Jessie Johnston

Jessie Johnston grew up at a small studio in the mountains called Spirit of Dance. Falling in love with Ballet, Jazz, Modern, contemporary and Hiphop! After taking a small break from dance in her early 20s, she joined a non-profit studio while living in Hawaii. There, her love for dance grew again as she taught classes and began to grow her skills as a dancer. When the Lord called her back to Colorado, she joined a studio called Rez Dance. During her time at Rez, she got the privilege of dancing for the Rez Dance company. She taught modern and ballet, (occasionally jazz and hiphop) while also choreographing for their competition team. Her pieces have won multiple awards including the Best Choreographer Award.

Jessie has traveled as a missionary over the years to over 13 nations. Throughout her time traveling she saw dance as an opportunity to enter into worship and connection with believers of all backgrounds and ethnicities. She was able to dance and teach dance in various nations including Nicaragua, Jordan, and Thailand. 

Jessie is extremely passionate about helping her students encounter the love of Christ while they dance. “I have personally met Jesus again and again through dance. In Him we find breakthrough, in Him we find freedom. Dance has always been an avenue for the Lord to reach my heart.” 

Sherise Barcan

Coming soon…

Ella Cook

Coming soon…

Abbie Roberson

Abbie recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Drama at Grand Canyon University, where she has performed in productions including Beauty and the Beast as Marie and 12 Angry Jurors as Juror #2. She also has extensive musical theatre experience, with leading roles including Marian in The Music Man, Katherine in Newsies, and Belle in Beauty and the Beast.

Abbie is passionate about helping students grow in both confidence and creativity while fostering a love for the performing arts. She enjoys creating an encouraging classroom where dancers can develop their skills, express themselves, and discover the joy of performance.

Kye Galvin

After being part of the Starz community for five years, Kye graduated last spring from performing onstage to now serving the company on the directorial side. Through the past few years, Kye has been involved with almost every aspect of the theatre – from performing to choreographing, stage managing, classes and training, and everything in between. Now, he is so excited to be able to use his experience to encourage and uplift this next generation of students. He is so blessed by this incredible team who has mentored him through this process and is so proud of this talented cast and crew for saying yes to what God has done through this season. 

Mylie Buck

Mylie Buck began dancing in Greeley, Colorado and later moved to California where her in-depth training began at Pacific Ballet Conservatory. During her years of training, Mylie attended summer programs at the Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Houston Ballet. In 2018, she accepted an offer to dance in the professional division of the Houston Ballet Academy where she danced for three years on merit scholarship. Mylie was then offered a position in the Studio Company with the Colorado Ballet in 2021 and was promoted to Apprentice with the Company in 2023 and Corps de Ballet in 2025.  

Since moving back to Colorado, Mylie has enjoyed the opportunities to perform in various roles and ballets with the company including Cygnets in Swan Lake, George Balanchine’s Rubies and Serenade, Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, Val Caniparoli’s Lady of the Camellias, Yoshihisa Arai’s Bolero, Val Caniparoli’s Jekyll and Hyde, Kenneth Tindall’s Casanova, Septime Weber’s Alice (in wonderland), Derek Deane’s Romeo and Juliet, and Giselle. 

Teaching has really put into perspective what this has all been about to Mylie. She’s so grateful for God’s guidance and faithfulness and she is so ecstatic to be transitioning into teaching full time at some incredible studios here in CO!

Julie Shireman

Julie grew up in Houston Texas and was a member of her high school drill/dance team. She also sang in her high school & college choirs and performed in the opera Die Fledermaus. She & her husband Kevin have two adult daughters who are TP alumni. We’re so thankful to have found TP in 2011! Julie enjoys greeting & connecting with dancers & their parents and answering their questions about all things Turning Pointe. 

