DSA dancers are involved in many activities outside of the department; the following list recognizes some of their accomplishments. To add kudos or announcements about upcoming performances, please use the form below and submit an update.

2009—2010

• Congratulations to eight grade dancer Kelsey Reisch, for her division, she place top 12 in the Contemporary Dance Category at Youth American Grand Prix Semi-Finals held in Denver this past March. This summer, she will be attending Ballet West Academy Summer Intensive where she received a scholarship.
• In March 2010 while in Miami with the DSA Dance Department, eleventh grade dancer Gwen Gussman auditioned and was awarded a tuition scholarship to The Dance Theatre of Harlem in NYC. Gwen will spend six weeks at their Summer Professional Program, focusing on Classic Ballet and Pointe, while staying with family in Spanish Harlem.
• Congratulations to Mariesha Nash (11 grade) who attended the National High School Dance Festival in Miami with fellow students from DSA in March, where she auditioned and was awarded a scholarship to Summer Stages Dance Summer Intensive to be held at Concord Academy in Concord Massachusetts. The three week intensive will culminate in a performance of new choreographic works at The Institute of Contemporary Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. Also Mariesha won scholarships at West Coast Dance Explosion (Janaury 2010), New York City Dance Alliance (February 2010), JUMP (March 2010), and NUVO (April 2010). In May, Mariesha was inducted into the National Honor Society.
• Congratulations to eighth grade dancer Christopher Daniels. He is very excited to attend Boston Ballet School’s Summer Dance Program from June 27th until July 31st.
• Eight grader Madeline Roberts, will be spending six weeks in New York City this summer attending American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive program. She will have the opportunity to perform in a final performance at the LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts showcasing selections from ABT’s repertoire and new choreography created during the program.
• Congratulations to Simon Gnagy (8th grade) who placed 3^rd in his division and received a scholarship award at the 2010 Denver Ballet Guild Young Dancers Competition. He will be returning to the San Francisco Ballet intensive this summer, where he received another partial scholarship. He’s excited about the 5-week program and looking forward to seeing some friends from last year.
• This summer seventh grader Emma Crossman will be going to Joffrey Ballet Summer Intensive in New York. Emma will be participating in both the intensive and the performance track. More advanced students are invited to the performance track of the intensive and will perform in a local NYC theater at the end of the summer program.
• Congratulations to Mariesha Nash who won scholarships at Coastal Dance Rage (October 2009) and LA Dance Magic (November 2009).
• After a grueling week-long audition this summer, Amanda Segro (11th) has become a member of the 2009-2010 LA Dance Magic Company.
• Sixth grade dancer Natasha Wells was a winner of a scholarship to the West Coast Convention. At the LA DANCEFORCE competition in March, Natasha received an Intermediate Scholarship award. She also was a Starpower Competition award winner in April at the Wells Fargo Convention Center.

