This studio is a wonderful experience. The classes are fun and the instructors are very knowledgeable and talented. Most importantly, this isn’t just about dance. It is about self esteem, self confidence, learning to follow direction and working in a group. The lessons learned go far beyond dance and will give your child a strong balance for their journey ahead.
OUR STAFF
ZOOM ONLINE CLASSES AND FREE FACEBOOK MINI CLASSES RUNNING NOW
JESSICA MASON (Owner, Lead Instructor and CO Starz Coach)
Jessica launched Studio 21 Dance in 2008 and continues to base her programs on integrity, community service and compassion. Miss Jess began dancing in 1983, teaching in 1993, and began her professional career in 1999. She was a Denver Nuggets Dancer, Colorado Rapids Cheerleader, Colorado 14ers Dancer and Choreographer and directed and led the Blush Professional Dance Team. Her background includes psychology and fitness, which makes molding minds as important to her as shaping bodies. Her passion for dance and fitness has led her to compete in everything from figure and swimsuit competitions to pageants.
Jessica believes dance and fitness should make children and adults alike feel better about themselves. Goal setting is at the core of the studio’s teaching structure, helping students formulate a plan to achieve the goals they set, and then to set new goals to keep moving forward. In 2016, Jessica launched Compassion Over Reaction; Elementary Bullying Prevention. Studio classes include lessons from her bullying prevention program, utilizing lessons from her first book “Pitty the Bully”. Jessica’s second book, “Dancing Queen in Quarantine,” features stories from the studio, Studio 21 students and using dance to cope with quarantine. Jessica has two children; Marcy and Nico. Studio 21 Dance & Fitness is a part of Project 21 Foundation; Jessica’s non-profit organization that provides dance scholarships and uniforms, community outreach programs and bullying prevention programs in local schools. In 2021, Jessica and her SassiFit business partner, also named Jessica, added a Michigan dance team, the MI Starz Dance Team, to their tri-state company.
LEAH LEFEVRE (Littleton Cheer Team Director)
Coach Leah has been a cheerleading coach for the last 14 years. She tumbled into cheerleading during her first year of employment with Lakewood High School while working as a secretary in 2002. Her first week at that high school would change her life. The cheer coach quit. Coach Leah stepped up and took her place without thinking twice. After a year of coaching, she opened her own youth cheerleading company, Just Cheer It. In 2009, her love of coaching brought her to Bear Creek High School where she coached the JV cheer squad for two years. In 2011, she coached with Coach Demi at the Lakewood Recreation Center. After a year, she decided her true passion was with the little ones, ages 4-12, so she spent more time coaching with Just Cheer It. After 14 years in the field, Leah found a new passion: competitions.. She loves teaching kids new things and watching them accomplish their goals. She firmly believes that you can do anything you set your mind to. She can be heard repeating her motto: “Never say you can’t. You Can!” during her coaching sessions. She has the experience, enthusiasm, and passion to help motivate and drive her cheerleaders to achieve their dreams and ambitions.
Carley Emerson (Coach)
Coach Carley was on the Arvada West high school poms team AWHS dance team as well where also had helped with special needs kids who wanted to dance!
Coached young girls for their talent shows for Miss Colorado pageants and competed in Miss Colorado pageants!
Carley went the the International performing arts academy.
Graduated from Paul Mitchell for hair and cosmetology.
Competed in dance competitions accross colorado. She also assisted in Jeffco Rec center with dance/cheer program and helped at 5280 with gymnastics.
Carley joined Studio 21 Dance & Fitness and joined Blush in 2022 and dances with a couple of shuffling groups and Gogo dances at local edm shows!
Courtnie Hediger (Coach)
Coach Courtney was on BCHS Varsity Poms and the Colorado 14ers semipro basketball team with Miss Jess! She coached the Hip Hop dance team at Manual High school from 2017-2019. Courtney was the Director/ Owner of Ladies Of the 303 from 2019 to 2022; a Traveling Hip Hop Team . Courtney is the newest member of Blush (our adult, nonprofit dance team). Miss Jess and Miss Courtney go way back and we are so excited to have her join our Studio 21 Dance & Fitness coaching staff!
Gabby Ranfranz knew she wanted to pursue the art of dance and make a career for herself while exploring her passion. She has studied dance with Red Rocks Community College and graduated with her Associates Degree. She was very involved on campus and found ways to share the visual art of dance, outside of the registered courses, and make it available to all
students that showed interest. She then went on to earn her yoga instructors certification while working with the Esmé Dance Company. Gabby performed three years with Esmé including
annual performances, the Raw Artists Show (hosted by the Church Nightclub), and the Denver Pride Festival 2018. That summer, she also traveled overseas to study modern contemporary
dance with the infamous Igor & Iraxte, of Metamorphosis Dance; an international dance company. She then attended one week of their Metamorphosis Method workshop held in
Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Gabby also performed this summer with Canvas at the Denver Pride festival 2019. She most recently attended Kim Rohbards summer dance intensive, 2 week
workshop, and had the pleasure of working and creating with their prestigious and talented performers. Gabby is looking forward to more opportunities to meet, teach and work with other
artists around the world.
Jessica Swanson (Teen Coach & Princess Storyteller) Jessica S. is a superstar we are so lucky to have at Studio 21! She choreographs for Carmody Middle School, Bear Creek High School and several professional theatre companies in Denver. Jessica S. is our new coach for Baby Ballerina, Poms in the Park and subs throughout the program. Jessica also teaches teen jazz and musical theater. For more information on those classes, contact her directly at jeswanson13@gmail.com
Ana Jones started her dance education at the age of 13, but has been passionate about dance as long as she can remember. She began her formal training at Peak Athletics where she spent a season studying Poms. Ana expanded her range of dance styles at Premier Academy of Dance, where she trained competitively in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. Hip Hop immediately stood out as her favorite dance style and in 2019 she began assistant teaching Kindergarten and Junior Hip Hop. Since February of 2020, she has trained virtually with Melissa Bravo, Amber Rose Dance Academy UK, The Lab in West Covina, Take a Dance Break, Stem From Dance Girls Rise Up, and most recently ETHOS dance intensive and SOG
Paige Garcia Paige is an enthusiastic, responsible, organized and motivated person who loves dance and gymnastics. She looks forward to having an opportunity to work with our CO Starz. Coach Paige was a dancer and gymnasts for over 10 years and competed in many levels with XCEL USAG and HS gymnastics. Paige brings energy and knowledge around competition for POMS, Dance and gymnastics. I look forward to helping gymnasts reach their individual goals and grow as a coach. Coach Paige loves working with kids and inspiring people. As a life-long gymnast and dancer, Paige loves coaching kids and seeing them have fun and be successful. We are very excited to have Coach Paige on staff!
Melissa Birmingham (team manager) Melissa has a life of experience working with and teaching children. She manages a childcare facility and oversees other ECE staff. She has been a CO Starz mom since the team relaunched in 2017 and has stepped up to handle bookkeeping and new student registrations. Melissa is recently certified in SassiFit Dance Fitness and will be launching her own SassiClassic class fall 2019. Miss Melissa and Miss Jessica have been friends for many years and are family, just as CO Starz is a family. Melissa is the glue that holds everything together and you will see much of her!
- For all questions relating to classes, billing, nonprofit and bullying prevention programs contact info@studio21-dance.com
- For Billing, Booking and Media Questions...contact Mel at studio21manageram@gmail.com
- For Project 21 Foundation (scholarships, uniform assistance, community outreach and bullying prevention programs) ...contact Jessica at project21foundation.co@gmail.com
- For Fundraising Questions...contact Mel at sassimelissab@gmail.com