STARSTRUCK - Key Persons
AJ comes to Starstuck with a plethora of knowledge and experience in the dance industry. She has trained all over the USA, including Chicago, NYC, Hollywood, Boise, and Denver. Her professional experience includes former member of the NBA Denver Nuggets dancer and the CBA Idaho Stampede Hot Shots Dancers. She was a back up dancer for Moments Notice band, and traveled throughout the USA. She danced and taught with United Spirit Association for 10 years, including Head Instructor, Paris Tour, and also received the Hardest Working and Unity Awards. She was a Boise State University Mane Line Dancer and president senior year. She later taught beginning ballet and jazz at BSU. Her masters degree in Elementary Education has been very helpful with her own children and students at Starstruck. She has judged state competitions for Alaska, Utah, Idaho and Colorado and various regional competitions in California and Texas. She also is a former coach for HRHS Poms who won State and National Championships. She taught 5th grade, PE, Health and Dance in Utah for 3 years. She specializes in jazz, poms, lyrical, and tap. She has been teaching at Starstruck for a combined total of 16 years. AJ is the Elite Training Coach for Starstruck. Currently a stay-at-home mother, she enjoys spending time with her adorable husband and 6 beautiful children Aaliyah, Akyra, Amaya, Akayla, CJ, and Alyvia.
Alyssa hails from Roberts, Wisconsin where she began dancing, and competing her first solo, at the young age of 2. She began training at Larkin Dance Studio in Maplewood, Minnesota in middle school where she competed in teams, small groups, productions and solos at regional and national competitions in all styles of dance. In 2016, Alyssa was a member of the team that helped her studio to Studio of the Year distinction. In her time at the studio, she had the privilege of working with several high-level choreographers including Travis Wall, Kirsten Russell, Bobby Newberry and Mia Michaels.
Alyssa then took her talents to Columbus, Ohio where she earned a spot as a student-athlete on Ohio State's varsity dance team from 2016-2019. In this time, she helped her program to its first national title. In her three years on the tram, she won three national championships while performing at university athletic events and acting as an ambassador in the community. Alyssa was also selected to assist with choreography for several team pieces including game day routines and the 2018 home routine to Bleeding Love. She graduated from The Ohio State University in 2020 with a B.A. in Journalism and again in 2021 with a M.S. in Sport Management. She has continued to consult with and choreograph for several high school dance teams and studios. She moved to Colorado Springs in 2021 where she works as a Communications and Marketing Coordinator for USA Artistic Swimming.
Chanel has been dancing for 20 years and has been teaching for seven. As a dancer, Chanel has had the opportunity to assist and work with many big names in the industry including Tyce Diorio, Dee Caspary, Brian Friedman, Joe Loera, Gil Mata, Justin Giles, Barry Youngblood, Mallauri Esquibel, and Hannah Douglass. She danced as a member of LA Dance Magic Company, has performed in Chicago's Choreographer's Ball the past five years, and has been blessed with the opportunity to tour and perform in Dublin, Ireland. She has appeared in episodes of NBC's American Dreams, toured with CanDance Convention, toured with Intrigue Dance Convention and toured with Hollywood Dance Jamz. Chanel has performed in 3 off Broadway productions. She is currently traveling the country as a teacher, judge and assistant for many companies and choreographers. Chanel has been in commercials and modeled for numerous companies including Spyder, Target, AT&T and Lands End. As a teacher/choreographer, she has had the opportunity to work with students across the United States, London, Costa Rica and Canada.
Specializing In: Contemporary, Technique, Turns, Jazz
Colton Steele was born and raised in Denver, CO and a member of Starstruck Elite before leaving Colorado to pursue a career in theatre. After receiving a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Western Michigan University, Colton moved to New York City and began traveling the world performing as a Singer/Dancer aboard cruise ships for both Norwegian Cruise Lines and Oceania Cruises. In 2017, Colton worked with Lynne Taylor-Corbett, while cast in "Swing! The Broadway Musical" onboard the Norwegian Gem. Other regional stage credits include; Rooster (Annie), Society Max (Guys and Dolls), Selsdon (Noises Off), Hortensio (Kiss Me Kate), Richard (A New Brain), Edna (Hairspray), Ensemble/dance captain, (All Shook Up), and Clyde (Witches of Eastwick). Additionally, Colton has been seen in various commercials and industrials for companies such as Little Ceasar's, Hapa Sushi, Hasbro toys, STARZ Network, Fox Sports, and Meitu.
Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Danielle Beeman began dancing at the age of 3 under the artistic direction of Michelle Latimer, at Michelle Latimer Dance Academy. In 2015 Danielle graduated from the University of Iowa, receiving her BFA in Dance, a degree in Communication Studies and a specialization in American Sign Language. While at UI Danielle received the dance department's ICA Dance Scholarship, The Excellence In Performing and Communicative Arts scholarship, and was accepted into The Order of Omega Honors Society. Danielle was lucky enough to learn and perform works by various companies such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Batsheva Dance Company, Martha Graham Dance Company, Nederlands Dans Theater, Bill T. Jones and various other renowned individuals. In 2013 Danielle was selected as one of twelve dancers to join the university's elite touring company, Dancers in Company, where she performed 5 pieces throughout the Midwest, and was selected as a soloist.
Professionally Danielle has trained and worked with River North Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Alvin Ailey, Lemon Sponge Cake, and Giordano Dance Chicago. Danielle has performed/toured throughout the US as a primary company member for the Hannah Kahn Dance Company, the Maureen Breeze Dance Theater, Moraporvida, Symbiosis Arts and JKCO. She has also performed in various commercial works, festivals and collaborations around the country. Additionally Danielle competes and performs in International Latin Ballroom and was recently named the Champion of her division at one of the year's biggest ballroom competitions in Las Vegas, the Holiday Dance Classic.