2008—2009

• Gwen Gussman attended the Alvin Ailey Summer Professional Program in NYC. At the close of her six weeks, she performed a 12 dancer partnering peice set by Cornelius Carter, “I Rest My Soul in My Spirit.”
• Congratulations to Mariesha Nash (10th) who attended the Spotlight National Dance Cup in Denver on April 17-19 and who won the title of Miss Senior Spotlight. She also placed second in the Dance Down competition and won a $1000 scholarship to their summer intensive. Great performance Mariesha.
• Kelsey Gibson (12th) will attend Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 2009 Summer Course after being awarded a full tuition scholarship at her audition for the five-week program.
• Congratulations to Mariesha Nash (10th) who attended the Adrenaline Dance Convention on February 21 & 22, 2009 and was chosen as an elite dancer and a member of the Adrenaline Dance Crew. She also attended the Jump Dance Convention on March 7 & 8, 2009 and was picked as a VIP. Mariesha was awarded multiple scholarships at these conventions. Great job, Mariesha.
• Meredith Winnefeld (9th) was awarded the title Miss Cherry Creeks Outstanding Teen. With this title comes the abitlity to compete for Miss Colorados Outstanding Teen in June. Meredith won the title by competition in interview, scholastic achievement, fitnesswear, evening gown and talent. For her talent presentation she perfomed the classical ballet variation Esmeralda on pointe. Good luck at the state pageant, Meredith.
• Dela Fyfe (11th) has been selected to participate in the National Student Leadership Conference on International Diplomacy this summer at American University. She will attend leadership workshops and classes, participate in trips/tours, and have the opportunity to meet with and learn from recognized leaders. Congratulations, Dela!
• At the West Coast Dance Alliance convention held January 24-25th, Hannah Santistevan received a year-long scholarship to any WCDA convention. Other Millers Dance Studio/DSA students who received scholarships were Krystal Daniels, Taryn DeLoach, and Jamie Pea. Many other dancers from DSA attended this convention; all did a fantastic job, and were great representatives of their studios, as well as Denver School of the Arts.
• Mariesha Nash(10th) won a scholarship at West Coast Dance Explosion on January 25, 2009. The scholarship entitles her to a week of classes at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Way to go, Mariesha!
• Monsters of Hip Hop was held November 22 & 23rd at the Doubletree Hotel, just a mile down the street from DSA, and on the same weekend as DSA’s Fall Dance Concert. Despite a hectic week that included rehearsals and 3 performances, the following DSA students had their game on and were awarded scholarships: Bailey Mutschler (6th), Taryn DeLoach (7th), Alexis Saenz (11th), Samantha Grant (12th).
• Chaz Shanley (11th) placed third at the Southwestern Regional Figure Skating championship in October. This placement qualifies him to compete at the Midwestern Sectional Figure Skating Championships. Only the top four skaters in his division were allowed to go on to compete at Midwesterns, being held in Sugar Land, Texas in November.
• Congratulations to Colorado Contemporary Dance Academy (CCDA) and DSA students for a fabulous showing at the Co-Dance Convention held October 25-26, 2008. CCDA won the Faculty Choice Award for the dance “Creator,” featuring DSA students: Savannah Brown (7th), Camille Delaney (8th), Claire Gieringer (7th), Jasmine Lairsmith (8th), Lili Quintana (7th), Imari Ross (8th), and Danielle Cardon (9th). “Creator” also won platinum and 2nd place in the Junior Division.
  • “Toxic,” a contemporary dance, won a gold for dancers Savannah Brown (7th), Camille Delaney (8th), Claire Gieringer (7th), Jasmine Lairsmith (8th), Lili Quintana (7th), Imari Ross (8th), and Danielle Cardon (9th).
  • Kudos also to Simone Johnson (11th), Claire Gieringer (7th), Lili Quintana (7th), and Jasmine Lairsmith (8th) for winning gold for “Relief,” a contemporary number.
  • Claire Gieringer, Jasmine Lairsmith and Lili Quintana won a platinum award for their contemporary trio “Nicest Things.” The trio also won regional scholarships.
  • Camille Delaney, Claire Gieringer and Lili Quintana won scholarships to attend Co-Dance in 2009!

2007—2008

Congratulations to the Dancers of the Class of 2008! Their future plans include: Angela Breitholtz, AmeriCorps; Laura Cramer, Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet, Boulder, CO; Chelsea Cusack, Joffrey Dance Company Training Program, New York, NY; Destiny Harris, California Institute of Arts, Valencia, CA; Erik Ostrand, University of Arizona, Tuscon, AZ; Lindsay Parker, David Taylor Dance Theatre, Littleton, CO; Jordan Saenz, California Institute of Arts, Valencia, CA; Carrie Shoemaker, Deeply Rooted Dance Company Summer Intensive, Chicago, IL; Ryan Wicke, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.

