TEACHERS AND STAFF

KIM KINNEAR, Owner/Artistic Director, Founder.

Kim has studied Ballet, Tap, Modern and Jazz since the age of five. While a dance major at Loretto Heights Fine Arts College, she studied intensively with Jeri McAndrews (Paul Taylor Company), Milenko Banovich.  In Los Angeles, she studied Jazz at Moro-Landis (currently “Millennium”) under Joe Tremain and Jaimie Rogers. She also worked professionally in L.A. and Japan. She holds a BA in education and taught school in the Parker area for 6 years. She opened Parker Dance in 1993, is a member of Dance Educators of America, won the DEA Outstanding Choreography Award several times, has collaborated with dance professionals such as David Taylor and International Ballet School, and has trained students who grew up at Parker Dance Academy and continued to dance with scholarships to Alonzo King Lines Ballet in San Francisco, Alvin Ailey in New York, University of Utah, University of Hawaii, among others.  She is proud to be a part of the education of multiple students who have continued on to successful commercial dance careers, professional concert dance careers with national and international dance companies, and broadway performance and choreography careers.

She has 38+ years of teaching experience and a lifelong passion for dance and education.

JULIE CURLEY, Founder.

Julie has trained in Ballet for 19 years and tap & jazz for 12 years. She has trained under ballet masters from Ballet West, San Francisco Ballet (Michelle Burns), and Ballet Arts (Larry Boyette). She performed with USO as a jazz dancer and also danced in classical ballets such as Sleeping Beauty and the Nutcracker. She has had teacher training in the Vaganova Syllabus and the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus. She has been teaching dance for 30+ years, 7 of those as the director of a studio branch.  She has been at PDA for over 20 years.

LIZZIE REESE, Company Director, Contemporary.

Lizzie has spent the past 9 years dancing professionally. She most recently was touring with Sesame Street Live as a performer and dance captain on their national tours from 2018-2020. Her time spent performing at the Walt Disney Company and Universal Studios has given her opportunities to perform internationally and in the states doing television, parades, cruise ships and filmed shows. Growing up, she trained at Parker Dance Academy from a young age through high school. She loves sharing her passion for all styles but mostly contemporary and hip hop! This is Lizzie’s 3rd year with PDA.

LISA REBIK, Jazz, Adult Jazz, Ballet, Tap.

Lisa began her professional dance career in Los Angeles and has credits in television, movies, and theater. She relocated to Colorado 15 years ago to work for the international organization, Up With People, where she held the position of Choreographer/Associate Director. Lisa has taught jazz for the past 25 years. This is her 18th year at PDA.

SHELLY CATES WILLIAMS, Ballet Director.

Shelly  earned her Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts at the United States International University School of Performing Arts in San Diego CA. She continued professionally, performing lead rolls in over 500 major ballet stage and television productions and teaching all levels of ballet and Master Classes for Ballet West, Milwaukee Ballet, Academy of Ballet Florida and San Diego Ballet. Shelly has had the privilege of working under the direction of Agnes DeMille, Sallie Wilson and Tony Landers of the American Ballet Theatre; John Hart, Basil Thompson, Erling Sunde and Brian Shaw of Royal Ballet in England. Bobby Rodham, Vicky Simon and Violette Verde of the New York City Ballet and T.C. Wilson. This will be her 11th year with PDA.

JULIA GALLOWAY, Company.

Julia Galloway grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina where she trained and competed in all styles of dance and gymnastics for 15 years. She has had the honor of being a finalist on America’s Got Talent seasons 9 and 10, backup dancing for Guaynaa, and traveling the world as Viking Ocean Cruises Principal Dancer. After living in Orlando for four years and performing for Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and the Orlando Magic, Julia made the move to Miami to continue her journey with the NBA as a Miami Heat Dancer. As well as performing, she has spent the last three years on the roster of Dance Competition Judges with Impact Dance Adjudicators. Julia feels truly blessed with all of the doors that dance and performance have opened for her in her life and is grateful to have the opportunity to share in your journey as well. This is Julia’s 3rd year with PDA.

CHLOE STACEY, Ballet, Company.

Chloe Stacey was born and raised in a rural town outside of Atlanta, Georgia. She began her dance training at age 4 under the direction of Phyllis Allen at the Lawrenceville School of Ballet. She danced on their ballet company, the Southern Ballet Theatre, as a lead and soloist performer until she graduated high school. Chloe attended college at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Dance Department, with an emphasis in ballet. She performed on BYU’s ballet company and had the opportunity to work with master teachers like Summer Rhatigan from the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and Alexandre Munz of France as he introduced his S.A.F.E. barre project to the United States.

During her time at BYU, Chloe spent a summer studying ballet and performing throughout Italy. There she worked with Desmond Richardson, Teddy Forance, and trained at La Scala Ballet, where Enrico Cecchetti created his Cecchetti method of technique. In addition to her degree in Dance, Chloe received a minor in Writing, and also enjoys writing about the arts. She has written numerous dance concert reviews and has been published in multiple dance journals. Chloe has taught dance, specifically pointe and ballet technique, for over 10 years to a variety of ages in Georgia, Utah, Ohio, and Tennessee. She is excited to continue her career in Colorado at Parker Dance Academy. This is Chloe’s 3rd year with PDA.

