Our Staff
Jessica Fitzgerald
Jessica Fitzgerald is a Colorado Native! She received her Bachelor's degree in Dance from Colorado Mesa University 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 Hadley, Jennifer Kahl, Holly Lampe, Kim Noffsinger, Stephanie Powell, and Tracy Sanfield. Jessica 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. Jessica's choreography has been selected to be performed in the main stage dance productions at Colorado Mesa University and numerous times in student productions. Her choreography has won many awards at local competitions, including the showmanship award at the I Love Dance dance competition, overall choreographer of the National Believe Competition, and multiple platinum awards at Intensity Dance, Starquest Dance, Releve Dance, and others. She has won many awards, including being recognized twice in the Who's Who among American College students, the Dancers Heart Award, Best Performer (2 years), The Moss Performing Arts Scholarship, and the Mesa Talent Scholarship. Jessica was granted a full scholarship to the American Dance Festival at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. There, she had the privilege of working with renowned choreographers and expanding her dance training. Jessica loves to teach and is trained in teaching jazz, hip-hop, tap, lyrical, musical theater, ballet, and creative movement.
Email us with questions and comments at Jessica@flatironsdance.com.
Studio Owner / Director
Meet Our Teachers!
Lanea Blackburn
Competition Director
Lanea Blackburn is the Competition Director at Flatirons Dance Academy and the Artistic Director and Founder of Epilogue, based in Colorado. From a background in jazz and contemporary, her evolution as a dancer and choreographer led her to explore various hip-hop styles, including house, breaking, waacking, and popping, creating as a versatile artist.
Before her time at Flatirons, Lanea was an integral part of the dance companies and shows, including Side by Side, Backbone Dance Company, Murmuration Dance, and The Block Party. Her talents have also been showcased in collaborations with renowned brands like Nike and events such as the Vail International Dance Festival, Thesis Dance Festival, and The BodyPoets show.
Her contributions to the cultural landscape include choreographic works for diverse platforms such as the Taylor Tuke Music Video, Temporarily Unavailable Dance Show, The Playlist Dance Competition, and the Endless Summer Dance Show.
As a teacher, Lanea's passion for nurturing dancers extends through her travels, where she has conducted workshops and masterclasses for dancers of all ages across various states and countries. Her commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment is evident in her classes, where trust exercises and open discussions pave the way for transformative experiences.
Lizzy Whistance
Ballet Director
Lizzy Harrison began her journey in dance at Premiere School of Dance in Thornton, Colorado. She studied further at Dancer’s Edge Studio in Brighton, Colorado, where she was fortunate enough to learn from Jessica Fitzgerald herself! Lizzy pursued her love of dance on a scholarship at Casper College, where she earned an Associate of Arts in Dance Performance. She continued her dance training at the University of Wyoming where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Minor in Dance.
Lizzy believes that dance is a beautiful expression of kindness, creativity, and strength for the purpose of communicating ideas and concepts while encouraging one another and building self esteem and community. Fostering an atmosphere that encourages dancers to be confident, loving, and accepting of both themselves and others is of top priority in her teaching. She strives to create a fun and safe environment where her students feel comfortable to fully express themselves and are unafraid to make mistakes. She loves creating fun combinations with the little dancers as well as guiding older students in their personal journey of artistry.
Lizzy has been teaching for 4 years in the Denver metro area as well as in Wyoming while pursuing her degree at Dance Evolutions Inc. in Casper, Wyoming and Dance Studio B in Laramie, Wyoming. Lizzy is grateful to have experienced class with the Limon Dance Company at Snowy Range Summer Dance Festival 2019 and to work with the students as a camp counselor. She has been thankful to learn from Jacob Mora, the director of Moraporvida contemporary dance company and Dan Higgins, choreographer and dancer for Repertory Dance Theater among many other guest artists. During her college career, she was excited to perform in Casper College Mainstage productions including An Adaptation of Charlotte’s Web C ontemporary Dance Concert, Mary Poppins the Musical, and A Rock and Roll Fantasy Contemporary Dance Concert. She was also featured in University of Wyoming’s production of Spring To Dance 2020 as a soloist in Cat Kamrath’s Alpenglow. Lizzy is so excited to be a part of Flatirons Dance!