Danielle teaches Jazz, Ballet, Ballroom, Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical and Dance Conditioning for several studios around CO including Michelle Latimer Dance Academy, Mpact Dance Project Starstruck Academy of Dance and Collabratory. She is also certified in and teaches Yoga, Barre and HITT. Danielle frequently guest teaches at various studios and workshops throughout the US, as well as judges for several dance competitions. Danielle absolutely loves teaching at SS and is looking forward to another great year!
Specializing In: Jazz, Poms, Turns, Starstruck Bolts
Katie grew up dancing at Plum Dance Academy in Phoenix Arizona. When she moved to Colorado is when she found my passion for being on a pom team. Since the 5th grade she has been on competitive pom teams throughout all of Colorado. She danced on Grandview High Schools dance team for 4 years. Then attended the University of Arizona where she spent 4 years dancing on the Arizona Pomline as she was earning her bachelors degree in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations. Throughout college she was a Prep Master for College Dance Prep and helped girls around the country prepare to make their dream college dance teams. Now she's back in Colorado working as an HR Coordinator and a dance instructor at Starstruck.
Born and raised in Denver, Katie received her earliest training with Nanci Young and Milenko Banovitch at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Academy and with Becky Jancosko at Boulder Ballet. She attended summer programs at the School of American Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet Academy at Vail, and San Francisco Ballet School before finishing her training as a full time student at San Francisco Ballet School. Katie began her professional career with Colorado Ballet and went on to dance with Atlanta Ballet, Ballet Memphis, Eugene Ballet/Ballet Idaho, Spectrum Dance Theatre, Dominic Walsh Dance Theatre, and finally the Norwegian National Ballet, where she danced from 2006 until her retirement in 2021.
Katie became Romana's Pilates certified instructor in 2003, studying with Romana Kryzanowska, direct protégé of Joseph Pilates, and has taught Pilates at Pilates Seattle International, as well as to the dancers of the Norwegian National Ballet and students of the Norwegian National Ballet and Opera Academy.
In addition to teaching ballet in the Denver area, Katie also has her own Pilates studio, Embodiment Pilates.
Job Titles:
- Creative Director
- Director
- Owner
Lisa is the Owner and Artistic Director of Starstruck. She has owned her studio for 29 years, offering quality, caring instruction in all dance disciplines. Lisa was featured on the cover of "Dance Teacher" magazine. Her award-winning choreography can also been seen on many high school and college dance teams. Her students have gone on to top college dance teams, Broadway, feature films and television. Former students include "Felicity" "Bedtime Stories" and new FX Series " The Americans" Keri Russell. Mallauri Esquibel : from "Fame", and Taylor Swift World Tour". Lisa's dancers can also be seen on ABC's "Bunheads" and many top college dance teams including Minnesota, Tennessee, Michigan, University of Arizona and Colorado. A tribute to Lisa's total love of her dancers, can be seen in the return of her former students to the studio not only as teachers, but as parents bringing their own children to dance.
Lisa Holtz Odell has owned and directed Starstruck for the past 32 years and has taught dance for over 35 years. Lisa was featured on the cover of Dance Teacher magazine in April 2004. She specializes in Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, and Turns. Lisa directs and teaches Starstruck's Elite Company. She travels the country teaching master classes, choreographing, and judging competitions.
Mary Ann is a former Starstruck Elite Company Member. She has over 30 years dance training and has been teaching & choreographing for over 15 years. As a dancer Mary Ann was awarded numerous scholarships and overall top awards. She grew up training in both California and Colorado taking from top industry professionals as Jackie Sleight, Lisa Holtz Odell, Michelle Latimer, Michael Higgins, & Michael Chambers. Her professional dance background includes traveling the west coast as a USA Pom Instructor and performing for 2 years as a Denver Nuggets Dancer. She danced at the University of Northern Colorado while obtaining her Bachelor's in Business Administration, Emphasis in Accounting. Along with coaching/choreographing for the Starstruck Elite Company, she has an extensive background working with high school dance teams. Mary Ann spent 8 years as the Varsity Poms Coach for Regis Jesuit High School where she coached them to the 4A State Championship in 2010. In 2010 she was awarded "Dance Coach of the Year" by the Colorado Spirit Coaches Association. Mary Ann specializes in tap, jazz, turns, lyrical, and poms. She has been awarded top choreography honors in both jazz and poms. Her petite jazz group "Diva Dolls" was crowned 2010 National Champions at Showbiz Nationals in Kansas City. You can also find Mary Ann managing the office at Starstruck and handling the bookkeeping. When she's not teaching she enjoys spending time with her husband Tim, and two daughters, Kayleigh and Keira.
Sara was born and raised in Denver and grew up dancing at Starstruck Academy of Dance. She was a member of the Cherry Creek High School Poms, placing third at UDA Nationals in pom and sixth in jazz her senior year. She then went on to the University of Colorado - Boulder where she spent one season on the CU Express Dance Team. Following graduation from CU, she moved to Atlanta to work at CNN. In that time, she found her way to the Atlanta Falcons organization, spending three years dancing on the field as an Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader. During that time, aside from dancing in-game and at special events, she also danced with a number of pop and hip-hop artists at halftime during games. Sara also spent another year with the organization as the video content host for team news on AtlantaFalcons.com. She moved to Chicago in 2012 and continued taking and teaching dance classes while working in Communications & PR. Sara got married in 2015 and welcomed her first daughter, Lily, in 2018, followed by her second daughter, Freddie, in 2020. Sara and her family moved home to Colorado in 2021 - at that time, she found her way back to Starstruck, where she has been teaching poms (and working with high school teams), stall bars, and turns & leaps/jumps.
Specializing In: Ballet, Contemporary, Turns, Jazz, Technique