• Meredith Winnefeld (8th grade) was selected through a recent audition to participate in the Denver Broncos new “fanfest talent search.” She will be featured twirling at the Broncos annual Fan Fair on Sunday, June 8th between 2 and 3pm at Invesco Field at Mile High! (Come watch if you can!) After this show there will be online voting and the top three vote-getters will perform at a Bronco game this fall. At the recent Showstopper competition, Meredith received a double platinum award for her “showoff” solo and was awarded first place in the overall teen solo category. She was also first overall at the MOVE dance competition in March.
• Claire Gieringer (6th grade) and Lili Quintana (6th grade) are part of the Denver Nuggets Lil’ Bustas. They perform at all home games and will be perfoming at the playoffs on Monday, April 28th!
• Mariesha Nash (9th grade) attended the Nuvo, Jump, New York City Dance Alliance and Hollywood Connection conventions between December 2007 and April 2008. She was awarded scholarships at each convention including a week of unlimited classes at the Millennium in Los Angeles. Mariesha has also been cast as Sebastian in Millers Dance Studios spring recital, “The Little Mermaid”.
• Iona Tan (8th) recently competed in the Youth America Grand Prix semi finals held in Denver. She placed in the top 12 in her age category of 68 dancers. She has been selected to compete in the finals to be held in New York City. This summer, Iona will attend the summer intensive program at American Repertory Ballet’s Princeton Ballet School.
• Erik Ostrand (12th) was recently featured in a newspaper article on the audition process for potential Dance Majors at the University of Arizona. Congratulations Erik!
• Kelsey Gibson (11th) has been selected again this year to attend an intensive ballet program with legendary ballerina Suzanne Farrell at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Only 30 students from around the world were selected. Kelsey will also study at the School of American Ballet in New York City this summer.
• Hannah Santistevan (8th grade) recently competed at the Primetime Competition in Longmont, and received a 1st place – 3rd overall category award for her lyrical solo. Hannah had taken a break from competing last year and returned this year with even more passion than she had in past years. Way to go, Hannah.
• Mariesha Nash (9th grade) and Hannah Santistevan (8th) recently competed as part of a trio at the Primetime Competition and received a 1st place – 3rd overall award.
• Madeline Roberts (6th grade) performed in Colorado Ballet’s “Coppelia” production.
• Roselinda Galashaw (2007 DSA dance graduate) was recently selected as a Knicks City Dancer for the New York Knicks NBA Basketball Team.
• Several DSA dancers attended the West Coast Dance Explosion convention in Westminster on January 26th and 27th. Scholarships were awarded to Jordan Saenz, Jamie Pea, Lexi Saenz, Seth Ives, Krystal Daniels and Taryn DeLoach. Great job!
• Madeline Roberts (6th grade) performed in Colorado Ballet’s “Nutcracker” as a as a party girl in the party scene and a Pollichinelle. Madeline has performed in this production of The Nutcracker for the past 2 years.
• Chelsea Cusack (12th grade) danced the role of Dewdrop in Littleton Dance Academy’s “Nutcracker.”
• Hannah Rawlings (7th grade) performed in Colorado Ballet’s “The Nutcracker,” as a battle scene soldier. Hannah has performed in this production of The Nutcracker for the past 5 years.
• Gwen Gussman performed in Cleo Parker Robinson’s 16th annual, “Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum.” This is Gwen’s 6th year of performing. In addition to the Training Group dance numbers, Gwen played the part of “Coyote.”
• Mariesha Nash (9th grade) performed in the “Nutcracker” with Millers Dance Studio.
• Jamie Pea (11th grade) attended Spotlight Nationals in Branson, Missouri this summer. She won a ‘Future Star’ award and her photo appears in the December issue of Dance Spirit Magazine.
• For the second year in a row, Meredith Winnefeld (8th) won top honors at the Americas Youth on Parade National baton twirling competition held this summer at Notre Dame University. On her way to that title, she also was the Colorado overall champion and was crowned regional champion in Omaha, Nebraska. Meredith has been selected to serve as the “feature twirler” for the Denver Citywide Marching band this season (http://www.dcmbparentcorp.com/). This is the first time the band has had a feature twirler in more than 15 years.

2006—2007

Congratulations to the 2007 Senior Class and good luck in your future endeavors!
Johanna Combs will attend University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, majoring in Musical Theater, French or History. Courtney Covell will be working in Denver and going to Kenya to volunteer at an orphanage. After that she plans to attend college in Florida. Roselinda Galashaw will move to New York to pursue her dance career. Dahlia Hertz will attend the College of New Jersey in Trenton, majoring in English. Marlena MacArthur will attend the University of Arizona in Tucson, majoring in Nutrition with a minor in Dance. Penda N’Diaye will attend New York University, majoring in Dance. Britt Stewart will attend Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, majoring in Dance. Alyssa Winchell will attend University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, majoring in Health Sciences. Jennifer Witt will attend Western Oregon University, majoring in Dance and Geography. We will miss you all!

