Weehawken Dance Presents The Polar Express, December 2023
Weehawken Dance Presents The Polar Express, December 2023
Dizz has been dancing for 10 years, with the last 9 spent training and performing with Weehawken Dance. While his primary style is hip hop, he’s also partnered with ballerinas in various performances, showcasing his versatility. Since 2019, Dizz has assisted younger hip hop classes, co-taught community sessions, and now leads his own classes. He’s passionate about welcoming new dancers into the studio—especially encouraging boys to explore hip hop.
Outside the studio, Dizz plays soccer for his high school, earning Best Defense his freshman year and making Varsity his sophomore year. He also spent two years in marching and concert band, sharpening his musicality, rhythm, and overall performance skills. Recently, he has started learning to cut music and edit videos to support his choreography and classwork.
Katy just finished up her freshman year at the University of Colorado, Boulder and is soon transferring to Colorado Mesa to pursue nursing. She has been dancing with Weehawken since she was 3 years old. Her first memory of dancing at Weehawken is at a mermaid princess dance camp in Ouray. Over the years, some of the roles Katy has danced include a blueberry, a bon bon, an elephant, a towns person, a party girl, Toto, Tweedle Dee, a hobo, a train kid, and Clara. More recently, Katy danced the roles of Cinderella, Sugar Plum Fairy, Spanish Chocolate and Captain Hook. Each role was an incredible learning opportunity and allowed her to grow her love for ballet, jazz, and hop hop. In 2019, Katy passed her primary Imperial Classical Ballet (ITSD) exam. Katy has attended Joffrey Ballet Summer intensives in Colorado for three summers, and attended the Joffrey Ballet Pre-Professional Jazz and Contemporary intensive in New York City in 2023.
Katy finds great joy working with young dancers and is so excited to teach and pass on her love of dance! Katy hopes to study medicine and continue to dance in college.
Natalie Griffith was born and raised in Montrose, Colorado. She has been dancing since she was four and is proud to have had the chance to both dance for and teach at Weehawken! She is currently a sophomore in college studying dance at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, where she has the opportunity to learn from wonderful faculty and grow in her own dancing as well as in her teaching practices.
Although she loves all styles of dance, she has a passion for ballet, jazz, and tap, as well as being passionate about educating dancers on anatomy and somatics to help them become more embodied movers.
Alex Sutton has taught dance and Tae Kwon Do on-and-off on Colorado’s Front Range for the better part of twenty years. Starting dance when she was 4 years old, Alex focused—in her youth—on the Cecchetti method of Ballet. Alongside her dance training, Alex studied Tang Soo Do/Tae Kwon Do and ultimately achieved the rank of Second Dan.
Throughout the years, Alex broadened her dance repertoire with the addition of Tap, Jazz/Broadway, Hip Hop, Latin Dancesport, and touched on many others.
Alex is excited to join the Weehawken team, and having fun on the dance floor!
Alexandria Rodriguez is a vibrant and experienced dance and aerial arts educator with over 12 years of teaching experience and 11 years dedicated specifically to aerial instruction. For the past five years, she served as the Artistic Director at the Crested Butte School of Dance, where she led the aerial program, directed competitive teams, choreographed award-winning routines, and produced full-scale performances for youth and adult students alike.
Alex began her dance journey at the age of 5 and trained in many different styles. She was a part of her home studio’s competition teams and on her High School Dance Team where she served as Vice President and Senior Lieutenant. Once in college she spent many summers training in LA at Millennium Dance complex summer intensives, Texas Dance Improvisation Festival, and was also a part of many small performance companies in the DFW area. Alex began her aerial journey in 2013 in Dallas, Texas, shortly after graduating from the University of North Texas with a BA in Dance and an emphasis in choreography. She quickly established herself in the DFW performance scene, teaching and performing across the region and building a solid foundation in aerial silks and many other apparatuses. Her aerial training continued through Aerial Physique, where she is certified and actively working toward completion of their full program. She also holds a rigging certification through Hall Rigging Academy, ensuring the utmost safety in all her classes and performances.
In addition to her aerial expertise, Alexandria is a certified NASM personal trainer and nutrition coach, as well as a Level 4 Pure Barre instructor. Her background in fitness and wellness supports a holistic and well-rounded approach to movement and instruction.
