B&B Dance Co.

B&B Dance Company is a school of dance instruction focusing on technique, performance, and artistic expression in all forms of dance from basic to advanced levels for all types of students. All levels of students are welcomed and encouraged to enhance their personal expression and love of the arts. Meet our faculty below!


\ Michelle Carmichael Artistic Director & Instructor		Michelle is a native of Colorado and has performed with a diverse range of companies, including Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Opera Colorado, Colorado Symphony Orchestra and David Taylor Dance Theater. She has trained with many celebrated choreographers and teachers such as Donald McKayle, Dianne McIntyre, Chuck Davis, Letitia Williams, and Katherine Dunham. Michelle began dancing at the age of 2. She has won many dance competitions and was crowned Little Miss Colorado Beauty. From the ages of 8-12, she performed in the David Taylor Dance Theater annual Nutcracker production as a Junior Corps Member. She quickly moved on to become a soloist and member of the Junior Company at Cleo parker Robinson Dance. As a soloist, she had the honor of dancing for Pope John Paul II and Katherin Dunham. Next, she was a member of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble after graduation from high school from 1995-2000. In 1995 she performed Helen Tamiris' How Long Brethren at the American Dance Festival. Michelle has performed in many Operas such as Die Meistersinger von Nuremberg, Carmina Burona, and Aida. As a member of the company she had the opportuntity to tour the USA and perform for many famed individuals. Michelle remained a member of the company while she attended the University of Colorado at Boulder on a full Dance scholarship. At CU, she was a member and soloist for the CU Dance Caravan. In October of 1998 she produced, choreographed, and perfomed in her BFA Dance concert, The Variety Show. This was the first production in school histlry that was sold out for the entire run and additional shows were added. In December 1998 she received her BFA in dance from the University of Colorado at Boulder in a school departmental record of 3 1/2 years. Michelle has instructed students at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, West Side Dance, and Cherilyn's Dance and Arts Center teaching ballet, jazz, modern, and tap. She has won numerous choreography and competitive awards.

Betsy Matthews Artistic Director & Instructor		Betsy is originally from the Philadelphia area, where she began dancing at the age of 3, and continued to study throughout her adolescent life. Upon entering college, she discovered a love for literature and visual arts, and began studying those areas as well, and earned a BA in English Literature and Business Management, and has gained extensive experience in graphic arts. For the past ten years, she has worked as a graphic arts consultant in North Carolina and has grown many small businesses with her combination of arts and business knowledge. While working in the graphics industry, she realized how much she missed dance in her life, and returned to taking classes. This quickly led to reviving her passion and dedicating her life to returning to the world of dance. Betsy began taking master classes and entering competitions to increase her repertoire. She was fortunate enough to receive instruction from noted instructors such as Frank Hatchett, Hayley "Hayley Mac" MacLelland, Dena Rizzo, Carissa Seaman, and Scott Wise. Betsy has been teaching ballet, jazz, and lyrical classes at Center Stage Studio for the Performing Arts, and has performed with their award-winning Stage Right Company. She has won numerous competitive awards for both solo and group performances.

Julie Trujillo, Instructor		Julie Trujillo is the past director of Stage Images, a classical dance studio in Brighton, CO, and currently devotes her dance experience to preschool, tap, and jazz. Julie founded the dance team at Brighton High School's Bulldog Dance Team, which she coached for four years. She has received many awards related to dance and community service, such as the Brighton Unsung Hero Award and has been featured in the premiere edition of Women Leaders of Colorado. She has been a guest judge for various pageants as well as the I Love Dance Nationals. Her belief is that dancing allows a student to be the best they can be, and tries to bring out the best in each dancer. To quote Ms. Julie, "Dancing is for Everyone!" Other performance and participation credits for Julie include Miss Arvada, Starlight competitions, I Love Dance, Showstoppers National Competitors, Elitches, Adams County Fair and Commissioners Brunch, Colorado State Fair, Festival of the West Days, Brighton Centennial, Hudson Centennial, Fort Lupton Chamber of Commerce, and many others.

Nichole Moots, Instructor		Nichole started dancing when she was five years old with Miller’s Dance Studio, one of the largest studios in the state of Colorado, studying ballet, tap, jazz, and pointe. After dancing at Miller’s for 10 years she joined her High School Cheer/Dance Team, where she was elected captain both junior and senior years. After high school, she took a short break from dancing to pursue a career in Early Childhood Education and start a family. Nichole and her husband Jesse have been married for 11 years and have two beautiful daughters. Through her daughters, she started dancing again. Although she studied various dance disciplines, her love has always been Hip-Hop. Four years ago, she had the opportunity to start teaching in a small studio in Brighton. She has been teaching both in the studio and running summer Hip-Hop camps as well. Her philosophy: "I dance to express myself, I teach to help others find their true potential."

Mari Banka, Vocal Coach and Musical Theater Instructor		Mari Banka was born and raised in Colorado. She received her Bachelors degree in Music with a concentration in Vocal Performance from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver under the direction of Larry Glenn and Kevin Kennedy. She has had the privilege of private instruction from Viola Terranova. Mari's stage credits include Brigadoon (Fiona), Wizard of Oz, Jungle Book (Bagheera), Anything Goes (Purity), Oklahoma! (Ellen), E Words (Abby), and Monkey Men (Kathleen). She has also sung at many prestigious venues, and with professional vocal groups, including the Lamont Women's Chorus. Mari has been invited to perform the National Anthem at various sporting events at the University of Denver. Interestingly, she has also sung in Italian, Spanish, Latin, French, Swedish, Czech and German. In addition, Mari is also the current Music Director at the Rocky Mountain Theater for Kids. Besides her vocal and theater training and perfomance, Mari has stage experience in ballet, jazz, tap and gymnastics, and also has many years of piano education and performance. She looks forward to coaching new students at B&B!

