At TCDC, we house brilliant teachers and dance minds to bring the Lafayette/Louisville area some of the best dance experiences in Colorado!  Our teachers are amongst the best in the state, specializing in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, pom, dance team, hip hop and more!  Our teachers have done great things in the dance world.  A few credits include Wonderbound, Juilliard, Rouge Co, The Janes Dance Crew, The Other Guys Dance Crew, Go 2 Talent Agency, The Movement Talent Agency, National Championship Dance Team title holders, choreography winners, and more!  ​

Tara Cluck

Visionary, Artistic Director

Tara Cluck is a Colorado native who owns and artistically directs TCDC in her hometown of Lafayette.  Outside of the studio, Tara is a staple in the Colorado dance community.  She trains dancers to succeed in studio, dance team, and recreational environments alike.  She works closely with the University of Colorado Dance Team and many Colorado High School Teams, and her choreography has been seen on the national stage.  She is on faculty for Varsity Pro, a choreography company for professional sports dance teams within the NBA and NFL, and annually creates choreography for Universal Dance Association.  She has traveled internationally as a dance educator, teacher and judges trainer, working with dancers in Russia, Ecuador, Scotland, Mexico and Norway.  She is also part of a team creating international training videos for coaches and judges.  Her judging experience consists of multiple regional and national dance and dance team competitions, including the International Cheer Union, the National Dance Team Championships, ONP Nationals in Mexico City, and The Miss Colorado Pageant.  Tara also serves as a Director for The Dance Worlds. 

Outside of competition, Tara works as lead choreographer for Narrative Creative and The Imprint Group, creating original work for clients such as Hormel Foods, Carpet One, National Jewish Hospital, Cuveé and ReMax.  These works have been performed in venues such as the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Punta Mita Mexico, The Virgin Islands, Washington DC, Dallas and Denver.  Her choreography along with her creative team has won Best Entertainment at The Special Event two years running.  Her most recent accomplishment was choreographing a full length holiday show, Home for the Holidays at the Lone Tree Arts Center in 2017 and 2018. ​

Though Tara is sometimes busy teaching and choreographing outside of the studio, her heart is with her students at TCDC. 

Michaela DeGraw

Business Manager

Michaela grew up in Louisville and Lafayette, dancing with Tara along the way including 4 years on the Centaurus Dance Team. Michaela started coaching right out of high school as the dance coach for an all-star cheerleading team and ended up continuing to coach all-star and high school cheerleading for the next 10 years. While coaching at Holy Family High School, the team made it to finals every year, placing first and second under her leadership and choreography. Michaela coaches the Centaurus Dance Team and has built an outstanding, competitive and sustainable program.

Michaela's real talent is the business side of things. Michaela earned her MBA from the University of Colorado in 2006 with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship. In 2010 she opened a coffee and wine bar with a business partner and successfully built a business that she then sold for a profit four years later. In the meantime, she has built a family with two energetic daughters who love dance more than anything!  

​Michaela is so thrilled to be a part of the TCDC family and is excited to help facilitate the relationships between parents, instructors, dancers and the community.

Katie Lane

Company Director

Katie grew up dancing in Colorado and found her love and passion for dance in the studio and as member of her high school dance team. After earning multiple convention scholarships and awards in high school, Katie went on to earn a full scholarship as a member of the University of Tennessee dance team. Her team won their first Universal Dance Association National Championship in 2007 in the jazz category. She was a member of UDA staff teaching elite, college and international camps. Choreography credits include multiple top 10 high school and college routines in Jazz, Pom and Hip Hop some of which were featured on UDA’s ESPN show. Katie has recently choreographed multiple national championship routines. After college, Katie moved to Louisiana where she was eager to get back into the studio teaching technique, ballet, jazz and hip hop. Her students earned multiple top finishes at local and national competitions as well as scholarships at conventions. Katie moved back to Colorado where she was the head dance coach at the University of Colorado for 4 years and continues to work locally and nationally with middle school, high school and college teams. 

Melissa Woolf

Performance Line Director

Bio Coming Soon!

Jenn Woodward

Peeps Director 

As a Colorado native, Jenn Woodward, grew up in Arvada and
entered the competitive dance scene at the age of 8, training and
competing both regionally and nationally throughout her childhood.
She was a member of the Ralston Valley Pom squad and graduated from Metro State with a degree in Elementary Education. Jenn was formerly the Assistant Director of Westwoods Center of Performing Arts and in 2012 took a break from the dance world to start a family. For the past few years she has begun to teach again and is now currently the
Director of the Peeps Team here at TCDC.

