Encore Dance Instructors Biographies
Welcome to the Dance Instructors Biographies page where we list the background of our dance instructors.
- Fran Reiss
Fran majored in performing arts at Glassboro state College in New Jersey and attended many master classes in New York with such masters as Danny Hoctor, Glenn Shipley, Charles Kelly, Joe Tremaine, Luiji, Gus Giordano, and Harry LeTang. Fran has been teaching since 1960 and originally had her own studio on the East Coast with over 400 students. Also, while teaching in the East, she choreographed for many high school musicals and also entertained many through both television and stage. Fran was past president of the NJ Federation of Dance and is a member of the Professional Dance Teachers of America, National Association of Dance for over 20 years and has been a incredible tap teacher. She is well known throughout the studio and is proficient at teaching both younger and older dances. Fran is not only a teacher but also a good friend and we look forward to many more years of her love and buddy personality. We congratulate and thank her for 50+ years of teaching and inspiring dances across the country!
- Leanna Earlywine
Leanna was born and raised in northwest Indiana where she excelled in dance, voice, and theater, and was a concert clarinetist in the Chicago area. She also studied dance with Gus Giordano. Moving to Colorado, she majored in Theater at Denver University where she starred in and choreographed many of the theater department shows, as well as the internationally recognized DU Swing Choir, which she co-founded. Leanna joined Picus Dance while still in college and worked under Stan and Heidi Picus and soon performed with the Picus Dance Company. She was also featured at Country Dinner Playhouse as one of Stan Picus' dancers. Leanna not only choreographed for Off Broadway Academy of Dance Company, but has choreographed for numerous high school productions. Leanna has taught dance for 22 years in the Denver area; was director of Picus Dance Academy for 5 years prior to becoming owner and director of Off Broadway Dance Academy. Her biggest joy besides being a mother and wife is to nurture and watch students grow not only as dancers, but as overall confident, well-rounded individuals. Encore Dance is definitely blessed to have Leanna as our new Artistic Director.
- Alexandra Markovetz
Alexandra has been dancing since the age of 3 and was a member of Encore Dance Company for the majority of those years. In addition to her studio training , she has participated in various regional and national workshops and conventions as well as summer ballet intensives at Ballet Austin (2003), American Ballet Theater (2005), and the Rock School (2007), Soul Escape (2009), and the University of Colorado at Boulder. Alexandra has won numerous awards for her dancing including LA Dance Magic Performer of the Weekend, Miss Teen Onstage America (3004, 3005), and was a finalist at the Denver Ballet Guild (2004, 2006). She has also performed in the City of Aurora's Nutcracker ballet in various roles including Ginger Snap, Flute, Clara, and Sugar Plum Fairy. Alexandra is currently performing as a member of the Boulder Ballet in addition to teaching at Encore Dance.
- Victoria J. Spangler
Victoria is a Colorado native, who received her early training at the David Taylor Dance Theater, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance and the International Ballet School, as well as attending intensive programs at Colorado Ballet, and the University of the Arts, in Philadelphia, PA. During this time, she was fortunate enough to study under influential teachers such as Nikoloz Makhateli, James Clouser, Michelle O'Brien, and Milton Meyers, among others. In 2009, Victoria received her B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography from CU Boulder, where she had the opportunity to study with, and perform in works by Gabriel Masson, Onye Ozuzu, and Erika Randall. While at the University, Victoria presented many works of original choreography, and, upon acceptance into the Bachelor of Fine Arts program, co-produced, directed, and choreographed an original, full-length production. Victoria spent time performing with the Wichita Ballet Theater and Friends University, and spent multiple seasons as a member of David Taylor Dance Theater's apprentice company. She is currently in her second season with Louder Than Words Dance Theater, a professional contemporary jazz and modern company based out of Denver. Victoria has been teaching classical ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, modern and jazz dance technique classes throughout the Denver Metro area since 2007.
- Courtney Trujillo
Courtney was born and raised in Colorado. Courtney started dancing with Dance Movement (currently Encore Dance) 18 years ago. She was in Varsity Poms and has attended various camps including UDA. She also taught children's ballet, tap, and jazz in her hometown of Bennett. She has judged company tryouts for the last 3 years and has enjoyed her third year teaching at Encore Dance.