Throughout her career, Alexandria has taught students ranging from kindergarten through adults in dance, aerial, barre, and fitness. Her classes are known for being challenging, supportive, and joy-filled, blending discipline with creativity. Whether on the ground or in the air, she is passionate about helping students build strength, confidence, and artistry.
Lindsay grew up in suburban Detroit, Michigan, and fell in love with dance at an early age. She began dancing at the age of nine at Miss Kimberly’s School of Dance before continuing her training at Deborah’s Stage Door Dance Center, where she studied jazz, tap, ballet, and lyrical. She competed at national competitions and conventions in Florida and Myrtle Beach. She also performed and competed with her high school dance team, served as captain, and helped make dance an elective at her high school, teaching and choreographing performances. After high school, she was offered a full dance scholarship to Marygrove College in Detroit, but chose to work and save for her move to Los Angeles to pursue professional dance.
In 2000, Lindsay moved to LA and was represented by MSA Dance Agency. She was a magician’s assistant/dancer on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, appeared in music videos and commercials and performed in various shows and events in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. She continued her training at The Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood and Hama’s Dance in Studio City.
Lindsay then discovered a passion for teaching dance and worked with elementary-aged kids in after-school programs across LA. She was also an assistant dance teacher at Beverly Hills High School for a brief period. Lindsay trained with Jennifer Nairn-Smith, an original Fosse dancer, learning the iconic style and performing with a dance group.
After realizing she wanted a new creative outlet, Lindsay shifted her focus to interior design. She graduated from Santa Monica College in 2008 with a degree in Interior Architectural Design and worked with top designers in Los Angeles, including the renowned Kelly Wearstler. While building her design career, she continued her fitness journey with ballet, pilates, and barre classes.
Lindsay met her husband, Wayne Comstock, in LA, got married in 2008, had two beautiful children, and moved to Colorado in 2018. She now works as a Realtor® and enjoys camping, traveling, interior decorating, and spending time with her family and dog.
Lindsay is so excited to be back in the dance studio and to be a part of Weehawken. She loves sharing her passion for dance, helping students grow in skill and confidence, and creating a fun, environment where dancers can express themselves and develop a lifelong love for dance.
Natasha Pyeatte has been immersed in dance her entire life, beginning her training at the age of four. After moving from Los Angeles to Log Hill in 1998, she began teaching in 2001 while continuing her own training, developing a deep understanding of both technical excellence and the artistry of dance.
Specializing in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, theatre dance, and aerial arts, Natasha has trained and performed with a variety of professional, educational, and community-based programs. Her training includes work with Colorado Ballet Academy, Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance, Aircat Aerial, Gotta Dance Studio, The Edge, and Colorado Mesa University. As a performer, she has appeared in The Nutcracker with Grand Valley Dance Company, dancing the roles of Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy, as well as in productions with Telluride Repertory Theatre and the Telluride AIDS Benefit. She also performed in The Nutcracker at the Palm Theatre in Telluride as Spanish Chocolate and in Appalachian Spring with Valerie Madonia. Additionally, she toured Mexico with Feet First Dance Ensemble, performing for two consecutive summers.
As an educator, Natasha is committed to providing exceptional training rooted in strong technique, injury prevention, and artistic expression. She is an ABT Certified Teacher, having completed the American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum through Level 7. She is also a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT) and holds comprehensive Pilates certifications through Balanced Body, along with specialized training in Scolio-Pilates to support body alignment and injury prevention.
In 2025, Natasha completed Levels 1 and 2 Silks Aerial Teacher Training with Paper Doll Militia (PDM). She is currently advancing her expertise through PDM’s 200-hour Aerial Silks Teacher Training Certificate Program, refining her knowledge in technique, pedagogy, and safety.
A lover of youth, the arts, and community, Natasha launched the Weehawken Dance program in Ouray in 2007 with a long-term vision to unite dance students across communities under a shared artistic goal, emphasizing hard work, strong technique, and collaboration. Today, Weehawken Dance serves multiple towns and counties with seven locations across Ouray, Ridgway, and Montrose, providing high-quality dance education in a supportive, inclusive environment.
Natasha uses performance to teach young dancers to work toward something bigger than themselves. Rather than focusing on competition, Weehawken Dance fosters creativity, teamwork, and personal growth, ensuring students develop strong technique and a deep appreciation for the arts. The program also encourages dancers to support one another, recognizing that success is not just about individual achievement but about contributing to a larger artistic community.