Kelsey Anderson

Jazz, Lyrical, Technique

Kelsey Anderson is a jazz, lyrical/contemporary, and technique dance teacher from Kansas City. She danced at private studios, on her high school's dance team, and at the collegiate level. She has performed in Kansas City and Denver with Seamless Dance Company, Quixotic, Rogue Co., and the Imprint Group. She started her teaching career in 2008 with Nation Dance Alliance (NDA) and since 2011, has been choreographing for their national curriculum. With ten years of dance instruction experience, she teaches jazz, lyrical, and hip hop at TCDC.

Aiyana Daniel

Hip Hop

Aiyana Daniel first came to TCDC when she was only 10 years old, and has been dancing there ever since. During her 7 years at TCDC she has been training in many different styles, such as: hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, and tap.  She has also competed and danced in numerous conventions.  Aiyana is a junior at Monarch High School and is very honored and excited to share her knowledge of dance with the world!

Amy Giammarrusco

Ballet

Amy Giammarrusco began dancing at the age of 9, studying and competing all disciplines of dance at Dance Arts Centre in Eden Prairie, MN. She attended ballet intensives with American Ballet Theater, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Kirov Academy of Ballet, and The School of American Ballet. Amy completed her Junior and Senior years of high school at the Kirov Academy of Ballet boarding school in Washington, D.C. Since graduating, Amy has had the wonderful opportunity to turn her love of dance into a professional career. She has danced professionally for Colorado Ballet, Dawson Wallace Dance Project, Boulder Ballet, and Wonderbound, dancing lead roles in some of her favorite ballets. Amy has been teaching ballet for the last decade and enjoys spreading her love of dance to the next generation. When not teaching, you can find Amy hanging out with her husband and their fur baby, hiking, skiing, camping, or cooking. She is in her second season of teaching at TCDC and loving every second of it! ​

Audrey Gibson

Hip Hop

Bio coming soon!

Ellie Himyak

Technique

Ellie is a Colorado native and grew up in Broomfield, CO. She began dancing at a studio at the age of 7. Once she reached High School, she joined the Legacy High School Poms team. Being on the poms team expanded Ellie's dance experience with opportunities like traveling to UDA high school national competitions and performing in the Orange Bowl half time show. When Ellie joined the poms team as a freshman, she was introduced to Tara and began taking classes at TCDC. TCDC has been a huge positive influence on Ellie's dancing career. In 2017, Ellie began attending the University of Colorado, Boulder where she majors in Integrative Physiology. Her sophomore year of college, she became a member of the CU Dance team and is now a second year member of the team. Ellie began teaching at TCDC in 2018 and loves working with the little ones at the studio. She can't wait for another successful year as a TCDC faculty member.

Michael Jaycox

Hip Hop

Michael Jaycox has spent nearly two decades of his life dancing. Growing up in Colorado, he was extremely lucky to train with amazing teachers such as Misha Hamilton, Tony Testa, Gary Kendall, Kenny Jimenez, and John Gillette. With the help of these mentors, Michael has made dance his lifelong passion. Professionally, Michael has had the opportunity to dance throughout Denver, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, performing with artists such as Vanilla Ice, Coolio, Digital Underground, and others.
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Meghan Lawitz

Contemporary

Dancing for over 20 years, Meghan Lawitz is an established dancer, teacher and choreographer in Colorado. Originally from Arizona, she has trained in various styles including contemporary, jazz, lyrical, ballet, hip hop, tap, acrobatics, tumbling, and poms. She grew up competing and performing extensively throughout the States, winning awards and earning scholarships from numerous dance conventions. After years of dipping into many styles, Meghan focused primarily on contemporary movement and its rich storytelling ability. Her distinctive contemporary style stems not only from her diverse dance background but also from her love and appreciation of all dance forms.
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From 2008-2012, Meghan was the Co-Director/Choreographer for The Damsels Contemporary Dance Company – a Denver-based company dedicated to providing assistance to women in crisis, where over the span of four years, she created original company repertoire pieces and organized numerous show productions. She has been a Guest Artist for BJDW , United We Dance, You See These Moves, Releve Dance Competition, PUSH, The Block Party, Murmuration, St. Michael's College, and Denver School of the Arts, as well as an Official Judge for the UDA Mile High Dance Championships and the ICU World Cheerleading Championships. Most recently, Meghan toured with DMC International in China. A few of her performance credits include Vail International Dance Festival, 8150 Urban Dance Challenge, the Denver Dance Festival, and Interweave Dance Theatre . A recipient of numerous choreography awards, on the regional, national, and professional level, Meghan travels as a master teacher and choreographer for companies and studios across the globe.

In 2012 Meghan joined forces to create the Boulder-based, Rogue Co. Dance Company - a contemporary dance company for professional dancers, accomplished performers, and emerging artists in Colorado. She is currently on faculty with Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop, and dances with the all female crew, The Janes. She is an in-house choreographer for Shelly True Dance Academy, under the direction of Shelly Trujillo - Choreographer & Assistant Director for the Denver Bronco Cheerleaders.