ROBERT SHELLEY, Tap and Ballet

JESSICA STRONG, Little Darlings Classes, Little Ones, Ballet, Tap.

Jessica has been a member of the Colorado Dance Community for over 20 years. Having started her training at Gayton Dance World and Youth Ballet Colorado, she was bit by the ballet bug at an early age. She devoted her younger years to intensive ballet training at the Academy of Colorado Ballet where she had the honor to perform in several Company and Studio Company performances. As a professional ballerina she spent seven seasons with Ballet Ariel, Denver’s Ballet Company. Now as a retired ballerina she still performs in musical theatre productions with Vintage Theatre and Performance Now Theatre Company, as well as others. She has dedicated her career to building her in-school performing arts Company – Exploration Kids! Enrichment which brings dance, cheerleading, yoga and other mediums to local schools. She also owns and operates Dance to Learn, LLC where she has created her own preschool dance curriculum dedicated to teaching the whole child through dance and movement. Additionally, she operates Dancing Princess Parties, a magical dance based birthday party company. This is Jessica’s 4th year with PDA.

KAEYLN CLOUSE, Hip Hop, Company.

Kaelyn Clouse is 20 years old and has been dancing for 18 years now! Dance is one of her biggest passions. She started dancing at 2 years old, and started competing at 7 years old. She has been technically trained in almost all types of dance which has gotten her this far in her life and loves being able to do all the forms that she has wanted. She has been teaching dance for about seven years now and adores teaching all ages and all forms of dance. She graduated high school in 2020. Along with her dance training, Kaelyn is a first degree black belt in taekwondo, and did cheer/poms in high school and became captain of the poms team. “God has given me many blessings but dance is one that shares a large place in my heart right next to Jesus”. This is Kaelyn’s 4th year with PDA.

CALLEY KRAUSS, Jazz.

Calley Krauss has been dancing since about three years old and the Parker Dance studio was shared with a coffee shop! It is in her blood- Calley has played many characters and parts in shows with Parker Dance including Cinderella and Aladian. Calley is now an addiction counselor by day and while in her spare time, she continues her enthusiasm and passion for dance through teaching! Calley is very excited to be back at Parker Dance and working with the kids to share that passion and enthusiasm. This is Calley’s 3rd year with PDA.

KAREN WEAVER, Tumbling, Acro.

Karen Weaver is married with two beautiful children and lives in Elizabeth, CO. Dance and Gymnastics have been a large part of her life since the age of three. She was a competitive gymnast growing up and continued through her senior year in high school. When not practicing, she was still in the gym teaching. Karen started coaching again in 2003 for the competitive team at Gymnastics Etc. and later moved to Chalkbox. She works with all ages and skill levels including developmental/recreational. Her biggest joy is working with the kids and being a part of their success from year to year. This is Karen’s 2nd year teaching with PDA.

KAYLA DISHUCK, Contemporary, Company.

Kayla has been dancing since she was 2 years old and started competing at 4 years old. She has trained in styles like ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, musical theater, Afro-Brazilian dance, and many more. She is graduating from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs in May of 2024 with degrees in both Psychology and Dance, finishing with a 3.9 GPA. Kayla has earned a spot on the UCCS President and Dean’s list repeatedly. She also has been put in leadership positions with The National Society of Leadership and  Success as well as a mentorship where she worked one-on-one with “at-risk” middle schoolers in her community. She has had many teaching and choreographing opportunities while at UCCS. She has been President/Captain of the UCCS Dance Team. During the 4 years of being on the team, she did administrative work as well as coaching them throughout their seasons. In her senior year of high school at Parker Dance Academy, she toured with Fluid Dance Convention, as part of the Fluid Force to assist the faculty members in classes and help with the logistics of the convention. One of her favorite roles while at Parker Dance Academy was being given the opportunity to be Snow Queen in The Nutcracker. She has won many awards including the Vickie Sheer Award at the Sheer Elite International Dance Convention.

NATALIE WEAVER, Contemporary, Company.

Natalie started dancing when she was 3 years old. She moved studios to Parker Dance when she was in 5th grade and was on the competition team at Parker Dance for 6 years. She trained in contemporary, ballet, tap and hip hop and is now teaching company, hip hop, and contemporary classes at Parker Dance Academy. Natalie loves the opportunities teaching younger dancers has given her and how it has helped her grow as a dancer individually also. She was a teacher’s assistant for 2 years before she graduated and started teaching full time, being a teacher assistant helped her with learning how to teach and train with younger students and learn how to become a leader. She is currently attending Metropolitan State University of Denver as a Physical Therapist major and Dance minor in hopes to further her dance career either individually or helping other dancers with their injuries. Her favorite roles that she has done in our shows were Ariel, Spanish and Snow Queen! This is Natalie’s 3rd year teaching with PDA.