About Studio 21 Dance

About the Director

Jessica has been teaching dance in Denver since 1993 and studying dance for over 20 years. During this time she has studied with some of the best in the industry, including Mia Michaels, Shane Sparks, Dave Scott, Brian Friedman, Michael Chambers and Sarah Schachterle, current choreographer for the Rockstarz. During high school, Jessica danced for two seasons on her school’s nationally ranked varsity pom pom team. Following graduation she danced for one season with the Colorado Rapids Cheerleaders and three seasons with the Denver Nuggets Dancers. During her time with the Nuggets, Jessica spent two seasons as the female lead in the Batman Stunt Show, fighting and falling off buildings! In 2007, she was crowned Mrs. Colorado International 2007, and in 2009, Miss Colorado Galaxy 2009. Through her work as Mrs. Colorado International, Jessica became an ambassador for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. To further her work and enable other title winners to make the most of their title, Jessica founded a charity networking organization called “The Queen’s Angels” . In 2008 she created the community organization “Project 21; After School, For School”. Project 21 takes the Studio 21 message of “2 Parts Drive, 1 Part Dream” into schools and uses dance to teach life skills and goal setting.

As Jessica’s interests continue to evolve, in 2008 Jessica competed in her first NPC Figure competition, placing 3rd in her division. Jessica now competes for and represents Planet Beach. Following her first love of teaching, in 2006 Jessica became the Director of Dance Education at Peak Athletics Plus in Highlands Ranch. Here she learned from the best on everything from marketing to studio administration. After putting together her first recital in 2007 and seeing the personal growth of her students, she decided it was time to realize her life-long dream of taking her vision into a studio of her own. As both Mrs. and Miss Colorado, Jessica found her voice as a role model for today’s youth and wanted to take her message of Integrity and Positive Self Talk into the studio and use dance to teach goal setting. As the studio motto says “2 Parts Drive, 1 Part Dream”, Jessica wanted to give her students the opportunity to succeed through life skill training and character development.

Miss Jessica is the mother of two beautiful children, Devin - age 11 & Nicky - age 5. Both are dancing fools who will surely be seen in the studio! Jessica has a diverse background including dance performance & instruction, pageantry, fitness competition, personal training & choreography, as well as an associates degree in psychology. Studio 21 has been Jessica’s dream since she was a little girl, but it was her children that inspired her to create a studio that not only teaches dance technique, but also positive self talk and skills to succeed in life. As a dancer and a mother, she wanted to create a place for young dancers, former dancers and aspiring dancers of all ages.

Nielle McCammon has been belly dancing since 1998 and is officially an addict! She has performed off and on since 2001. Having studied jazz, ballet and modern dance growing up, belly dance is a wonderfully exotic, fun and feminine form of expression and exercise.

In Phoenix AZ, Nielle studied with Samia, Ava Fleming, Helena Vlahos, Morgianna and Jazille of Domba as well as taken intensive workshops with Ansuya, Suhaila Salimpour, Suzanna Del Vecchio, Jasmin Jahal, Jillina, Moria Chappell and Rachel Brice of the Bellydance Superstars. She was an original member of Ava Fleming's Black Opal troupe, which won 1st place at the Shake and Bake troupe competition in New Mexico (2003), as well as performing at places such as Lollapalooza, Rakkasah, private celebrity parties and more. She also had the privilege of dancing with Samia's Art of Bellydancing on the Fox 10 Morning Show.

In Colorado, Nielle has taken extensively with Kaya and Sadie and some with Suzanna Del Vecchio. She's now ready to teach what she's learned and share her love of the art-form with others and cultivate friendships and community in the process.

Originally from Dallas, Texas, Jessica's performance credits include with Ballet Ariel: La Vivandiere (Corps Dancer), Echelons (Marc Antony), Peter and the Wolf (Hunter), Fire (Corps Dancer). Youth Ballet

Colorado: The Nutcracker (Clara, Harlequin, Marzipan, Chinese Tea, Flowers, Party Scene), Les Sylphides (Corps), Swan Lake (Big Swan), Don Quixote (Kitri Variation), Giselle (Pas de Trois), Puncha Puncha (Doll, Corps), Riccoco (Muse). With Colorado Ballet Jessica performed roles in The Nutcracker (Arabian, Soldier), Sleeping Beauty (Blue Bird, Lilac Fairy), Swan Lake (White Swan Variation), Grand Pas Classique (Pas Variation), La Esmeralda (Corps), Les Sylphides (Corps), La Bayadere (Act 1 Corps), Don Quixote (Act 1 Corps) Cinderella (Horse). Boulder Broadway Company: Kiss Me Kate (Dance Ensemble). Academy of Classical Ballet: Le Corsaire (Hoist Your Colors and Finale). Jessica's Guest Artist Performances include Balanchine Piece (Lead) with the Longmont Dance Theater, as well as Church's Easter Celebration (Blue Bird Fairy Variaiton, Arabian). Jessica participated in 2001 Youth American Grand Prix performing the White Swan Variation and was awarded an Honorable Mention and was a New York Qualifier.