A lover of the arts, and a student always, it is the combination of Meghan’s bold storytelling-style and sheer strength in movement that sets her apart from others. 
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Erica Matthies

Pre-Dance

Erica has been dancing since she was three years old, started dancing at TCDC when she was 8 and started Company with TCDC when she was 9. She is now a part of the Performance Line, has been able to compete in competitions and loves being on stage with her friends and her dance family. When she was younger Erica’s love of hip hop is what brought her to TCDC, but after training in and learning other styles such as jazz, ballet, and contemporary, she now loves contemporary the most. Erica is a Junior at Monarch High School and is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of her yearbook staff. She loves baking, cooking, and anything pumpkin flavored. TCDC and dancing is Erica’s safe place and she can’t wait to spend her time with younger dancers and share what she knows and her love of dance with others!

Carrie Nitchoff

Pre-Dance

Carrie Nitchoff has been part of the dance community for over 35 years. In addition to being a certified dance judge for the National Dance Coaches Association, Colorado Spirit Coaches Association, Colorado High School Activities Association, and Dance Team Union, she is a staff member of the United Spirit Association. While on staff for the United Spirit Association, Carrie head instructed pom and dance camps throughout the western United States. She graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in nutrition and went on to Regis University where she earned her teaching degree. Carrie has coached everything from “mini” dance teams to varsity pom teams. She is delighted that some of the dancers that she coached as “minis” are now members of her high school team. Currently, Carrie is the head varsity pom coach at Broomfield High School. She started the pom program at Broomfield in 1992 and is so proud to return as head coach. Carrie has lead her team to Back-to-Back Colorado State Hip Hop Championships in 2018 and 2019, and multiple finals placements at NDA Nationals. Carrie was incredibly honored to be awarded the 2018 Colorado High School Dance Coach of the Year and nominated for the National Dance Coaches Association High School Dance Coach of the Year in 2019. She is a proud member of the Colorado Spirit Coaches Association and National Dance Coaches Association and loves the time she is able to spend with other spirit coaches in this amazing organization. In addition to coaching at Broomfield High School, Carrie is a science teacher and a Blue Crew Leadership Team coordinator. Carrie’s happy places is teaching 2-6 year old dance classes. She has been teaching our youngest dancers for over 15 years and she loves the joy they bring to each class. When Carrie isn’t teaching or coaching, you can find her loving time spent with her two wonderful children, Natalie and AJ. She also enjoys yoga, hiking, playing tennis, paddle boarding, and spending time with friends. She hopes to make a difference in the lives she touches through coaching and cannot wait to share her love of dance with her students at TCDC.​​

Abbey Nugent

Jazz, Lyrical, Technique, Boys Hip Hop

Abbey is a Colorado native and is the Head Coach for the University of Colorado (Boulder) Dance Team. She grew up competing in both studio and dance team, and took her dance career to the University of Colorado were she herself danced on the team for 4 years and served her senior year as captain. After school Abbey pursued her love for dance and has danced in multiple shows put on by Imprint Event Groups, guest taught at various workshops and judged High School dance team competitions. She has also choreographed for CU, local High School teams and studios. Abbey is now starting her third year teaching and choreographing at TCDC!

Abbey received her Bachelor's Degree in Advertising with an emphasis in Sociology from CU in 2016 and a Masters degree in Education from Metropolitan State University in 2019. With her background in education, Abbey understands the individual dancer and how to differentiate for them in the studio. She has always had a strong passion for dance and the community and strives to make her students feel empowered, confident and tenacious in every aspect of life!

Maylu Perrot

Pre-Dance, Peeps

At 11 years old, Maylu took her first-ever dance class at TCDC. She has been dancing ever since. 
For the past 6 years, Maylu has gone from dancing once a week in a community class, to dancing many hours per week, as a member of TCDC’s Senior Company. She currently trains in ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, and jazz. Maylu has participated in numerous conventions and competitions all over Colorado, as well as Los Angeles to participate in LADM Nationals.
Maylu is currently in her senior year at Monarch High School. 
Maylu feels honored to be part of the amazing TCDC dance family. She is excited to teach and share her love of dance with her students.​

Marlana Qualls

Ballet

Marlana Qualls began her professional ballet career at age seventeen. Sought after nationally by established companies such as Nevada Dance Theater, Louisville Ballet (KY) and Atlanta Ballet, Marlana has appeared at numerous prestigious events from coast to coast. She was selected to perform for the highly revered Lester Horton Awards in Los Angeles and also hand picked for several Charles Maple’s original and award winning works.

Marlana studied on merit scholarship with Joffrey Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Sacramento Ballet. She is currently the head ballet mistress for TCDC and has four beautiful children with her husband Cody Qualls. Her students have gone on to study at Juliard, SUNY Purchase and University of Kansas City, Missouri and furthermore landed professional contracts with Hubbard Street Dance Theater, Alonzo King Lines Ballet and Aspen/Santa Fe Ballet amount others. 

