Miriam Morgan
Studio Director
In 1993, Miriam walked into her first ballet class, wearing a pink tutu, sparkly tights, and bedazzled house slippers. The excitement she felt that first day still fills her every time she walks into a studio! It was there when she joined her first ballet company, Praise in Motion, at age 11 and again when she joined the senior company at 14. She joyfully accepted her first teaching role at Eastside School of Ballet at age 18, and began choreographing at 19. She was honored to direct her own pre-professional company MOVE: a body, where her students had the opportunity to perform around the nation and assisted Miriam in teaching dance in impoverished communities. Using dance to make a difference has been the cornerstone of her training and work. Miriam was a founding member of Advocate Arts, a professional contemporary company, where she taught company class, directed the apprentice company, and performed in works that told stories of victims caught in human-trafficking and childhood abuse.
Miriam moved to Durango from her hometown of Atlanta, GA in 2014. Later that year she began teaching classes at Durango Dance under the direction of Kristen Sitter. In 2016, she accepted the role of director and took sole-ownership in 2017.
Outside of the studio, Miriam and her husband Daniel love living in Durango with their furbaby and three young children, all of whom joined their family in just 10 months time!
Studio Director
In 1993, Miriam walked into her first ballet class, wearing a pink tutu, sparkly tights, and bedazzled house slippers. The excitement she felt that first day still fills her every time she walks into a studio! It was there when she joined her first ballet company, Praise in Motion, at age 11 and again when she joined the senior company at 14. She joyfully accepted her first teaching role at Eastside School of Ballet at age 18, and began choreographing at 19. She was honored to direct her own pre-professional company MOVE: a body, where her students had the opportunity to perform around the nation and assisted Miriam in teaching dance in impoverished communities. Using dance to make a difference has been the cornerstone of her training and work. Miriam was a founding member of Advocate Arts, a professional contemporary company, where she taught company class, directed the apprentice company, and performed in works that told stories of victims caught in human-trafficking and childhood abuse.
Miriam moved to Durango from her hometown of Atlanta, GA in 2014. Later that year she began teaching classes at Durango Dance under the direction of Kristen Sitter. In 2016, she accepted the role of director and took sole-ownership in 2017.
Outside of the studio, Miriam and her husband Daniel love living in Durango with their furbaby and three young children, all of whom joined their family in just 10 months time!
Bif
Relevé Director When Bif was little she had a cousin who couldn’t say her full name Elizabeth and called her Bif. Like all great things it stuck. She grew up in Durango and developed a passion for movement. Starting young as a dancer she left at 14 to attend a boarding arts high school, Idyllwild Arts Academy, where she studied all forms of dance. Idyllwild is known for modern dance as the program was started by a well known Horton dancer Bella Lewitsky. This was Bif’s first taste of modern/contemporary movement and was found to be her true calling in the dance world. She then continued on to graduate with her Bachelor's in Fine Arts in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts and dance professionally in Seattle for many years. This love for dance naturally lead her into the yoga world where she found the self loving generosity of this style to be the perfect counter movement. She now teaches yoga and dance in Durango, Colorado. The culture and creativity of Bif’s contemporary dance teaching style is to gracefully connect movement with breath to give you a whole body experience. This will be done through movement techniques found in Horton, Limon', Duncan, Cunningham, Lewitzky, Graham, Jazz, ballet and yoga. It is all about finding a balance between functional movement and codified technique. Having anatomically correct cuing and sequencing is very important to her to keep everyone safe. Teaching dance is a way for Bif to build community and connect with others on a deeper level. She is a kind and forgiving teacher and will let you learn at your own pace. As an open and honest person feel free to contact her about any questions or opportunities. Bif welcomed her first baby in October of 2020! |
Amanda
