Turning Pointe School Of Dance




		Tina Cook has been dancing since the age of four. She studied ballet, tap, and jazz under Shelly Ledbetter for 15 years. During that time, she was also captain of the State Championship cheerleading squad and participated in gymnastics. She was a student teacher for 3 years and has been teaching dance in studios and on her own for 15 years. She performed in the Contemporary Dance Festival in Tulsa, OK, and was also selected to participate in Tulsa Summer Arts Training and a summer intensive at Ballet Magnificat. Ms. Tina also coached numerous cheer and pom squads in the Tulsa area. She graduated from Oral Roberts University with a BS in Elementary Education, and taught first grade for 4 years (2 years at CSCS). She also recently attended Ballet Magnificat's Summer Teacher Workshop and is a member of the Colorado Dance Alliance. She founded Turning Pointe Dance in the fall of 2004, and loves to share the joy of dancing and teach students how to use their giftings for the glory of God. She and her husband Cody have two boys, Cale and Jack and future ballerina, Ella. email tina: tina@turningpointeschoolofdance.com Sara Murdaugh comes from Longview, Washington where she received an AAS in Pre-Physical Therapy. In 2001 she received her BA in dance from San Jose State University where she graduated Cum Laude and received the "Senior of the Year Award" for excellence in performance, choreography and academics. While attending San Jose State University, under the tutelage of Janet VanSwoll, Gary Masters and Fred Mathews, she was invited to perform with the University Dance Theater, which enabled her to perform with the Limón Company as well as work with world-renowned choreographers. Sara has performed in various venues during her fifteen year career, including on the cruise ship The Big Red Boat. Her award winning choreography has been used all over the west for dance companies, musicals and competitions to name a few. Ms. Murdaugh has had the pleasure of working with all age levels in multiple positions including public schools and ice rinks. Through the years, Sara has had the honor to work with students that have been scholarship recipients in some of the best dance schools in the nation, as well as nationally recognized ice skaters. Currently a Cecchetti Qualified Teacher (Level V), Sara is the assistant director for the Spring City Ballet Company and teaches at several area studios, as well as performing with Mathtastic and the Ormao Dance Company. email sara: sara@turningpointeschoolofdance.com Jennifer Randolph loves sharing the gift of dance with students of all ages and abilities. She began dancing at the age of 5 at Miss Shelly’s School of Dance in Tulsa, Oklahoma where she studied ballet, tap, jazz and modern ballet for 13 years. She also studied ballet under former Tulsa Ballet Principal, Irina Ushakova. She has been teaching dance for 11 years. Ms. Jennifer has performed in and choreographed for fun filled summer camps and youth functions in Oklahoma. She also teaches beauty and etiquette classes for young girls. She graduated in May 2004 from Oral Roberts University with a BS in International Business. She is so excited to join Turning Pointe Dance and is looking forward to sharing her heart for the Lord with her students. email jennifer: jenn@turningpointeschoolofdance.com Alyssa Markle has been dancing for the last 15 years. She has trained in jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, pointe, hip hop, acro and modern. Alyssa has performed as a featured dancer in the PULSE Dance Showcase, Arizona Jazz Dance Showcase, Cleo Parker Dance Showcase, and Capezio Fashion Show to name a few. She has also won numerous dance scholarships and has performed in Peter Pan, Sylvie and the Fairies, and Mount Olympus. She has taught in several dance studios around Colorado Springs and recently returned from an internship in NYC at the Broadway Dance Center. She is excited to join the Turning Pointe team and share her love for dance and love for the Lord with her students! email alyssa: alyssa@turningpointeschoolofdance.com Jessi Djonbalaj After a decade dancing in New York City, Mrs. Jessica Djonbalaj has come back to her basic passion in life, sharing her love of Christ through dance. Her classes integrate aspects of performance art, sculpture, site-specific dance, dance therapy, butoh, classic Giordano jazz and most importantly worship dance. Dance will always be her prayer for transformation through Christ, expression of His glory and gratitude for salvation. Mrs. Djonbalaj attended the apprentice program of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago from 2000-2001. She then went on to intern with Dancing Wheels, a modern company in Cleveland. Following this she went to NYC and danced professionally with Epicurean Productions, SOTU Productions, Vangeline Theater and Butoh Ritual Mexicano Danza touring nationally and internationally. Jessica was first invited to join "World Statues" a living statue festival, in 2005 in the Netherlands. She has continued to participate in this festival and hopes to soon bring students alongside! Mrs. Djonbalaj has performed in many fashion events for top designers such as: Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, Ackademics, Henri Bendel, Von Dutch and Piaget Diamonds. Throughout her years "in the world" she has gained great compassion for "the lost, the broken and the needy." Mrs. Djonbalaj deeply desires to spread the Word, through dance, to a world in need. She is currently a student at Nazarene Bible College here in town, studying Bible/Theology and Christian Counseling with a minor in missions. It has long been on her heart to set up international worship dance schools over a series of mission trips, providing communities in need a place of refuge and joy. email jessi: jessi@turningpointeschoolofdance.com Athena Baschal has a teacher's heart, and loves sharing the beauty of dance with all ages and ability levels. Born in Hollywood, California, Athena began dance classes before her second birthday, and started working steadily in TV and commercials at age four. She trained in acting, jazz, tap, and musical theater with top Hollywood professionals and ballet with Stanley Holden (Royal Ballet), Jillana (New York City Ballet), Sallie Whalen (San Francisco Ballet), and Kathryn Etienne (Hollywood School of Ballet). Athena has been teaching for over 25 years; 10 of those years at The Dance Center of Colorado Springs. Her students have performed all over the country, earning top regional and national awards as well as scholarships to many prestigious dance programs. When not in the studio, she serves as president of the Colorado Dance Alliance (CDA). Her formal education includes a BA from the University of California (Irvine), and a Master of Education degree from Regis University. She holds a dance teaching certification from the Dance Educators of America (DEA), and a Colorado Teaching License with a drama/dance endorsement. She served on the Colorado Model Content Standards Review Dance Subcommittee, and as executive director of DanceQuest, a non-profit organization dedicated to excellence in dance arts. Dance ministry is Athena's personal passion because it combines her love of God with her love of dance. She has danced with and/or led liturgical groups such as "Praise in Motion," "Steps of Faith," the Crystal Cathedral's "Glory of Christmas," and New Life Church dance ministry, to name but a few. Her current troupe is called "Declare His Glory Dancers" and is based at Sunrise Church. email athena: athena@turningpointeschoolofdance.com Christina Self email christina: christina@turningpointeschoolofdance.com Emily Thompson As far back as she can remember, Emily has loved dancing. The beginning of her journey started with gymnastic lessons at the age of four. At twelve years old she stopped gymnastics and enrolled in dance. She received a great foundation to jumpstart her dancing career. That is when the Lord led her to Turning Pointe School of Dance. She has loved dancing at such a strong Christ centered studio with lovely people who desire to glorify God through dance, as she does. She has taken numerous classes that have furthered her dancing abilities including ballet, pointe, worship, jazz/hip hop, and contemporary. Emily looks so forward to continue sharing her passion of dance with others through new and creative ways. email emily: emily@turningpointeschoolofdance.com