Marlana is passionate about passing on her love of ballet to her students through a combination of love, discipline, accountability and laughter. She is absolutely honored to be a part of TCDC. 
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Brooklyn Reddy

Jazz

Brooklyn has been dancing since she was only two years old. She began her dancing career training competitively at Artistic Fusion Dance Academy from ages 3-15. While at Artistic Fusion, she traveled to many places such as New York and Las Vegas to compete in national competitions. Brooklyn has also been the opening act for Kidz Bop! Brooklyn has been trained in all styles of dance, such as jazz, lyrical, ballet, tap, hip hop, and more. She has worked with a variety of choreographers such as Travis Wall, Will Loftis, Misha Gabriel, and Kirsten Russell. Brooklyn then joined the Legacy High Schools Poms team her sophomore year of high school. She was a part of varsity all three years and was a captain her last year. Under her leadership, her team took fourth in the state in 2018 and made finals at nationals for the first time in 2020, placing 16th in the nation in the game-day category. Brooklyn has taken a variety of classes at TCDC throughout her high school years. She has also been a sub for Tara Cluck Dance Center since she was 16. She then became a part of the TCDC staff at age 17. Brooklyn graduated high school in May of 2020 and will be attending the University of Colorado in the fall of 2020 and will be majoring in biomedical engineering. Brooklyn will continue her dance career in college by being a part of the CU dance team.

Jessica Riggs

Tap

Jessica Riggs is a Colorado Native originally from Golden, Colorado. She possesses Bachelor’s degrees in both Dance and Dietetics from Colorado State University, as well as a Master’s degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition. During her college dance career, Jessica’s choreography was selected on multiple occasions for showcase in the CSU Fall and Spring Dance Concerts, as well as for adjudication in the 2007 American College Dance Festival.  
 
In 2009, Jessica founded Life/Art Dance Ensemble, a 501(c)3 registered nonprofit dance company that focuses on artistic collaboration and making the arts more accessible to the community.  In addition to Life/Art's productions, Jessica's choreography and performance have also been featured in Transition Theater's Kali Creates Fate, GAMMA-UT's New Music Festival at the University of Texas, the Dairy Arts Center’s Women in Classical Music Soundscape concert, in Prague at the American Music Festival in collaboration with Stratus Chamber Orchestra, and in many other productions and events.
 
Jessica is a member of the Cindy Brandle Dance Company and dances with the Lost Walks Band, an artistic supergroup that focuses on collaboration and conservation. She teaches ballet, tap, and modern classes at the Lakewood Cultural Center and now teaches tap at TCDC! She is also a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and holds a personal training certification through the American College of Sports Medicine. 

Hannah Reed

Front Desk

Hannah has been dancing since she was 2 years old and has been competing for nearly 15 years. She trained and competed at Starstruck Academy of Dance from ages 12-18. Hannah also danced on her high school’s varsity Pom team for 4 years, winning state her first year, and being a team captain and All state recipient her senior year. Hannah is a recent graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder. While there, she was a member of the CU dance team and became a captain her senior year. Hannah got her degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing. She will begin working as a customer solutions specialist at a tech. company nearby, and is excited to still be able to work at TCDC.

Nicki Sittner

Hip Hop 

Nicki is a Colorado native and has grown up dancing in Boulder for most of her life. She started training in hip hop at the age of seven and then in jazz and contemporary a couple of years later. She has trained under many amazing teachers including Rico Changeux, Audrey Gibson, Michael Jaycox, and Meghan Lawitz. Growing up in Boulder has given her the opportunity to find a passion for performing, which she has been doing for about 13 years. Around 2015 she was introduced to a new aspect of the dance world: teaching; and she fell in love with it immediately. Since then she has gained experience teaching hip hop, ballet, jazz, and contemporary. She loves to watch her students grow and explore their movement while building a sense of community with each other. At the moment, she is a student at the University of Colorado where she studies psychology and Spanish, but she always finds time to devote to dance. She loves the way dance allows her to express herself and hopes to pass along this knowledge and passion to her students. She is excited to see where dance leads her in the future and is happy to join the TCDC staff!

Haley Welch

Hip Hop

Haley Welch is a senior at monarch high school. She has been dancing for 8 years while competing with TCDC for 5 of those years. Currently, she is dancing as a member of the TCDC senior company; training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop. Because TCDC company has given her endless opportunities, she has been able to participate in conventions and competitions throughout colorado, and also participate at LADM Nationals in Anaheim, Ca.
Starting this year, Haley is thrilled to be a part of TCDC faculty, teaching hip hop, and spreading her love for dance amongst her students.​