The Dance Department Faculty
Nicole Kutella: Co-Director / Co-Owner
Nicole began dancing at the age of 3 and has been teaching for over 19 years. She has trained in Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Afro-Cuban, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary and various other forms. She grew up training across the Chicagoland area, as well as being involved with her high school’s pre-collegiate dance program. Nicole earned merit based and technical based dance scholarships to attend summer intensives at both Columbia University in Chicago and The Lou Conté School of Dance. She received her BA in Dance, as well as a secondary degree in Performing Arts Entrepreneurship graduating with Honors from the University of Iowa. While in college she performed and toured with a small professional modern company around the Midwest, as well as performing as professionally in Colorado after moving to the Front Range in 2011. She has been involved in many aspects of the dance world including both concert dance and competitive dance. She has taught dance in Chicago, Iowa, and Colorado. She has been teaching along the Front Range for over 12 years. She has directed dance troupes and teams for over 12 years. Her choreography was adjudicated and selected for numerous performances throughout high school and college, and has been presented through out the Front Range at various dance competitions and events. Dance is Nicole’s passion, she believes dance can bring joy to everyone & every ability. She strives to make her classes energetic & fun, while teaching dancers to be safe, smart, strong, confident, & empowered in themselves in and out of the studio. Nicole’s goal is that her dancers leave her classes, feeling confident and ready to go where ever their paths may lead them, whether it be in a dance world or not. She believes dance is for everyone and works hard to help dancer’s reach their individual goals. Dance has also led Nicole to find passion and healing in Yoga. Nicole has earned her 200 Hour Yoga certification and recently finished her yoga certification for ages 2-17.
Miranda Lung: Co-Director / Co-Owner
Miranda was born and raised in New York and started dancing in New York at the age of 4. She trained with a variety of professionals including Eglevsky Ballet, Radio City Rockettes, and other Broadway artists and choreographers. She performed and choreographed for various benefits, shows, and citywide events after graduation while in New York before moving to Colorado. Miranda trained in a multitude of Ballet/ (Pointe) styles including Vaganova/Cecchetti methods, Rhythmic and Broadway styles of Tap dance, Contemporary, Lyrical, Irish Step, Jazz, Theatre Jazz, Street Jazz, Hip Hop, and improvisational techniques. Her Modern training style includes but is not limited to Isadora Duncan, Merce Cunningham, Alvin Ailey, and Martha Graham. In 2019, Miranda founded her own dance troupe that would eventually move to NoCo in order to co-create The Dance Department.
Miranda has directed theatrical productions as well as a multitude of dance companies and choreographed performances all along the Front Range. Today, she continues to choreograph for professional dance and theatrical companies in Northern Colorado in her “spare-time”.
Dancers who attend her programs will learn proper vocabulary, the origin of the style being studied, and the names of those who have left historical/cultural contributions to the art of dance. She has grown dancers in a variety of styles who have gone on to pursue dance and become professionals as well as educators themselves in both New York and Colorado. Miranda ensures each student receives customized, individualized, quality, and professional dance education. Her goal is to develop strong, smart, versatile dancers who grow in their self-worth as individuals, and are ready to tackle any audition should they so choose. Those looking to be pushed find themselves growing in their art and embrace opportunities with confidence. Miranda believes the dance studio should be a family-friendly, safe space for everyone within the community. Attending dance class should always be a positive experience.
Hunter Allen: Instructor
BIO COMING SOON
Grace Heinrichs: Instructor
Grace has spent nearly 13 years immersed in dance, a passion that began in a small family studio in Garden Plain, Kansas. Since then, she has trained with many Northern Colorado dance studios, developing a strong foundation in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, and pom. Her love for pom began during her time on her high school team. During four seasons with the Windsor High School Poms Team, Grace earned an NDA All‑American title and served as captain her senior year. She continued to hone her craft with the Fort Hays State University Tiger Debs, where her turns and showmanship flourished, leading to another captaincy in her final season. Grace credits Tiger Debs coach Annika Carter‑Powell for encouraging her to step into a formal teaching role; Annika’s kindness and support gave Grace the confidence to pursue sharing her love of dance with others. Grace began assistant‑teaching in high school and has since choreographed pieces for dancers ranging from first‑graders to collegiate performers. Her classes emphasize well‑rounded technique, attitude, strength, and most importantly, confidence. She believes the arts give young people a safe space to explore emotions they may struggle to express verbally. She makes sure every student can showcase individuality while still contributing to a cohesive ensemble. Outside the studio, Grace works with HopSkipDrive to ensure students have reliable transportation, and she draws on a solid background in childcare to create a supportive environment for kids. She is currently completing an Accounting degree and Leadership Certificate online through Fort Hays State University. Roll Tiges!
Monica Ramirez: Instructor
Monica has danced and taught internationally for 25 years.
She began her dance journey in Munich, Germany and then moved to Brazil where she danced and instructed at various dance studios, ultimately owning her own dance studio, Arabesque in Southern Brazil. U.S. credits include choreographing shows for the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Florida, the second largest performing arts complex in the Southeastern United States.
Monica also placed first at various Florida dance competitions with her students.
Locally, Mica has taught Jazz dance at Aims College, Front Range Community College and Colorado State University-Pueblo.
She holds a Doctorate in Education and an advanced degree in Performing Arts/Lighting Design. Her areas of focus are Traditional, Contemporary, Street & Latin jazz styles.
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