As the program evolves, Natasha continues to adapt and grow, ensuring Weehawken Dance remains a space where young dancers connect, create, and contribute to a shared artistic vision. She lives the Weehawken Dance Mission, Vision, and Values every day, striving to create a program that is inclusive, inspiring, and enriching for all.
Valerie Shingledecker is from western Pennsylvania. She has taught all levels and styles of hip hop, as well as jazz-pom classes since 2012. Miss Val’s dance background is primarily dance team, performing hip hop, pom, kick-line, & jazz. She danced on her high school and university dance teams, and coached dance team as an adult. She is a certified National Dance Alliance Coach. Teaching authentic, foundational hip hop and history is her passion.
Miss Val is also an activist member of the Youth Protection Advocacy in Dance, a group dedicated to ending the exploitation of youth in dance by promoting healthy, age-appropriate movement, clothing, and music. She also teaches teenagers about healthy vs unhealthy relationships as part of the One Love Foundation. Miss Val holds a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology and works with the elderly on speech, language, and swallowing when she’s not on the dance floor.
Ashley Cordell is a loving mom of 9 amazing children—8 girls and 1 boy. It’s no wonder that in addition to her love of dance, she loves training children of all ages. Ashley started her dance education in preschool and continued until college. Though she favored ballet, she also enjoyed performing and competing in jazz, tap, lyrical, and modern dance for various schools and studios in the Salt Lake area. While in college, Ashley pursued her next love: teaching children. Ashley met her husband while teaching at a private school in Salt Lake City and became an instant mother of 3. As her family grew, she worked in and out of private schools and eventually decided to share her love of learning with her children at home for 15 years.
Many of her children have enjoyed dancing with Weehawken over the past 7 years and have gained so much from their dance family and performing. Ashley and her family have loved living on the Western Slope since their move from Salt Lake City in 2015. She has enjoyed working for Weehawken over the years and is excited for another year of tiny dancers. It’s been Ashley’s passion and joy to combine her love of teaching with her love of dance.
Pang Cooper (LISTD, ARAD) comes to Weehawken from Chiang Mai, Thailand, where she owned and operated her own ballet school for 10 years. Pang began dance training at age 10 and she later became the first dancer from Chiang Mai to pass the Royal Academy of Dance’s Advanced Ballet Examination. After several years as a principal dancer with The Chiang Mai Performing Group, Pang pursued her dance teacher training in England. She currently holds a Licentiate in Imperial Classical Ballet from The UK-based Imperial Society for Teachers of Dancing, as well jazz dance teaching qualification from the Australasia Dance Association. In addition, Pang earned her B.A. in Communications from Payap University.
All told, Pang has more than 30 years experience teaching dance on three continents. Her love of dance is matched only by her love of children, and she is proud to be a part of the Weehawken team.
Lucas Vogt is a junior in high school. He has been a dedicated hip hop dancer for 8 years. He has assisted multiple instructors in hip hop levels 1-6 and has trained to be a hip hop instructor himself under Miss Val Kepler for the past 2 years. He has also trained at the Joffrey Hip Hop Intensive in NYC. He enjoys popping, street jazz, freestyle, and even partners our advanced ballet dancers here at Weehawken.
Tajiana Rueschhoff’s dance journey began at the age of 5 when she first stepped into a small ballet school in Mississippi, sparking a passion that would endure a lifetime. Growing up in Ouray, Colorado, she continued to nurture her love for dance with Weehawken, honing her skills over the years. Travel played a pivotal role in her development, allowing her to train under diverse instructors and immerse herself in various dance styles. Summers were often spent in intensive training at the Kansas City Ballet, further shaping her dedication to dance. Tajiana pursued her passion with pre-professional training at the Northwest Florida Ballet. Now, back in Ouray, she is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Geology at the University of Florida while eagerly embracing the opportunity to share her profound love for dance through teaching.
It’s a full-circle moment as Tajiana returns to her roots, teaching for Weehawken Dance at the Wright Opera House in Ouray, where she spent many years dancing with Miss Natasha. We’re thrilled to welcome her back to inspire a new generation of dancers in the same place that holds so many fond memories for her.
