Our Teachers

Karin Gritz has owned Premier for 28 years, and has been teaching dance for over thirty five 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. She 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. Karin beleives that dance teaches many life skills besides technique and the artistry of dance.  

Alexandra Fields graduated with honors from the University of Arizona where she majored in Dance. She received her training at Premier, with additional summer dance programs throughout the country, including Virginia School of the Arts, Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Alexandra directs the Competition Team at Premier and helps manage Premier.  An exceptional choreographer, Alexandra has won several awards for her choreography at the Regional and National level. Alexandra has two young sons and enjoys all of the outdoor adventures Colorado has to offer. 

Michelle Nigro is a mother of three and a very active member of her community. A former Miss Adams County she brings over thirty years of training in performance art. A graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a BA in Elementary Education, she has been teaching at Premier since it opened.  She has worked with competitive students on a local and National level in dance and Pageants. Her training includes Tap, Jazz, Acrobat, Poms, Piano and Voice.  A gifted teacher Michelle can work with the little ones and also is much loved by her adult students. 

Marian Faustino is beginning her eighth year teaching Ballet at Premier.  She received her classical Ballet training in the Philippines as a member of Ballet Manila, studying under visiting teachers from the Vaganova Ballet Academy. She has also been privileged to be a Philippine representative at several International Ballet competitions and awarded semi-finalist and finalist in Moscow and Nagoya. Moving to the States in 2011, she was a pioneering member of the contemporary Ballet Company, Wonderbound.  Marian is currently a free lance dance artist and has performed with  Denver Art Museum, Central City Opera, The Lyric Opera of Chiacgo and Malashock Dance San Diego.        

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 third season at Premier.

Sarah P has been dancing for nearly 25 years in the disciplines of Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Pointe, Ballroom, and Hip Hop. She teaches throughout the Metro area and across the country in tap festivals, master classes and as a choreographer. She is certified through Dance Masters of America, has a Master's Degree in Physiology and Business Administration. While she grew up as a dancer, she wasn't always able to actively perform due to her military service after college.  She served for nearly 10 years, and is currently a reservist. Sarah is proud to share her love of Tap and Hip Hop with Premier. 

Haley Nigro received her dance training at Premier before attending the University of Wyoming. With a BFA in Dance Science and a minor in Creative Writing, she currently is working on her Master's degree in English. During her college years she studied abroad in London and performed works by Darrell Grand Moultrie, José Limon, Tai Jimenez and Jarek Cemerek. She has experience teaching Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Contemporary and Creative Movement to a wide variety of age groups. 

Claire Kendall began her dance training in her hometown of Santa Fe, NM at the School of Aspen Santa Fe.  She received her BFA in Dance Performance from SUNY Purchase College and attended high school at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Ballet Concentration.  In the Fall of 2016, she studied abroad at the Korea National University of Art in Seoul, South Korea.  As a professional dacner she has performed with several companies, and is currently a member of both Hannah Kahn Dance Company and T2 Dance Company.  She is also the Artistic Director of her own company; Claire Kendall Creative Projects.  She is excited to share her experiences and love for dance with the students at Premier!

Lisa Caldwell is our newest teacher at Premier!  Lisa attended the University of Kansas and has a BA in Dance and a BS in Business Administration.  She has spent the last few years in Chicago teaching and dancing professionally with Aerial Dance Chicago and Thodus Dance Chicago.  Lisa is an experienced Ballet teacher with years of experience teaching all levels. She moved to Colorado to train with Frequent Flyers in Boulder and is happy to call Colorado her new home.