Elevé Director Amanda began her life in dance in 1997 when she was four years old in a simple ballet/tap combination class. Having shown an affinity for the art, her parents enrolled her into the London Dance Academy, a local studio in Las Vegas, where she classically trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and character dance from ages 7 to 13 years old. Upon entering high school, Amanda was accepted to Las Vegas Academy, a performing arts high school in Las Vegas. She had to decline when her family moved from Las Vegas to Wrightwood, California. Once in California, Amanda auditioned for Encore High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Hesperia, California. Once accepted, she served the remainder of her high school career as a dance major with focus in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Modern, and Musical Theatre. She performed in different productions like Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. In her junior year of high school, Amanda auditioned for a summer ballet intensive at The Kirov Academy of Ballet, Washington D.C. She was accepted and completed a six-week summer intensive studying ballet, contemporary, character, and the Vaganova Method. Outside of school, she took part in a community theatre group called The Snow Players, where she performed numbers from Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Sound of Music, and Oklahoma! This gave her insight and experience into more musical theatre, as well as acting. After high school, Amanda began studying Child Development at Victor Valley College in California. Here she gained the skills to work with young children as a preschool teacher. She is holds a degree in Early Childhood Education from Fort Lewis College She lives with her two cats Mister and Cleo. |
Sarah
Plié Playschool Director
Sarah Levine is ecstatic to be the new Plie Playschool Director and honored to be part of the Durango Dance team! Sarah holds a diverse educational background including teaching middle school history, special education, TESOL education for Chinese students, online reading tutoring and facilitating outdoor play for the former non-profit, Free Forest School. She loves seeing the sparks in children when their imaginations thrive and their potential for innovation and industriousness in nature. Merging free play, tactile skills, sensory inquisitiveness, movement and fresh air adventures, Sarah cannot wait to meet the magic of your playschool student.
A 14+ year resident of Durango, Sarah enjoys wildflower hikes, calm paddle boarding lakes and spending time with her husband, three young daughters and hiking-companion pups (2). She is grateful to be part of the amazing team at Durango Dance as it has positively served her family with the love of dance for the past 3 years. Sarah can’t wait to utilize this magic in the Plie Program, making each day as unique and special as the students in attendance.
Plié Playschool Director
Sarah Levine is ecstatic to be the new Plie Playschool Director and honored to be part of the Durango Dance team! Sarah holds a diverse educational background including teaching middle school history, special education, TESOL education for Chinese students, online reading tutoring and facilitating outdoor play for the former non-profit, Free Forest School. She loves seeing the sparks in children when their imaginations thrive and their potential for innovation and industriousness in nature. Merging free play, tactile skills, sensory inquisitiveness, movement and fresh air adventures, Sarah cannot wait to meet the magic of your playschool student.
A 14+ year resident of Durango, Sarah enjoys wildflower hikes, calm paddle boarding lakes and spending time with her husband, three young daughters and hiking-companion pups (2). She is grateful to be part of the amazing team at Durango Dance as it has positively served her family with the love of dance for the past 3 years. Sarah can’t wait to utilize this magic in the Plie Program, making each day as unique and special as the students in attendance.
Therese
Teaching Artist |
Vivien
Mancos Director & Teaching Artist |
Carmen
Teaching Artist Carmen started dancing when she was 3 years old. Taking as many classes as possible including ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, hip hop, contemporary, and musical theater. When she was a bit older she started taking gymnastic and cheer lessons, Carmen fell in love with dance and expressing herself through movement. Carmen continued her dance classes and during middle school joined her studio's competition team. She added drill team prep classes, as well as joining her middle school cheer team and Junior Belles dance team. Upon entering high school Carmen joined her High school Dance Team, The Trojan Belles, who would perform a variety of routines throughout the year, covering just about every genre of dance--from traditional precision field choreography to exciting hip hop, lyrical, and jazz performances at contests and Spring Show. During her senior year of high school she completed her barre certification with Barre above® and started teaching classes. Carmen has always loved fitness and dancing which is beautifully combined in Barre workouts. She loves that top-of-the-world feeling you have when you finish a class or a workout. New to Durango, Carmen is thrilled to join Durango Dance and get outdoors in the mountains to hike and explore in her free time. |
Alia
Plié Teaching Artist Ms. Alia grew up in California and has moved to many places nestled in nature since. She’s been in Durango for about a year and half, and loves it. She graduated from college with her degree in Early Childhood Education. She’s been working with children since high school in a variety of ways; from tutoring, nannying, being a camp counselor, ski coach, and preschool teacher. Working with the little ones is her passion! In her free time she loves to get outside and explore! Backpacking, rock climbing, and skiing are some of her favorite activities. |