WE HAVE A PASSION FOR THE ART OF DANCE

ABOUT US

Our mission at High Attitude Dance Academy is to provide students of all levels with more than just dance classes, but a unique experience in which the student can grow both mentally and physically as a dancer. Our staff and certified instructors have a wealth of experience in teaching and performing various styles and disciplines.

Here at High Attitude Dance Academy, we have a passion for the art of dance and for helping others discover their inner dancer. Are you ready to get up and move? Contact us today to learn more about our studio.

Crystal Ashe

Owner & Creative Director

Crystal has owned and directed HADA since it’s conception in 2011. Growing up in Appalachia, she trained with Fletcher School of Dance under instruction and direction of Peggy Fletcher, Nicole Kmezca, and Tracy Raper, as well as Asheville Center of Performing Arts under the instruction of Nicole Kmezca. She had the honor of experiencing guest instruction from a first generation Balanchine dancer, Melissa Hayden at North Carolina School of The Arts Master Classes. After being a soloist and corps member of the Asheville City Ballet, she attended Walters State Community College and Western Colorado University, where she obtained a bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Elementary Education in 2008. She teaches multiple levels of Ballet Technique, Pointe, and competition choreography in Ballet, Pointe, and Lyrical. Crystal has a passion for technique and seeing dancers progress through their training, as well as cultivating a team of instructors with a love for dance, education, and the future generation of dance.

Contact Crystal

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OUR INSTRUCTORS

Kate Oros

Dance Instructor

Kate has been teaching dance for 15 years. She teaches Ballet Technique, Zumba Fitness and competition choreography in Jazz, Tap, and Hip-Hop. She loves seeing the kids progress and surprise themselves by doing something they didn't know they could.
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Chelsey Turco

Dance Instructor

Chelsey has taught at HADA for 5 years as the Acrobatics and Tumbling Instructor. Chelsey is thoroughly enjoying her time at HADA because of the close knit family of teachers and the students’ eagerness to learn. She is excited about the ADTA Curriculum that she has been following for the past season, and can’t wait to continue to implement it in the coming years as well.
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Melissa Duetsch

Dance Instructor

Melissa is HADA’s first Alumni Instructor. After training under Crystal Ashe, Jessica Cunningham, and many other local instructors, as well as assistant teaching for mulitple years, she returned to Gunnison to join the team. She teaches PreK and recreational Jazz, Ballet and Tap classes. Melissa says “The kids are what makes my job amazing. I hope that my ability to teach and choreograph will excel as I watch my fellow teachers grow as choreographers”.
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Brenda Lee
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Jess Vogan
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Lilyanna Lock

Lilyanna Lock is a HADA alumni who has danced competitively for thirteen years and danced on the HADA elite team for nine years under the instruction of Crystal Ashe and a variety of other HADA instructions. Lilyanna had her first opportunity to teach dance at her elementary school at the age of eight and absolutely fell in love, since then, she has assistant taught numerous classes at HADA and started having her own classes in 2021! Lilyanna says, “I just think that helping kids find their passion is the most special thing ever. Watching kids love the same thing I do makes my heart the absolute happiest”. She is currently studying at Western Colorado University to get her degree in elementary education where she’s learning the best tactics for teaching. Lilyanna is HADA’s primary Pre-k and Kindergarten teacher, but also teaches several classes for some of the studio's older dancers.
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Olivia Crochet
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Brenda Moreno

Brenda Moreno graduated from the National School of Classical Contemporary Dance of Mexico in 1995. She danced ballet and contemporary dance professionally for over 20 years in various companies mainly in Mexico and in Miami, where she pursued a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. Her specialty is Classical Ballet Technique and Pointe. She has performed a variety of ballet repertoire such as Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Les Sylphides, The Nutcracker, Paquita, Ramonda, Grand Pas De Quatre, and Don Quixote to mention a few. She is currently teaching advanced ballet and pointe at HADA, where she has instructed since 2013. She had the great privilege of working with world renowned dancers and instructors such as Cuban Prima Ballerina, Alicia Alonso, ABT Principal Dancer, Fernando Bujones, and Russian Ballet Stars, Vladimir Vasilyev and Ekaterina Maximova, as well as Internationally acclaimed ballet instructor, David Howard. Dance is very serious business for Brenda, so she likes to push her students to fulfill their full potential as disciplined, dedicated dancers, artists, and most importantly- human beings with integrity.
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