April Garner-Hoose, BFA, Artistic Director (Jazz, Lyrical & Ballet)
April Garner-Hoose is the driving force behind Dance Force-1. Her passion for dance is visible through her innovative teaching styles and motivating classroom atmosphere. In addition, her high-energy classes incorporate theatrical elements to teach the importance of emotion in dance and stage presence.
April began dancing at the age of 5 in Connecticut. She was accepted in to the Greater Hartford Academy of Performing Art High School where she studied Jazz, Ballet, Tap, African and West Indian dance. While in high school, April was invited twice to perform for the Lord Mayor of Westminster in England. She furthered her dance education at Grossmont College and the University of Arizona receiving a BFA cum laude in Dance. Her comprehensive dance background includes working for Disney, Six Flags, and USA's television show Silk Stalkings. She has had the opportunity to train with renowned choreographers: Frank Hatchett, Luigi, Joe Tremaine, Gus Giordano, Laura Fremont, Mia Michaels and Mandy Moore, just to name a few.
April's true love is teaching children. She has been teaching the art of dance for almost 20 years throughout Connecticut, San Diego, and Tucson. Her students and choreography have won many national dance awards, including Overall High Score, Top Soloist, and Top Group-which is featured in a dance video sold nationally. She has also received awards for Overall Excellence in Jazz choreography. In addition to teaching, April enjoys taking classes at the EDGE Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, California. She believes it is important to keep up with the latest trends and dance styles.
Dance Force-1 is a lifelong dream come true for April and she looks forward to developing the potential of each dancer and their love for dance, but most importantly, adding smiles to faces.
Elizabeth George, MFA (Ballet, Pointe)
ELIZABETH GEORGE is an Assistant Professor and Undergraduate Advisor at the University of Arizona. She studied with The School of American Ballet, Ballet Arts in Tucson, and Cleveland School of Ballet. She did her undergraduate work as a scholarship student at the University of Arizona, and in May of 2000 graduated Cum Laude with her BFA in Dance and was the recipient of the Maria C. Mandell Memorial Scholarship. Upon graduation she moved to Ohio and danced with the Dayton Ballet. There she worked with nationally recognized choreographers such as Dermot Burke, Stephen Mills, Luis Fuente, and David Nixon. Following her work with the Dayton Ballet, she returned to the University of Arizona and received her Masters in Fine Arts in the spring of 2005 in addition to performing as a guest artist with Ballet Tucson. While in graduate school, she enjoyed performing works by James Clouser, Amy Ernst, Jory Hancock, Melissa Lowe, and Bella Lewitsky. She is beginning her sixth year as ballet faculty at the University of Arizona. In addition, she teaches and choreographs at Dance Force-1 and is a certified yoga teacher.
Joelle Brooks (Ballet) COMING SOON!
Chris Compton, BFA (Ballet)
Christopher Compton began his dance traning at the age of 18 at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia under the tutelage of Andrew Pap. After earning his BFA in Ballet, Chris moved on to train with Marcia Dale Weary at the famed Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. While at CPYB, Chris was offered contracts with various ballet companies across the U.S. with companies such as Colorado Ballet, Nashville Ballet, and others, but chose to pass on those opportunities to see if he could land his dream job… working with Twyla Tharp. In December of 2003, Chris got his wish when he began working in the 1st National Tour of Twyla Tharp and Billy Joel’s Tony-Award Winning “Movin’ Out.” In 2007, after “Movin’ Out” had ended its run, Chris began working on the North American Premier of “Dirty Dancing” in Toronto. Chris was honored to perform the role made famous by the late Patrick Swayze until the show’s close in April of 2009.
Mallory Weeman (Jazz)
Mallory Weeman comes from Kennebunk, Maine and has trained and participated in competition dance all over the New England area, gaining multiple 1st place awards for her solo performances. Since moving to Arizona, she has discovered her passion for choreography and teaching. While working with the Dance Force-1 dancers, Mallory's unique choreography has won multiple 1st place and overall awards. She has been invited to perform at Carnival: The Choreographer's Ball, one of the biggest international choreographer showcases. When she gets the chance, Mallory continues her dance training in Los Angeles, California, where she takes class from top choreographers at places including the Edge Performing Arts Center and Evolution Dance Studios. Mallory loves everything about teaching dance, particularly becoming an inspiration to her students and pushing them to be the best dancers, and people, they can be.
