THE FACULTY
Miss Haeli Henderson
Owner - Director
Haeli Henderson has been teaching, choreographing, and directing professionally at dance studios in Colorado since 2007. Starting her career in Colorado Springs, after training and dancing in several professional dance companies, Haeli truly found her calling in teaching. In 2009 Haeli became a company director of a high-level, competitive dance studio in Colorado Springs. There she worked with many leading professional master teachers and choreographers. For 6 years as a company director, Haeli focused on developing dancers into well-trained, professional, confident, and hard-working students. Many of them have moved on to the industry’s top schools and have worked with highly successful agencies, studios, and professional choreographers.
After returning to Haeli’s hometown of Durango, Colorado, she began envisioning her own dance studio. Incorporating all the things she has learned over the years, she has made that dream into reality. Haeli looks forward to helping her students grow and achieve their own dreams at Studio 444 Performing Arts Academy.
Building relationships with her students and aspiring to be their mentor is one of the things Haeli is most excited about at Studio 444. The connections and relationships that she has built with her former students remain an integral part of her life. She looks forward to expanding her dance family.
Miss Michele Carver
Dance Instructor
Michele Carver was born in San Francisco, California, and moved to Durango, Colorado when she was 3. She has been dancing in Durango for over 16 years.! She spent 9 years as a competitive dancer at Dance in the Rockies including 5 years of assisting and teaching during her time as a student.
Michele has attended many different dance intensives across the country including MusExperience, SoulEscape, Colorado Ballet, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance and Tallahassee Ballet. As a young dancer and teacher working toward finding her way in the world through her passion for dance, Michele has also recently found a love for sharing her dance knowledge and being there to support her students.
Miss Logan Freedle
Dance Instructor
Logan Freedle was raised in Flower Mound, Texas, and started dancing at the age of 4. She grew up competing not only in the Dallas area but all over the country. She attended serval West Coast Dance Explosion and Nuvo Conventions over the years, along with several other intensives and nationals. She was lucky enough to be chosen twice for The Elite Ballet Intensive, founded and directed by Tara Foy, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Logan has trained in all styles of dance but her favorites have always been contemporary and tap. She has 13 years of competitive dance experience along with drill team and pom experience as well. She was a member of the award-winning high school drill team, the Marcus Marquette’s, which performed at Disney World in 2014.
Logan is ready to train students for the professional dance world. She not only has experience in dance, but also in singing and theater. She feels all dancers should be well-rounded in all styles of dance and fine arts!
Miss Clair Taylor
Dance Instructor
Claire Taylor has been dancing professionally for fifteen years. Recently retired from the professional Ballet world, she has been teaching extensively throughout the Denver area and has made her way back to Durango, her hometown. Claire has danced throughout the United States with companies such as Ballet West, St. Louis Ballet, and retired her ballet career with Ballet Ariel of Denver.
Expertise
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Ballet
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Professional Stage Experience
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Choreography
Education
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Professional company experience with Ballet West, St. Louis Ballet, Canyon Concert Ballet, and Ballet Ariel
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Ballet instructor for Coca Dance, St. Louis, MO, Canyon Concert Ballet, Fort Collins, CO, Aurora Dance Arts, Foothills Recreation, Denver Metro Area
Miss Apryl Jenkins
Dance Instructor
Apryl Jenkins began dancing at the age of 6. At her dance studio, she was a member of the competition team. As she got older, she loved helping with baby classes as a teacher’s assistant. She continued throughout college in Natchitoches, Louisiana as a member of the dance line, Tap Repertory, and graduated with a Theatre and Dance Minor in 2015. She is so grateful to teach in Durango and watching her students learn and grow brings her so much joy!
Tracy Henderson
Assistant
Tracy looks forward to providing support to Studio 444’s staff, students and families!
Having been enthusiastic in Haeli’s dance education, she found her own path to studying dance and has enjoyed being a teacher of dance, cardio dance, and martial arts for many years.
She also owns Eye.D., an optical boutique in downtown Durango.
Breanna Pitcher
Marketing & Admin, Co-Founder
Breanna is thrilled to develop and bring to life the vision, character, and brand identity of Studio 444 as the marketing director.
Breanna was childhood friends with Haeli. She grew up dancing in Durango, which she values and attributes to her happiness and her success in life. She has continued to dance and enjoys aerial arts and yoga. Breanna is happy to be a partner in the business, giving young dancers a space to explore their talents, and to help them build a path beyond graduation. She has Master’s Degrees in Corporate Communications and Public Relations, as well as a Minor in Dance.