Val has been dancing for nearly 30 years & trained in jazz, hip-hop, tap, ballet, pointe and modern. Additionally, she has held various teaching roles over the past 20 years for youth and adults.Growing up outside Philadelphia, she was a steadfast member of Babylon School of Dance’s company “Momentum” – an elite group of dancers hand-selected by faculty to perform at countless events throughout local communities in Southeastern PA and featured in the annual recital.Val has attended intensives at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City; trained in Washington, DC at the Dance Institute of Washington; and performed in several showcases with the Joy of Motion Dance Center in DC. Val continues her education with Ailey Extension, a subset of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, as well as other institutions.She has also worked with kids in a variety of other capacities over the past 15+ years, including teaching at summer camp and mentoring with Horton’s Kids in Washington, DC.After living in Golden, Leadville became her home in 2021. When she isn’t dancing, Val also works in the non-profit sector; spends time outdoors with her husband Zach and their two pups – Ziggy and Odie; and enjoys all things Colorado alongside friends and family.Opening Leadville Dance Collective in the fall of 2023 has been one of the greatest joys of Val's life. Building on the foundation of dance programs in Leadville that came before, it's been an honor to grow a welcoming, inclusive community where dancers and movers of all ages can learn, connect, and thrive. Watching LDC students discover confidence, friendships, and a love of movement continues to inspire her every day.

Ashley began ballet at the age of seven and has continued to dance all throughout her life. She has been dancing and teaching for over 25 years. Introducing the beauty and joy of dance to students of all ages and abilities is one of her passions.Ashley has been a principal dancer for the Northeast Ballet Company and performed various roles in the Nutcracker. She also performed as a guest artist for the New York City Ballet Gala in Saratoga Springs, NY.Ashley has extensive experience in musical theatre, performing for various professional companies in shows including: Oklahoma!, Shrek the Musical, High School Musical Onstage, The Music Man, and many more.Outside of the studio, you can find Ashley running, hiking, or skiing with her favorite person, Spencer, and their fluffy ball of canine energy, Nokoni.Ashley is thrilled to be a teacher at Leadville Dance Collective and to share her love of dance with all her students!

Spencer is an experienced dance educator and performer with a passion for sharing the art of dance with students of all ages.Beginning his dance journey at the age of six, Spencer has spent his life immersed in the art of movement and performing, honing his skills in both ballet and musical theater, as well as a variety of other dance forms.With a rich background in performance, Spencer has choreographed and performed across the United States, working with various ballet companies, schools, and musical theater organizations. His extensive experience includes teaching dance through numerous in-school programs, summer arts programs, and serving as a faculty member at the resident dance school for the Northeast Ballet Company.As a principal dancer with the Northeast Ballet Company, Spencer not only captivated audiences with his performances, but also took on roles as a choreographer and rehearsal director, shaping the next generation of dancers. His career highlights include engagements with organizations such as Northeast Ballet Company, Greensboro Ballet, Ballet Magnificat, Albany Symphony Orchestra, New York City Ballet, Schenectady Light Opera Company, Not So Common Players, Capital Repertory Theatre, Community Theatre of Greensboro, Mississippi Opera, and more.Spencer’s versatile performance repertoire includes roles such as principal dancer in the New York City Ballet Summer Gala, Motel in Fiddler on the Roof, Bartender in And the World Goes 'Round, Conrad Birdie in Bye Bye Birdie, Emmett Forest in Legally Blonde, Thenardier in Les Misérables, Player in Pippin, Dance Captain in The Music Man, Pas de Trois in Paquita, and numerous roles in The Nutcracker, including Nutcracker, Cavalier, Confections Lead, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese. Additionally, his ballet experience includes performing in Swan Lake as a member of the corps and various other roles throughout his career.Now bringing his expertise and enthusiasm to the Leadville dance community, Spencer teaches ballet, jazz, dance fitness and more. He continues to inspire and nurture the love of dance in his students, fostering a welcoming environment where everyone can express themselves through movement.Spencer is also an avid adventurer who finds joy in skiing, traveling, hiking, cooking, and spending quality time with his wife, Ashley, and their dog, Nokoni.