Chrissy Jones (Tap)
Raised in the Chicagoland area, Chrissy Jones currently resides at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Chrissy’s choreography has appeared in several Footprints' Tap Jam productions, National Tap Dance Day Windy City Rhythms 2008, Sounds of the Souls of the Southwest 2010, concerts presented by Grayslake High School Orchesis and at Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Great American Youth Tap Ensembles concerts at Northwestern University and Loyola University. Chrissy appeared live on the WTTW (PBS) television production called “Center Stage: Arts Across Illinois,” as well as a Warner Brothers’ “Happy Feet” movie promotional, Tap Kids’ Showcases in 2006, 2007 and 2009, the stage play Oklahoma!, and numerous other professional venues. In 2007, the Peoples Republic of China funded her performances at the Beijing Exhibition Center in Beijing. Chrissy was a rehearsal director of Footprints Tap Ensemble for five years. She has been dancing since the age of two and has taken master classes with Jason Samuels Smith, Dianne “Lady Di” Walker, Jimmy Slyde, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards and many other master tap dancers. Chrissy teaches tap improvisation workshops and is a member of the tap dance duo called The Jones Sisters.
Alexis Fontana (Hip Hop, Jazz & Lyrical) COMING SOON!
Christi O'Neill (Pre-School, Ballet & Tap) COMING SOON!
Heather Jenkins, (Lyrical & JAZZ)
Heather Jenkins began her dance training at the age of 3 in Columbus, Ohio. As she grew as both a Competitive Gymnast and Dancer at age 11 she had to choose to pursue a Level 10/Elite gymnast title and focus on the Olympics or continue competitively dancing. Dance won her heart as she continued to compete across the country in Solo, Duet/Trio and Group numbers for many Conventions and competitions including, KAR, Showstopper and Showbiz winning top Junior Duet/Trio and Senior soloist titles and becoming the youngest Senior Miss Showbiz. Heather also was chosen to escort Host Matt Cedeno and open the Showstopper Television Show East Coast Finals in 2000. Traveling continued to be a passion as Heather would cross the states for varies conventions such as West Coast Dance Explosion, LA DanceForce, LA DanceMagic, Tremaine, NYCDA and JUMP. Heather won scholarships to Pacific Coast Dance Fest and worked with Patrice Barakat in Destination Dance Los Angeles as well as winning multiple Teacher/ choreography awards for her pieces throughout the country. In 2003 Heather attended CSULB with a major in Health and Human Nutrition. The summer of 2003 Heather changed directions and joined Royal Caribbean cruise lines traveling the world for 7 years as a dancer, dance captain,rehearsal choreographer and Port and Shopping Guide. In between ship contracts Heatehr lived between Montreal, Quebec and Toronto, Ontario coaching Ice skaters, pair and Ice Dancers with Choreography and off ice Ballet, Jazz, partnering and Conditioning classes. Heather and her Fiance Chris have now relocated to Tucson as Chris finishes his MBA at the U of A. Heather continues her passion for teaching at Dance Force-1, she loves helping young dancers realize their potential and fulfill their dreams.
Jennifer Soderberg (Adult Tap) COMING SOON!
Brittany Garza, BFA (Ballet)
Native Arizonan, Brittany Garza was raised in Scottsdale, AZ. She began studying all forms of dance at Betty Johnson's (currently Bender's Performing Arts Center). While there, her love for dance grew, and she decided to attend Arizona School for the Arts, an arts magnet school, from 7th to 11th grade. While there, she studied ballet intensively at school. After school, she continued her studies at Ballet Arizona's after school program on scholarship and continued studying jazz and tap at Bender's. In her years at ASA, her love for ballet grew, and she decided to study more intensely at Scottsdale School of Ballet, under the instruction of Sibylle Acatos-Dadey, Donald Dadey, and Nadya Kovtun. During her summers, she attended SSB and Ballet Arizona Summer Intensives on partial and full scholarship. In the summer of her sophomore year, she intended Pittsburgh ballet theater on partial scholarship and was admitted to The Rock School in Philadelphia. After graduating high school, she auditioned and was admitted to Utah, Oklahoma University, and University of Arizona's Dance Programs. She attended U of A's program on a full academic scholarship and graduated with a BFA in dance in May of 2011. Brittany loves teaching Ballet at Dance Force-1. She hopes to pass her love of dance along to her students.
Ashley Reichstein, BFA (Ballet) COMING SOON!
Natalie Finley, (Lyrical, Jazz & Hip Hop) COMING SOON!
Kendra Hunley, (Tap) COMING SOON!
Renee Havas, (Tap) COMING SOON!
