Karen grew up in a musical family and has danced since 1968. She grew up performing, teaching and choreographing and continues to do so today. Karen is a graduate of Wheat Ridge High School and Metropolitan State University and the proud mother of Caitlin and Andrew, who both inherited their love of dance from their mother. Karen has been choreographing musicals in the community for the last 25 years. She is very excited to be able to do what she loves - educating and inspiring young dancers!

Andrew is a graduate of University of Northern Colorado with a Physical Education major with a minor in dance. Andrew received the Outstanding Dance Award at UNC while studying under Monte and Christy Black. Since graduating, he continues to choreograph for "Miranda's Nightmare" at UNC and has also been traveling and assisting Manhattan Dance Project working with choreographers and dancers across the nation. Andrew couldn't be more excited to take on year four at RISE Dance Co.

Caitlin has been dancing and performing since the age of three. In high school, she danced for the Varsity Poms at Wheat Ridge High School. She went on to dance in college, for the Colorado State University Dance Team. She graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Vocal Music Education, and currently teaches the preschool class at Child Priority Preschool. Caitlin has been coaching high school varsity poms for seven years (currently at Wheat Ridge High School).

Melissa is originally from Seattle where she attended the Premiere Dance Center and Cornish College of the Arts. She has performed or be apart of everything from the Seattle Symphony, Club Cruz Control, “The Big Night Out” TV series, “So You Think You Can Dance” to name a few. She has assisted Suzy Misner, Jacques d-Amboise, Natalie Gilmore and Andrew Winghart and also be a judge on national competitive tours. She currently is our Ballet and Contemporary teacher and loves being a part of RISE!

Julia has been dancing and performing since age three and teaching for the last eight years. At present, she dances with Dream Project Dance Company, a professional, non-profit company based out of Broomfield. Julia is a graduate of Lakewood High School and Metropolitan State University with a degree in Applied Mathematics and Physics. Julia teaches our wonderful little kids and lyrical classes, in addition to Barre Fitness classes.

Brianna started dancing at the age of 3 and is a RISE alumni. She is a graduate from Golden High School and has received her associates of the arts degree from Red Rocks Community College. Currently, Brianna is studying at Metropolitan State University Denver to receive her bachelor’s degree in exercise science with a minor in dance, all while being the smiling face to greet you everyday at the front desk at RISE.

Colton is from Colorado Sorings, he received training at the Colorado Ballet Society and took intensive at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet, Ballet Austin, American Ballet Theatre and the Paris Opera Ballet School. Colton has studied in Singapore, competed in YAGP and in France. He was awarded the Denver Ballet Guild’s first prize in 2013 and 2015. In his professional career, he has performed all over the world. He is very excited to be teaching at Rise Dance Co.

Zoe has been dancing and performing in the arts since the age of three. In high school, she danced for the nationally ranked Varsity Poms at Arvada West High School, and then went on to dance and graduate from Kansas State University with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and a minor in Business. Since graduating, she moved to Los Angeles where she worked in TV and Film Production as a Producer in the field and in post. Even from LA, she is happy to be a part of RISE!