks to share the art and soul of dance with all who come into her classes, and she carefully nurtures the gifts and beauty in each of her students. She has choreographed and directed many classical and contemporary ballets and currently does so for her ballet school, Front Range Classical Ballet Academy and for its associated semi-professional company, Front Range Contemporary Ballet.
Paulette has been a teacher and practitioner of the Feldenkrais Method(R) of somatic education for over 20 years. She applies Awareness Through Movement lessons from Stanford Integrative Medicine to exercise and wellness programs she conducts. She has worked with cancer patients and participants at senior centers, where everyone gets dancing no matter their perceived limitations. A student of various forms of dance, she sets her goal to facilitate movement as self-expression as well as performance. Paulette enjoyed the first convening so much that she is now teaching for her sixth year as a Master Teacher.
Godwin Abotsi is a premier master dancer whose craft has taken him all over Ghana and beyond. Godwin uses his expertise in traditional Ghanaian dance and music to effectively teach students of all levels about the beauty of African sounds and rhythms. Mr. Abotsi offers dance performances, workshops, and private lessons in Ghanaian traditional dance forms and teaches a variety of rhythmic styles for both sacred and social dances. He is currently based in Fort Collins, Colorado where he runs cultural immersion tours to Ghana, West Africa and collaborates with local musicians and artists. For more information, please email him at ghanaculturaltour@gmail.com or call him at (970)646-8209.
Please visit the following links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5sqog4rULE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TBdEayUvWw
Nadia Duncan,owner of Impulse Dance and Fitness LLC, grew up dancing with her family: "It was our cultural norm." She began formal dance training at Soul Motion, then joined a competitive dance team at Centerstage Starz. She moved to Fort Collins, attended Colorado State University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. During college she taught Hip Hop, Break, and Dance fitness all over town. Nadia is now certified in Zumba, BODYJAM by Les Mills, Strong By Zumba, and Group Fitness by AFAA. After graduating from college, she decided to take her passion for dance to the next level. "I wanted to create a space for the adult community to share, grow, inspire, and find happiness through dance." Through Impulse, Nadia provides accessible adult dance opportunities that cultivate community, expression, and happiness.
Yvonne Hanning is the owner and founder of Willow Tree Studios: Online Fitness for Active Agers. She loves the flowing movement and meditative aspect of Tai Chi. With her experience as a student and teacher of Tai Chi, Yvonne brings a traditional tai chi movement experience in way that deepens flow for beginners and for those with more experience.
Visit willowtreestudios.net to see their wide variety of classes, sign up for their entertaining weekly news note, and check out their daily movement breaks.
Carissa Gabrielle Baros is a professional dancer and choreographer signed with Go 2 Talent Agency out of Los Angeles. She owns Northern Colorado Dance Fusion LLC in Greeley and travels in the United States teaching master classes and delivering motivational speeches. Carissa specializes in hip hop, jazz funk, and heels, and choreographs lyrical pieces. She believes dance was created to give us the opportunity to connect within ourselves and with others to express, heal, and unite! Her life intention is to encourage others to take a chance on themselves and to share her light while helping others find theirs, embracing who we are with our soul’s purpose!
Eden Irrgang is a CSU student who will begin her senior year this August. She is studying Human Development and Family Studies and American Sign Language, and is planning to pursue occupational therapy after graduating. Throughout her life Eden has gained 17 years of dance experience. During this time Eden has instructed and trained in many styles, including jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and musical theatre. While pursuing her other passion, theatre, Eden has had the chance to engage in many aspects of performing: singing, dancing, and acting, while also training in costuming and stage management. Eden is so excited to connect with an amazing group of individuals while sharing the things she loves most!
Kat Lawrie is a student at Colorado State University looking to pursue Occupational Therapy. She trained at the pre-professional level and has been practicing ballet for 10 years and has been en pointe for 7. She also has experience dancing contemporary, modern, lyrical, and musical theatre. She participated in the International Ballet Competition Summer Dance Program in 2018 as well as the Ballet Magnificat Summer Dance intensive in 2017 and 2018. She has danced internationally in South Korea and performed in various festivals in Seoul. Kat has had the chance to dance the lead as the Sugar Plum fairy, Esmerelda, White Swan, Bluebird, Don Quixote, and various other roles in the Nutcracker. Kat has been a volunteer with Dance Express for a year and has assisted backstage and with choreography. She has experience teaching multiple styles of dance and has taught ages ranging from 6 to 60.