Jessica Rose, Instructor		Jessica Rose was born and raised in Colorado. She received her Bachelor's degree in Dance from Mesa State College 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 Hadly, Jennifer Kahl, Holly Lampe, Kim Noffsinger, Stephanie Powell, and Tracy Sanfield. Jessica has 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. At Mesa State, Jessica was the president of the Dance Society with which she directed many shows and fundraisers. Her choreography has been selected to be performed in the main stage dance concerts at Mesa State and numerous times in student productions. She has won many awards including being recognized twice in Who’s Who among American College Students, Dancers Heart Award, Best Performer (2 years), The Moss Performing Arts Scholarship and the Mesa Talent Scholarship. Recently Jessica was granted a full scholarship to the American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina. Jessica loves to teach and is trained in teaching jazz, hip hop, tap, lyrical, musical theater, ballet, and creative movement. Her true passion is showing others the beauty of dancing and is excited to be a part of B & B Dance Company.

Jessica Pearson, Instructor		Jessica Pearson grew up in Wallingford CT. She attended Towson University in Towson, Maryland and graduated cum laude with a B.F.A in Dance Performance. During college Jessica dedicated her summers to dance in New York City where she trained at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and The New York University Summer Dance Festival. After College Jessica joined the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble in Denver, CO. During her 5 year tenure she performed numerous works around the country. While in Denver Jessica taught dance at a number of Denver studios. Since September 2007, Jessica has had the opportunity to teach at in Motion School of Dance in Bermuda. While in Bermuda she had the opportunity to choreograph and perform for Concepts In Motion, In Motions School of Dance professional company. She is returning to Colorado to attend the University of Colorado, Boulder to receive her M.F.A. in Dance and Pilates Certification.

Cindy Hsu, Tap Instructor (photo coming soon!)		Cindy Hsu has a Bachelor's Degree in dance from Colorado State University. She worked as a Guest Artist-in-Residence and performed throughout the New York City area with Manhattan Tap II. She has studied tap with Chris Baker, Buster Brown, Heather Cornell, Mark Goodman, Lisa Hopkins, Idella Reed, and Olivia Rosencrantz. Cindy went on to tour with the National Tap Ensemble and was on faculty at the annual National Tap Seminar. Cindy danced with Taps Are Talking: Women In Tap, under the direction of Ellie Sciarra. She also directed and danced with Step Aside Tap Company in Silver Spring, Maryland. She has choreographed and taught classes, workshops, and residencies in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, and Virginia. Cindy has recently completed her master’s degree in Arts Management at American University and just recently returned to Colorado with her husband and little boy after living for six years on the east coast.

John Miranda, Hip Hop & Break Dancing Instructor (photo coming soon!)		John's bio is coming soon!

Jesse Gamueda, Salsa and Ballroom Instructor (photo coming soon!)		Jesse's bio is coming soon!

Tricia Donahue, Pilates Instructor		Tricia is excited to share her passion and desire for the classical teachings of Joseph Pilates’ mat techniques with you! Locally trained at the Nizoni Center for Pilates & Health in Parker, and at Core Pilates Studio in Niwot, Tricia is certified in Mat Pilates for Levels I-V in both private and group instruction She continues to build on her studies and certifications, and maintains CPR and First Aid Certifications as well. Tricia has also taught private, semi-private and group classes for the City of Thornton, Niwot Pilates Studio, and Arts In Motion.

Cherie Lewis, Zumba Instructor		My name is Cherie Lewis, and for me, Zumba has been more than just fitness, it has been LIFE CHANGING! I am what I refer to as a divorce widow, a woman who let life and emotion pause while I tried to figure out who I was beyond being a wife. When I found Zumba, I realized there was a whole lot more to me than meets the eye, and a whole lot more to me than should have met the eye! In August, 2008, I committed to Zumba and slowly but surely, I regained confidence and belief in who I was and realized that this can change a life! Now, 73 pounds less of me shows up at classes to pass on the reality of what this can do for a person. I am a stronger person mentally, physically and yes, even spiritually because of the difference this has made in my life! It is my goal to bring this change into YOUR life. I want you to know YOU CAN DO THIS. I want you to know that YOU ARE WORTH IT. I want you to BELIVE IN WHO YOU ARE. Zumba can do this for you. It is more than an exercise class. It’s a party. It’s YOUR party! Let’s Dance!

Roland Saffy, Weight and Cardio Trainer (photo coming soon!)		Roland's bio is coming soon!

Hope Golden, Liturgical Instructor		Hope’s background includes both drama and dance. As a dancer Hope uses “redeemed” African and Latin techniques she gains from studies of African dance under instructor Adetunji A. Joda, and Salsa from instructor Barbara Novoryta. For approximately 20 years Hope has developed one woman shows that educate individuals and communities on subjects ranging from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Health Disparities to American history using drama, storytelling and dance to reach and teach. Her performance credits include The King’s Table (Annual Worship Arts Evangelism Event), Warren Village Donors, Dance, Drama, African and American History in Public Schools and Corporate America, “The Ramona Brown Story”, Christian Women’s Network, Seminar and Workshop leader/lecturer - Women’s Ministry and Worship Dance, National Creative Worship Arts Lecturer/Workshop Leader in AK, OK, and MO, Gospel Fest - Community Director for Dance Segment, L&L Productions at Six Flags Denver, and is a regular guest speaker at many venues.