Rachel Maier was born and raised in central California. She spent her childhood adolescence on the dance floor at Deenies Dance Workshop, dedicating her after school learning to the art of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical ballet, modern dance, and a few years on pointe. Her dance opportunities included travels around California performing with other dance troupes at places like Disneyland, Magic Mountain, and various local stages. She spent her senior year in high school training under award winning choreographer Susan Palace and Tiffani Powell at Sierra Performing Arts Center, focusing on ballet, jazz, and modern dance.
Upon college Rachel attended Cal State Channel Islands, with every intention to pursuer her love for dance and graduate with a degree in Performing Arts. However, Rachel ended her schooling with a Bachelor’s degree in Business. It was shortly before graduation that Rachel met her now husband and was gratefully introduced to the beauty of a Colorado. Before moving to Colorado, Rachel pursued another dream of becoming a Makeup Artist (a passion that came about through her years of applying stage makeup and doing part time modeling during college) and attended Makeup Designory of Burbank, CA where she received her certification in makeup artistry.
Since moving to Colorado officially in 2013, Rachel is now a mother of two wonderful children. She had been working freelance as a makeup artist and hair stylist with a focus on bridal work, specializing in retro/pinup looks, and occasionally having opportunities to do SPFX/character makeups. Rachel always knew she would find her way back into the dance studio, a place that always held a special place in her heart. She is thrilled to be working with creative minds in the field of dance once more and looks forward to sharing her love for the arts with Weehawken and the community of Montrose.
Marisa grew up in Austin, TX dancing as a member of a youth competitive dance team, Austin’s Dance Elite. Here she began her love for dance and trained and competed in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical and contemporary. Marisa began teaching youth classes at the age of 13 for Alisa’s Dance Academy and Champions Gymnastics while continuing to train dance. She’s had the opportunity to train at Edge Performing Arts Center, New York City Dance Alliance, Millenium Dance Complex and many more.
After high school, she dove into the world of yoga, using it as a tool to correct injury from years in the competition dance circuit. In 2014 she received her 200hr yoga teacher training from S-Vyasa. During this time she began performing fire dance, on pointe and character acts for a number of festivals through Insomniac Events and Fire and Ice Entertainment.
Marisa fell in love with aerial after seeing a live performance and began training silks. She received her aerial yoga teacher training certificate from Levity Academy in 2017. Wanting to dive deeper into the circus world, Marisa joined Flyco, a preprofessional aerial training program in 2018. Here she had the opportunity to train Chinese pole, trapeze, partner acrobatics, lyra, silks, rope and contortion. After Flyco, Marisa became a member of A-wol, a contemporary dance aerial company and a coach with The Circus Project.
Marisa continues to train contemporary, silks, lyra and contortion regularly. She also enjoys spending time outside, taking her dog on hikes and going climbing and skiing with her partner.
Leeann Rackleff began dancing at the age of 6 and loved ballet from the very beginning. She danced through her teen years and into college taking classical ballet, contemporary, and lyrical. She thoroughly enjoyed performing, dancing on pointe, and taking master classes from the Joffrey Ballet. Leeann graduated from Southern Virginia University in 2006 with degrees in nursing and early childhood education.
Dance was put on hold for a while after college while Leeann’s family grew. She married Paul Rackleff and became the mother of three beautiful children.
Since then, Leeann has been back to her first love, ballet! She began assisting Miss Natasha with her classes in 2014, and began teaching her own classes in the fall of 2015. Preferring to teach the littlest Weehawken dancers, Leeann teaches pre and primary ballet and Hip Hop at Weehawken Dance in Montrose. In 2019 Miss Leeann became Rhythm Works Integrative Dance certified, and enjoys turning dance into a therapy modality in classes for children with specials needs and individual learning differences.
Delana Willsie-Poteet was born and raised in Colorado. Her parents surrounded her in a world of music. She started dancing at 6 months old to her Dad playing guitar. By age 8 she was gathering a group of peers together to teach her own choreography at recess.
After graduating high school she was accepted into the Sound of America to train, travel Europe, and sing for audiences in several beautiful cities.
In 2015, she found a love for making people happy and more confident, so she became a licensed Zumba instructor teaching at Gold’s gym. This opened up doors doing aqua salsa at the rec center, and teaching beginner to intermediate Hip Hop at Weehawken. 2017 started a whole new chapter of Hip Hop training under Val Kepler. Delana has been teaching at Weehawken since.