Cassandra Weaver
Tap Director
Cassandra Weaver was born and raised in Colorado; she started dancing at the age of 3 and grew up at her Mother’s dance studio, Off-Broadway Academy of Dance. She has been trained in Ballet, Tap, and Jazz for over 32 years; she has also trained in Contemporary and Lyrical for 29. Cassandra started assistant teaching at the age of 12 years old and fell in love with it. Cassandra went to Colorado Mesa University where she received her B.A. in Dance. She had the honor of being featured in an Adam Parson Jazz piece and working and dancing pieces choreographed by James Wallace, Holly Lampe, and Caitlin Grey. After Graduating College in 2012, she started teaching at Allana’s Academy of Dance. She taught there for 7 years. She danced with a local Contemporary dance company called Esmé for 5 years until Covid. They performed for Denver Pride Fest and other local dance performances around the state, alongside a huge production every year. After Covid, she got into fitness and recently got certified in body combat. Teaching and fitness are her life. She is looking forward to year number 6 with flatirons dance.
Ashley Connor
Jazz & Poms Director
Ashley Connor is a Colorado native who has been dancing since she was 3 years old. Ashley began her dance career under the direction of Jeannine Belliston at Belliston Academy of Ballet. During her time as a student, she enjoyed learning many forms of dance, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pom, and hip-hop. From dancing on her high school’s varsity poms team for four years to making her first professional team, dance has always been one of her biggest passions. After high school, Ashley decided to take her career to the professional level and tried out for the Denver Outlaws. She danced for the Denver Major League Lacrosse (MLL) team for two years before switching to the Colorado Mammoth (NLL). As a professional, Ashley has had the privilege to dance with Stephen “Twitch” Boss, Allison Holker, and Alex Wong.
Ashley finished her bachelor’s degree in speech-language and hearing sciences at the University of Colorado-Boulder with a minor in dance in 2019. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Wyoming in Speech Language Pathology. Apart from working at the studio, Ashley works full-time as a pediatric Speech Language Pathologist, helping little ones communicate and thrive in school.
Ashley's passion for dance continues to grow, and she looks forward to another year teaching at Flatirons Dance!
Haley Smith
Miss Haley reigns from New Jersey and has been teaching dance for 17 years. She grew up competing around the country and has choreographed for nationally ranked collegiate and high school dance teams. She has also been a judge for many events throughout the tri-state area. When not at dance, she is in the mountains with her husband, two dogs and their newest addition, baby Violet!
Sierra Sharratt
Sierra began her dance journey at the age of 5, dancing at a small studio in Eagle, Colorado. During her childhood and teenage years, Sierra danced in a wide array of classes from HipHop and Breakdancing to Ballet and Pointe. Sierra attended Hofstra University in Long Island, New York where she received a Bachelor's degree in both Dance and Psychology. While in school, Sierra was able to attend ACDF (American College Dance Festival) to learn from teachers all around the area and perform student choreographed pieces. After graduating with her Bachelor's degrees in May of 2017, Sierra moved back to Colorado to pursue her Master's degree.
Sierra received her Master's degree from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. Her degree is in Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentrated in Somatic Psychotherapy and Dance/Movement Therapy. Sierra currently works as a full time therapist, utilizing Dance/Movement Therapy to help others heal through movement.
Sierra loves all forms of movement and is passionate about teaching others how movement and dance benefits the mind, body and soul. Today, Sierra loves to teach a wide array of classes and share her passion and love of dance through teaching.
Oriana Coronado
Oriana is a Venezuelan Dancer/Choreographer who started her journey when she was 4 years old. Obi has training in jazz, salsa, hip-hop, commercial and Latin rhythms.