• Nathan Sherman (9th) will attend the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This will be Nathan’s second summer at ABT. (Information on ABT summer programs is at: http://www.abt.org/education/summerintensive.asp)
• Danielle Cole (7th) has been accepted to Colorado Ballet’s 2007 Summer Intensive Program. (Information on Colorado Ballet’s summer program is at: http://www.coloradoballet.com/academy/summer_intensive.shtml)
• Meredith Winnefeld (7th) won the Junior Solo Championship at the Kids Artistic Review (KAR) Competition. She was first runner up for Miss Jr. Dance and was selected for a KAR summer dance intensive. The second runner up for Miss Jr. Dance was Taylor King (7th). (Information about KAR is at: http://www.dancekar.com)
• Madison Shelpuk (6th) was accepted to American Ballet Theater’s Summer Intensive to be held at the University of Alabama. Madison also competed in the Jump Convention and was awarded a Gold for her Solo and Trio pieces and a scholarship for a program in NYC this summer.
• Kelsey Gibson (10th) is one of 30 dancers selected to attend an intensive ballet workshop with legendary ballerina Suzanne Farrell at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. this summer. (Information on the Kennedy Center program is at: http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/farrell/home.html)
• Steven Achziger (9th) won first place and scholarship money in the junior men’s division of the Denver Ballet Guild’s 2007 Young Dancer Competition. Many other DSA dance students also participated. (Information on the Young Dancers Competition is at: http://www.denverballetguild.com/programs.html)
• Mariesha Nash (8th) won a convention scholarship at West Coast Dance Explosion in January 2007. She also was the recipient of convention scholarships at LA Elite and Adrenaline.
• Three DSA dance majors were selected by the Moscow Ballet to participate in their Denver performances of the “Great Russian Nutcracker” in December 2006. Dancers selected were Victoria Quintana (9th) – Butterfly, Peyton Lucey (7th) – Chinese (older divertisment), and Meredith Winnefeld (7th) – Le Chocolate Spanish (older Divertisment).
• Earning scholarships at the recent “Company Dance” regional convention held in Denver were DSA students: Dante Esian, Jordan Kleins, Meredith Winnefeld, Lexi Saenz and Sam Lipps. The convention featured noted choreographers and teachers such as Brian Friedman and Blake McGrath.
• Chaz Shanley (9th grade) placed 2nd in the Intermediate Men division at the 2007 Southwestern Regional Figure Skating Championships. Because he was one of the top four competitors, he will go on to compete at the 2007 U.S. Junior National Figure Skating Championships in Cleveland, Ohio in November 2006. Chaz was the only male skater at the intermediate level from Colorado to qualify for Junior Nationals.
• Lindsay Parker (junior) attended the Complexions summer intensive in August 2006. Complexions is a program developed by dancer Desmond Richardson. Lindsay worked with a ballet master in the mornings and the Complexions company in the afternoons at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in Manhattan. Only 40 dancers were accepted for the inaugural year of this program. More information at: http://www.complexionsdance.org/summerintensive.html
• Eighth graders who attended the Snowy Range Summer Dance Festival ’06 at the University of Wyoming in Laramie in July are: Maura McKay, Makenzie Burdt, Kara Powell, Nyasha James-Davis, Sophia Avila-Brewster and Reese Goldman. The faculty of the 11-day dance intensive features Peter Pucci, Gail Benedict, Yoav Kaddar, Keith Saunders, Susan Israel Massey and Lawrence Jackson, a former member of Cleo Parker Robinson’s Dance Troupe in Denver. The Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago performed at the final festival concert. More information at: http://outreach.uwyo.edu/conferences/dancefestival/
• Meredith Winnefeld (7th grade) won the preteen division of the 2006 National Bation Twirling Association National Competion held at Notre Dame University last summer. She also won four gold medals for her baton twirling at the AAU Jr. Olympic games in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

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