Lauren grew up in California and started dancing as soon as she could walk, including tap and ballet classes at the age of 3. She loved performing at recitals and wearing all kinds of fun costumes. By the age of 7, Lauren began to dance competitively in jazz, tap and lyrical, and she continued to do so into her teenage years. After dedicating many hours to dance, she pivoted and joined the high school cheer team where she learned tumbling and stunts.As an adult, Lauren has worked as a summer camp counselor, youth academic tutor, and a high school Spanish teacher. She joined the Peace Corps in Nicaragua and worked with the community to develop entrepreneurship education in high schools. In Leadville, Lauren has worked with the Lake County School District in after school programming and supported the District’s interpretation and translation efforts, ensuring that Spanish speaking families had equal access to information. She later worked at Full Circle of Lake County supporting community education efforts, specifically focusing on our Spanish speaking community members.Lauren loves spending time with the young people in her life, and continues to love dancing and dressing up in costumes. She also enjoys skiing, biking and hanging out with her dog Benji.Lauren has enjoyed reconnecting with her childhood passion of dance and sharing that passion with youth in Lake County! She has taught at Leadville Dance Collective since 2024, including jazz, creative moment, jazz funk, ballet and more.

Mo joined Leadville Dance Collective as a student in the fall of 2023, signing up for an adult jazz class - and she hasn't stopped dancing since.Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Mo discovered her love of dance through Irish dancing and fondly remembers learning line dances like Achy Breaky Heart in gym class. During college, she danced with the Scottish Highland Dance team, performing alongside the university bagpipe band during football halftime shows.What began as one adult dance class when LDC opened, quickly blossomed into something much bigger. Through Leadville Dance Collective, Mo has found lasting friendships, discovered new passions, challenged herself to learn new skills (she's still determined to nail the splits!), and embraced the simple joy of dancing - along with building an ever-growing collection of tutus.Today, Mo is proud to teach at LDC, sharing her enthusiasm with the next generation of dancers. Mo loves encouraging dancers of all ages to try something new, celebrates progress over perfection, and cultivates an incredible learning environment for students to discover the confidence and joy that dance can bring.While dance was always part of her life, it was snowboarding that ultimately stole her heart and brought her to Colorado full-time in 2012. After spending several years in Summit County, Mo met her husband, and in 2015 they made Leadville home. Since 2019, she's been a familiar face at High Mountain Pies, where she's loved serving the community that has become her own.At LDC, Mo teaches and assists ballet, tap, and tumbling. When she's not teaching, you'll still find her in the studio as a student, taking adult classes and recently accomplishing one of her dreams: dancing en pointe.

Growing up in a small town in California, Kristin discovered early on that music and community have a way of bringing people together. Today, she brings that same spirit to every class she teaches at Leadville Dance Collective, creating a welcoming environment where dancers feel encouraged to try something new, build confidence, and have fun along the way.Kristin is a versatile instructor who teaches Pre-K Ballet, Tap, and Tumbling, while also serving as LDC's resident Line Dancing guru. A naturally quick learner with an infectious enthusiasm for dance, Kristin has a remarkable ability to master new styles and translate them into fun, engaging classes for dancers of all ages. Whether she's working with preschoolers taking their very first dance steps or adults learning a new line dance, she has a special gift for making every student feel successful, supported, and excited to keep learning.Her love of line dancing blossomed while serving as President of Colorado Mountain College's Line Dancing Club. She loves introducing beginners to the joy and connection that line dancing creates while helping more experienced dancers continue to grow their skills and confidence.While Kristin loves teaching, she's equally passionate about being a student. She's a familiar face in many of our adult classes, taking everything from jazz to tap and beyond. She believes the best teachers never stop learning, and she embraces every opportunity to challenge herself, develop new skills, and bring fresh inspiration back into the classroom.

current class offerings

Now that you've met our team, we'd love to welcome you into the studio! Whether you're looking for your child's first dance class, an adult class to try something new, or a fun way to move with your community, there's a place for you at Leadville Dance Collective

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