After years of hard work in her country: having her own dance academy in 5 different schools, working in HBO Latin America as a Producer, working as a Dance teacher and choreographer for Hip-hop and Salsa competitions, and as an Event Producer for Dance competitions and events; Obi decided it was time to get out of her comfort zone and follow her dreams. She moved to Chicago, IL. in 2018 and attended to many dance camps and classes all over the country. In 2019 she was accepted in the company IMMABEAST in LA, California. That same year she moved to Denver, Colorado and fell in love with the state. She's currently teaching Hip-Hop and Salsa for all ages in different studios in CO, and is really excited to grow, learn and be part of the Flatirons Dance Academy.
Emma Vornhagen
Emma is an Arvada native and grew up dancing at the Arvada Center. She went on to minor in dance at Creighton University where she graduated with her Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science. A couple years later, she received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Creighton University.
Outside of the studio, Emma is a pediatric physical therapist and specializes in early childhood development.
At Flatirons Dance Academy, Emma teaches ballet classes and provides individualized physical therapy services to FDA dancers.
Lucy Bashford
I’m Miss Lucy I teach Acro and Aerials. I have a gymnastics background of 14 years and love teaching!
Cheryl Brown
Cheryl Brown was born in California but grew up here in Arvada, Colorado, graduating from Pomona High School. In her high school years, she danced with Lisa Trujillos Dance Academy and cheered at Pomona for her 4 years of high school. Her passion was also for music, which she used in musicals like Guys and Dolls, Music Man, etc. She has had the opportunity to sing the National Anthem for various sporting events including Colorado State University and the Denver Nuggets, as well as for a political rally in Greeley, Colorado, and the University of Phoenix graduation ceremonies. Her passion continued through college where she attended Colorado State University on scholarship as a vocal performance major. Junior year, she had the opportunity to tour the East Coast with a Christian singing group called Living Word Singers. After college, she got married to her college sweetheart Matt and began a job as a music teacher at a local private school. She also became a vocal coach and a dance instructor at The Studio in Fort Collins teaching musical theatre, ballet, and jazz.
She has been blessed with 4 children and has had the wonderful opportunity to watch her own daughters use their gift of dance. She is excited and ready to jump back into teaching once again!
Shannon Cummings
Shannon Cummings was born and raised in Colorado and grew up dancing and teaching at Bella Danze Artz. She fell in love with the art and moved to LA and got her associate degree in Dance Theater. She then moved to Atlanta, GA, and studied ballroom dance at Arthur Murray, instructing and dancing for 2 years. She specializes in hip hop, jazz, contemporary, and ballroom rhythm dances.
ElliJo Musgrove
Student Teacher
ElliJo is such a gem. She has been one of our dynamic dancers since the start of Flatirons. She loves children and loves to teach and inspire them in the beginning years of their training.
Izzy Quimby
Student Teacher
Izzy Quimby has been a dancer at Flatirons Dance Acedemy since the beginning of her dance career. She is a current Senior at Arvada West High School where she also competed on the poms team there for three years. She loves working with children and showing them how to overcome obstacles through dance!
Liberty Timmens
Student Teacher
If you’ve ever seen Ms. Libby dance you will understand why she is our beginner Acro teacher. She constantly places at competitions for her acro skills and we are so excited she’s sharing her knowledge with our beginning acro dancers.
Sophia Griffith
Student Teacher
Ms. Sophia has worked the last 4 years training to be able to teach her own class. As an internship for her school, Ms. Sophia must submit weekly lesson plans and checkin’s with the director of her school and Ms. Jessica. We are so proud of the work she has put in to teaching and can’t wait to see her grow as a teacher.
Jenna Larsen
Student Teacher
Jenna has been dancing at Flatirons for 6 years and it’s been amazing for her! She originally started dancing when she was 3. She’s so excited to share her love for dance and inspire other dancers!