Christina Young, TA Program Assistant Director

Christina grew up in Woodstock, GA, where she received her formal training in ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, contemporary, and lyrical. She then went on to study in musical theater, acting, and dance in Colorado Springs. There, her passion for storytelling through the arts was developed as she performed with Legacy Productions’ dance troupe for 3 years, performing in 7 musical theater productions as well as playing the lead role in Lightbulb Theater Company’s original play, “Out of the Dust”. 

She trained and performed in partner-work in the styles of ballet and swing and for 2 years enjoyed performing the pas de deux, “Silent Night” in “The Heart of Christmas”. She has also performed and choreographed for the Living Proof Live worldwide broadcast and performed in the Atlanta Hawks halftime show.

After returning to Atlanta, she trained and performed with multiple adult dance companies in the genres of ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, and musical theater and played the role of Clara in “The Nutcracker”, while also teaching dance and choreographing solos for ministries, spoken word events, and a mission trip.

Christina is passionate about raising up the next generation in the truth and love of God and her mission is to create a safe place for students of all ages to learn and grow as she fosters a love for dance and the performing arts in every person she has the privilege to encounter!

Beth Jordahl

Beth Jordahl took her very first dance class at 3 years old and she never stopped dancing! She took classes in ballet, modern, jazz, worship, tap, swing, and pointe at several different studios. At 15 she joined a Youth Ballet Company and performed in ballets including; The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and more. She started teaching at 17. After graduating high school, she joined local worship ballet company, Ballet Emmanuel. She so enjoyed being able to use dance and worship to share the love of Jesus with people! After leaving the company, she headed to college where she studied English and Psychology, graduating with a BS in Psychology. She started teaching at Turning Pointe Dance in 2011. She loved getting to bless students with both the gift of dance and the love of Christ. She has also been able to perform, choreograph and teach dance during mission trips to El Salvador, Peru, Guatemala, Great Britain, France and Germany. Currently, Beth teaches ballet, jazz, twirl and worship at Turning Pointe. She works as a Director of Family Ministries at her church. She loves coffee, reading, writing, playing the piano and has recently taken up knitting. Beth is married to her best friend, Peter, and they have two wonderful girls. 

Abbie Van Horn

Abbie has been dancing at Turning Pointe for 17 years, and graduated in 2023. She has been a part of both Starz Theater Company and Fidele Youth Dance Company in various capacities, and is now serving as a choreographer and assistant leadership with FYDC. Abbie was a Teacher’s Assistant at Turning Pointe for three years, moving on to a year long internship with the studio, and now has been teaching for two years. She teaches twirl, ballet, musical theater, swing, and tap.  Abbie is very passionate about dance as a worship form and an expression of joy, no matter the style!

David Kiyak

David began his dance journey at the age of five in northern Alabama.  When he was fourteen, he began receiving formal training with the Huntsville Ballet under the guidance of Clinton Rothwell. At eighteen, David took his first professional position with the Alabama Ballet, and within just one year, he was promoted to principal dancer due to his exceptional talent as a dance partner. During his time with the Alabama Ballet, David had the opportunity to perform lead roles in numerous contemporary works, including Christopher Bruce's Rooster, as well as classical ballets such as Balanchine's Nutcracker and Serenade.

In 2010, David joined the Orlando Ballet under the artistic direction of Robert Hill where his skill and artistry quickly earned him a promotion to principal dancer after his first season. Over the next six years, David captivated audiences with his leading roles in Romeo and Juliet, Carmen, Sleeping Beauty, and Coppélia, to name a few. He also showcased his talent in numerous contemporary works and participated in tours, performances, and galas across America, Europe, and the Philippines. David's versatility extended beyond the ballet stage when he was an on-call performer for Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba, where he became proficient in the Cyr wheel, adding another dimension to his impressive skill set.

Since retiring from performing in 2017, David has continued his passion for dance by dedicating himself to teaching, allowing him to share his knowledge and passion for dance across the United States and Europe. He is a qualified ABT curriculum teacher and is well-versed in the Vaganova and Royal Ballet syllabi. He is currently on staff with Dance Revolution and serves as a lead for the ADC International Ballet Competition.