- Arline Wood
Arline has been belly dancing for thirty years. She has learned the dance while living in Trinidad and studied under such accomplished dancers as "Christina", who learned the art of belly dance in Turkey, and "Morocco" a well known dancer from Chicago. More recently, she has attended work-shops and classes with "Sadie", a very talented Colorado dancer known for her style and technique. Arline believes there is no batter form of exercise. It is fun, exotic, and once you learn the dance you'll never stop! Encore Dance thanks Arline for continuing to bring this exciting dance form to our studio.
- Amber Grisley
Amber was born and raised in Denver and am a recent college graduate. My love for dance started at age 2, and I have never stopped. I attended Off Broadway Academy of Dance where I was an active member of Junior and Senior Company, competing, and dedicating my life to dance. I have experience in all styles, but mostly enjoy tap, jazz, and hip hop. I received my Bachelors of Education from Gonzaga University. In college I was the coach of the hip hop club named Bomb Squad, where we performed at men's and women's basketball games, as well as other events around campus. I am excited to share my love for hip hop as I begin teaching at ENCORE.
- Kelli McWhirter
Kelli McWhirter has had a lifelong passion for dance starting from an early age. She has studied ballet, jazz, tap and modern. She studied ballet with Corinne Kuhl-Reed and tap and jazz at Encore Dance (formerly The Dance Movement). She was a member of the Dance Movement Company and their professional company Dance Attack. She performed at numerous local venues, competitions and workshops throughout the Denver Metro area. She also studied with Kim Robards modern dance studio and performed with the company. She started her teaching career at The Dance Movement in 1995. She has also taught at Belliston Academy of Ballet and Kim Robards Dance.
She received a Bachelor's Degree in photojournalism from Metropolitan State College of Denver where she found a second love with photography. She believes it is important to capture moments through photography and is honored to have some of her dance photographs hanging at Encore Dance studio. She has her Master's in Education from the University of Denver and is a first grade teacher in Aurora Public Schools. She is thrilled be teaching again at Encore Dance. - Devin Pile
Devin studied dance at the Coconino Community College in Flagstaff, AZ, and was a member of their Encore Dance Company. He has also trained and performed with Canyon Movement Company in Flagstaff, University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Cleo Parker Robinson in Denver, and Gotta Dance Studio in Aurora, MO, and recently taught at Colorado School of Dance in Parker. He has experience in various forms of dance including hip hop, ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and improvisation. Devin states "my positive attitude and willingness to try new and challenging pieces has helped me to greatly progress? I am motivated to help others and inspire my community through dance."
- Anthony Alterio
Anthony Alterio has been dancing for 15 years in all styles of dance. (Jazz, Lyrical, Pointe, Ballet, Hip Hop, Tap, Musical Theater). My favorite style of dance is Studio Hip Hop, or to fuse Hip Hop with another style of dance. I started dancing in Pittsburgh, PA, with a dance school called Dance Etc. I ended up staying there till I was 17 then headed off to Point Park College in Pittsburgh. After a semester there I came out to Colorado and joined the Dance Program at CU where I am currently studying to get my BFA. I have worked with choreographers such as Hip Hop Legend Rennie Harris, Modern Artist Michelle Ellsworth and the young Bob Fosse girl version Erika Randall. I started a dance team at my high school that is still in place today competing, have been in countless musicals that I choreographed for, and am working to produce my own show next spring 2012. Dance is my life and I believe connects us all on a level that cannot be felt by anyone who doesn't dance. Anyone can dance, it is just a matter of listening to the rhythm of your heart and following what you love to do.
- Julie Lee
Julie is 19 years old living in Boulder, Colorado. She is currently a student at the University of Colorado at Boulder working towards a degree in Psychology. Determined to have a career in dance, Julie trains in all elements of hip hop, contemporary, and jazz. She also teaches and trains at Motion Underground, in Denver, and Streetside Studios, in Boulder.