OUR FACULTY

At Premier School of Dance, our faculty believes that dance training fosters valuable life skills such as respect, humility, responsibility to oneself and others, teamwork, goal-setting, creative expression, and personal achievement.

All our instructors have extensive qualifications in dance, with a full understanding of what is technically appropriate for every age level.
 

Karin Gritz
STUDIO OWNER & INSTRUCTOR

Karin Gritz has owned Premier School of Dance for 30 years, and has been teaching dance for over 35 years. Her early training began with Gwen Bowen School of Dance in south Denver, and progressed to teaching at age 18. She has taught through many outlets including: YWCA, Pueblo Ballet, Rancho Simi Valley Recreation Department and at local studios in Colorado.

Karin is exceptional in working with the younger kids and keeping the tradition of dance alive! Her objective with the studio is to reinforce arts education by providing an outlet for all families to afford dance training. She believes that dance teaches many life skills besides technique and the artistry of dance.

Alexandra Fields
CO-DIRECTOR & INSTRUCTOR
Alexandra Fields began her training here at Premier. She went on to graduate with Honors from the University of Arizona with a B.F.A in Dance Performance. She received additional training from Virgina School of the Arts, Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. She has been teaching for 22 years and has been the Director of the competition team for the last 15 years. In her free time you can find her chasing her three adorable children around. 

Jamison Slater INSTRUCTOR
Jamison Slater began her training in Medford, NJ. She then went to study on scholarship at Virginia School of the Arts. She attended many summer programs including Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Koresh, and Charleston Ballet. She has danced professionally with Charleston Ballet Theatre and Caribbean Cruise Lines. While living in Las Vegas Jamison performed in Jubilee!, Nathan Burton Comedy Magic Show, and the Sirens show at Treasure Island. Jamison has also performed as a back-up dancer for recording artist Kristine W. in Miami and Bruno Mars in Las Vegas. She is also a judge for National Dance Showcase, International Dance Alliance and Headliners. Jamison is looking forward to her  season at Premier.

Michelle Nigro INSTRUCTOR
Michelle has been teaching at Premier since it opened in 1993. A former Miss Adams county with over 30 years of being involved in performing arts, she has a B.A. in Elementary Education and a minor in Dance from the University of Northern Colorado. Currently she is working as an instructional coach at The Studio School in Adams 12 Five Start School District. She has a wide background in teaching Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Acrobat. 

Liam Hogan  INSTRUCTOR
Liam grew up in Houston, Texas where he started his ballet training at the Houston Ballet Academy. Upon graduating high school he began his career as a professional Ballet dancer at the Washington Ballet under the direction of Julie Kent. In 2018 Liam joined the Colorado Ballet where he has performed multiple leading roles in both classical and contemporary Ballets. Liam has been teaching Ballet for six years. This is his third year teaching at Premier. 

Liz Fischer   INSTRUCTOR
Liz earned her B.A. from Mercyhurst University in both Dance and Communications. She lived in NYC for the past few years where she worked for Kinderdance in the public and private school system as well as at Broadway Performing Arts Center. Liz has been teaching for the last decade and her specialties include Acro, Ballet, and Lyrical. Liz is thrilled to be a part of the team here at Premier. 

Cassandra Friend INSTRUCTOR

Cassandra began her training here at Premier. She graduated with Honors from Grand Canyon University with a B.A. in Dance and a B.S. in Business Management. While at GCU she studied Ballet, Modern, and Jazz, as well as performed every semester with GCU's Ethington Dance Ensemble. She is excited to be back at Premier doing what she loves, teaching!

Marian Faustino INSTRUCTOR

Marian began her career in the Philippines.  Marian was a founding member of Wonderbound, a contemporary Ballet Company here in Colorado.  A free lance artist, Marian has performed with Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Dance Aspen, Owen Cox Dance Group, and the Rosin Box Project.  She is currently a company artist at Boulder Ballet. She has been teaching Ballet for over 15 years,  She graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Science in Family Life & Child Development.  

Ellie Coop INSTRUCTOR

Ellie has been at Premier for 3 years teaching Ballet.  She was previously Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, and Dew Drop Fairy for Maniya Barredo's "The Nutcracker".  As well as the lead dancer in Robert Barnett's "Reflections" that was choreographed for Maniya Barredo and the Atlanta Ballet.  Ellie attended Auburn University and is currently a Healthcare Technology Consultant.  

Joanna Richardson INSTRUCTOR

Originally from Atlanta, GA Joanna trained at Vista Grove Dance Center. She has taught for over 15 years around the country and judged for several dacne competitions.  Joanna has been a Radio City rockette for over 15 years peforming in the Christmas Spectacular in NY. She dacned at Tokyo Disney Sea in "Happy Feet Two" as well as "Beauty and the Beast Live" at Hollywood Studioes.