In 1999/2000, Jessica participated in the Taschco Competition. She won second place for her performance of The White Swan Variation and Lilac Fairy Variation both years. Jessica was accepted into the American Ballet Theater Summer Intensive studying with acclaimed dancers such as Cynthia Harvey, Roger Van Fletterin, Dierdre Carberry, and Magali Messac. Other Summer Intensive programs included Academy of Colorado Ballet, and Vail International Dance Festival. Jessica also studied with Leslie Browne and Finis Jhung in New York City, Meelis Pakri with the Royal Ballet, Inessa Pakri, Michelle Dolighan, Inge Saarsulu, Amy Lynn Stoddard, and Kristin Saint John

Jessica Rose was born and raised in Colorado. She received her Bachelor's degree in Dance from Mesa State College under the direction of Melonie Buchanan-Murray and Matthew Lindstrom. She has had the privilege of working with renowned artists such as Keith Clifton, Tony Coppola, Susan Hadly, Jennifer Kahl, Holly Lampe, Kim Noffsinger, Stephanie Powell, and Tracy Sanfield. Jessica has also performed in Aspen Dance Connection Company, Chicago: the musical, the Grand Junction Symphony’s Nutcracker, Beyond Boundaries dance Collective and as a Guest Artist in Glacier Ice Arena’s annual production.

At Mesa State, Jessica was the president of the Dance Society with which she directed many shows and fundraisers. Her choreography has been selected to be performed in the main stage dance concerts at Mesa State and numerous times in student productions. She has won many awards including being recognized twice in Who’s Who among American College Students, Dancers Heart Award, Best Performer (2 years), The Moss Performing Arts Scholarship and the Mesa Talent Scholarship. Recently Jessica was granted a full scholarship to the American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina.

Jessica loves to teach and is trained in teaching jazz, hip hop, tap, lyrical, musical theater, ballet, and creative movement. Her true passion is showing others the beauty of dancing and is excited to be a part of Studio 21.

Jesse fell in love with the performing arts as a small child here in the mountains of Colorado. She participated in plays and musicals throughout her school days. Her love of dance and performance continued with Cheerleading throughout high school and college. While she was in college she studied teaching as well as the arts. She obtained her Bachelors degree in Theatre from the University of Northern Colorado. Jesse started her career as a professional ballroom dance instructor in Knoxville, TN. She specializes in American Style Smooth and American Style Rhythm dances but has studied International Styles as well. She has received training from World class coaches in her efforts to become a great instructor. She has performed and competed with professional and amateur partners at the national level. In 2008, she implemented the ballroom dance programs for adults at 2 studios, 1 YMCA, and 1 community college. She also became a certified Zumba instructor in mid-2008 and has been actively teaching Zumba classes all over the Denver Metro area. Jesse has a passion for teaching dance and wishes to share it with the world 1 student at a time.

Michelle has been dancing for seven years and teaching for four. In high school she danced on the Ralston Valley pom squad, which included a state championship in 2004. Michelle was greatly involved at the Arvada Center teaching hip-hop classes and performing with the jazz company. After high school, Michelle danced with Ascential Dance Theater Company and continued training at Streetside dance. There she performed on the hip-hop troupes Rain and Boom Unit. Currently she dances with Denver’s Kittybox Dancers. Michelle’s training includes experience in jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, modern, ballet, contemporary burlesque, gogo, some bellydance, and some salsa. Prior to dancing, Michelle was a competitive gymnast for eleven years, achieving level nine status. Michelle is enrolled at Metropolitan State College of Denver studying Human Performance and Adult Fitness. She believes in encouraging healthy behaviors, as her classes are not only about learning choreography, but developing a strong body and fitness level.

Cierra Martinez was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. Cierra started her carrier as a rhythmic gymnast and was a Junior Olympian. Once in high school she was a 3 time Varsity Cheer/ Pom squad member. While in high school, she began her formal dance training in ballet at David Taylor Dance Theatre. Cierra continued her dance career at Mesa State College, in Grand Junction where she received a Dance Minor, as well as, numerous dance scholarships and performed regularly with the Mesa State Dance Repertory. At Mesa State College, she took classes in modern, jazz, ballet and hip-hop.

Cierra continues her dance training by taking classes from companies around Denver such as Cleo Parker Robinson and attending dance festivals such as the American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina. She recently expanded her dance career by taking it into the air, studying at the Aerial Dance Festival in Boulder, Colorado and has returned several times. She has been regularly training in aerial dance, for a little over a year with Cathy Gauch of Aircat Aerial Dance.

Our Mission
Studio 21 strives to provide technical dance instruction and personal development in a fun and engaging environment. Classes are enriched with lessons on Integrity, Responsibility, Courage and Team Work. Students are taught how to use positive self talk and optimism to assist in learning new skills.

Classes & Performances
Studio 21 provides technique based classes enriched with character development. Skills will be broken down to basic movement to give students a strong dance foundation in technique from the fundamentals to the cutting edge.

Studio 21 is committed to age appropriate costumes, choreography and music. Routines will be challenging enough to drive technical development, yet compact enough to develop skill mastery- not just comprehension. Each student will be given the opportunity and tools to succeed in class, and the inspiration to succeed in life.