Teaching Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Meet our talented team of instructors. Focused on teaching a high standard of technique and creating unforgettable experiences, we are committed to the success of our dancers not only in dance, but in life as well.
Kaleigh Hinkson
Owner/Director
For Kaleigh Hinkson, dance has always been about far more than perfect technique—it's about helping people discover what they're truly capable of.
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With over 20 years of teaching experience and a Bachelor's degree in Dance, Kaleigh has trained extensively in ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, tap, musical theatre, and more. Her professional career includes work with Aspen Dance Connection, Mind & Body Dance Theatre, commercial performances, teaching master classes throughout Colorado, coaching the Colorado Mesa University Mavettes, choreographing for Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids, and currently serving as Head Coach of the Montrose High School Dance Team.
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In 2019, Kaleigh founded Elevation Academy of Dance with a vision of bringing exceptional dance training and meaningful opportunities to Western Colorado. She believed dancers in Montrose deserved access to the same level of instruction, mentorship, and artistic experiences often found only in larger communities—and that they were capable of achieving far more than they had been given the opportunity to pursue.
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As the founder and director of EAD, Kaleigh's greatest passion isn't simply teaching dance—it's creating the environment where dancers, teachers, and families can thrive. She believes her role is to open doors, cultivate opportunity, and challenge every dancer to see possibilities beyond what they imagined for themselves. By building a culture rooted in excellence, encouragement, and genuine connection, she empowers her team to lead with the same heart and purpose that defines the studio.
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Today, EAD has grown into a thriving community serving dancers from ages 2 through adult through recreational and accelerated training programs, adaptive dance, original artistic productions created by an exceptional faculty, and nationally competitive teams. More importantly, it has become a place where dancers are encouraged to work hard, dream boldly, support one another, and discover confidence that reaches far beyond the dance floor.
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For Kaleigh, the greatest success isn't measured by trophies or titles—it's watching someone realize they are capable of more than they ever believed possible.
Sheri Strawn
Front Desk
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Sheri was born and raised in Southwest Kansas and now calls Montrose home. She is a full-time special education teacher and proud dance mom who has been part of the studio family for five years. This is her first season working at the front desk, and she loves getting to support dancers and families in a new way. Outside the studio, Sheri enjoys trail running, hiking, and paddle boarding while soaking up the Colorado sunshine. She looks forward to welcoming you and helping everyone feel right at home.
Chanen Kearns
Mrs. Chanen, Ballet Program Director, is a Colorado native with a lifelong love of dance. She trained for 16 years in ballet, lyrical, jazz, pointe, hip hop, and more, and now brings that passion into the classroom. With a background in early childhood care and a heart for creative movement, she’s excited to inspire a new generation of dancers through grace, joy, and strong ballet foundations.
Hannah Metzger
Hannah Metzger trained in ballet, jazz, acro, lyrical, and contemporary, dancing with Western Slope Dance Alliance and Elevation Academy of Dance under Kaleigh Hinkson. A decorated competitive dancer, she now brings that same passion into her teaching, with a focus on lyrical movement and strength training. Hannah is committed to creating a supportive environment where dancers feel confident, motivated, and proud of their progress.
Lauren White
Originally from the Front Range, Miss Lauren is happy to bring her passion for dance and even bigger love for the kids she teaches to Montrose! For the past seven years, She’s been lucky enough to share her favorite styles, hip-hop and contemporary, with amazing dancers. Her goal is to build confident kids, strong dancers, and classes that feel like the best part of their week.
Katie Krygier
Katie was born and raised in Southern California and began dancing at age six, training extensively in ballet, pointe, jazz, hip-hop, tap, lyrical, contemporary, acro, and gymnastics. A competitive dancer from a young age, she earned national championships with her high school dance team and as a Division I collegiate athlete while completing her BA in Liberal Arts at California Polytechnic University Pomona. Katie has taught and subbed at studios across Orange County and coached a high school cheer and song team for four years. Now in Colorado, she is proud to call Elevation home, where she inspires dancers to grow in both skill and confidence while cheering on her own daughters as they follow in her footsteps.
Adelyn Barnet
Coming Soon
Miranda Dietrich
Coming Soon