Ava Cross

Ava Cross began dancing at the age of two and has spent much of her training at Turning Pointe School of Dance, where she developed a love for both dancing and teaching for the Lord. She spent three years as a teacher’s assistant and one year interning at the studio before beginning to teach in 2024. She has training in a variety of styles including ballet, modern, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, swing, tap, musical theater, hip hop and had the opportunity to spend a semester dancing with the High Altitude Dance Ensemble. Ava has a passion for praising God through the gift of dance and hopes to pass that passion down to the next generation of dancers. 

Gabby Campbell

I consider myself a Colorado native as I have lived in Colorado Springs for over 30 years now. I was born in Bolivia, South America so I am fluent in Spanish and moved here when I was 8 years old. I come from a family of dancers and singers so performing has always been in my blood! I took different styles of dance growing up and was always in choir from elementary school through high school as well as being on the worship team at church for a season. I did theater growing up in plays and the drama club in high school and was also part of my high school cheer/dance team. I’ve had the opportunity in the past at my church to be a part of the big Easter production “The Thorn” both as an actor and dancer as one of the dancing angels. I graduated from Colorado Christian University in 2007 with a Liberal Arts degree with a focus in elementary education.

It truly is a JOY to be a part of the Turning Pointe community and to now get to watch my own girls dance and perform here. It is a home away from home where I am so thankful I can be a part of the hospitality/front desk team, to be a part of the mission and calling we have here of sharing the love of Jesus wherever we go!”

Kristi Hill

Kristi Hill is a music teacher, vocalist, songwriter, and voice instructor with 20+ years of classroom experience making music come alive for students. She is passionate about creating joy and instilling confidence in young performers, teaching them to excel in their craft while cultivating dependence and trust in the Lord along the way. Her recording projects are available on Spotify and Apple Music.

Grace Brassard

Grace began her dance journey 11 years ago with Turning Pointe. Her passion for the arts has grown since then. In those years she has been able to study ballet, modern, hip-hop, musical theater, jazz, and a bit of ballroom and swing. She performed with Starz Theater Company for 2 years, in a lead understudy role and dance captain. The teachers assistant program was brought to her attention 9 years ago, and she worked as a TA for 2 years before becoming an intern, and finally a teacher in 2021. Grace has always had a heart for children of all ages, and worked with them as a teacher or aide through multiple organizations. She currently works as a preschool teacher at a daycare, pursuing a higher education in teaching. She loves the beauty of dance and seeing God's love and light shine through her students!

HAVILAH BELLAH

Havilah danced at Ballet Magnificat! based out of Jackson, MS, for 11 years. There she was trained in Vaganova style ballet. She was a member of their first company of Magnificat! Youth Ballet. They performed all over the state and participated in internationally performed ballets. Havilah had opportunities to teach as well- giving private lessons and hosting her own dance intensive. At 19, she interned with a professional company out of Dallas called Ingredients Dance Company where she had most of her broader training from hip-hop to modern. Ingredients traveled nationally with a convention called Dance Revolution. In the summer of 2014, she attended Iris’ Harvest School (a missionary training school) in Mozambique, Africa. There she taught ballet and helped choreograph dances for the students while also broadening her training in African style dances. In the fall of 2014, she moved to Colorado Springs, CO, to help jump-start a modern/contemporary company, Cielo.

LAUREN SHINNICK

Lauren Shinnick is a kindergarten teacher who loves to share her love for learning! She started Irish dance when she was 5 years old and was in dance competitions for 15 years. Through the competitions, she was able to travel all over the world experiencing different cultures. She has accomplished winning the regional championship in solo competition, as well as winning the world championship in Dublin, Ireland in the teams competitions. In November of 2016 she got married to Dylan and they have two fur babies that complete their family, for now. For 3 years during college she was a youth group leader at church to middle school aged girls. Sharing the love of Christ and the grace that is so graciously given to us through dance and teaching is a passion for Lauren.