OUR TEAM

Our Team

The Best in the Business

What makes our studio unique is the care we give, not only to our classes and techniques but to each person who enters our space. Our Team focuses on the people.

 

Our values include: 

  • Communication
  • Community
  • Caring For People
  • Giving and Taking Responsibility
  • Leading By Example
  • Inclusivity

 

Every day is an opportunity to be great.

Angela Charlton

Top Skills

OUR INSTRUCTORS

 We take pride in each of our instructors. Our instructors have each taken our 12-month training program and added to their training with their individual personalities and skills.

Latisha Hardy

(She/Her)

Owner, CEO, Lead InstRUCTor and Choreographer

Learn more about Latisha

How did you get started dancing?

I started dancing when I was 4 when I participated in Jazz and Ballet.

What was your educational background and how did it prepare you as an instructor?
Bachelor’s in Psychology, Masters in Business Administration, and training with Griselle Ponce, Karel Flores, Ashley Magana, and more. I have been training since 2009 in the Latin Dance industry.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job here?
Providing people with a safe space to both explore themselves and dance.
What are you passionate about within your field?
Getting adults to commit to themselves in the arts as a form of self-care.
What is something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I have a black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do
What motivates you to come to work every day?
Changing lives.
What are your core values and how do they influence your work?
Communication, Community, Caring for people, Giving and taking responsibility, Leading by example, and inclusivity; all aspects of the business are engaged through a filter that harnesses these values.

Miranda Hernandez

(She/Her/Ella)

Operations Manager, Program Director, lead instructor

Learn more about Miranda

How did you get started dancing?

I’ve been dancing since I was 6 Beginning with ballet and continuing with movement like cheerleading, color guard before discovering and obsessing over Latin Dance.

How long have you been with Latisha Hardy Dance?
I’ve been at Latisha Hardy since 2017, and have participated as a student, team member, instructor, leader, coach, and director. I love this place and the impact it has on each person that enters the space.
What are some of your biggest accomplishments in this role?
Building the Bachata Program, Building Instructor Training Program! Seeing the Ladies Team grow and develop into the impact that is seen today. Being a part of the growth of what Latisha has done is phenomenal.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I love board games and a wine and cheese night. Being with friends having heart to heart conversations or yelling over a silly game are some of my favorite things to do.

Danae Edwards 

(They/She)

 Lead Instructor, Team Director and choreographer

Learn more about Danae
How did you get started dancing?
I started dancing when I was 10 in a church group, and started taking classes in high school
What’s the most rewarding part of your job here?
Watching students grow and achieve their goals!
What are you most excited about for the future of the company?
Helping the studio grow and seeing the community here grow as well.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Playing video games, doing makeup, baking!
What are your core values and how do they influence your work?
I believe that minority groups are allowed to take up space. Recognizing that many people outside of the white heteronormative majority have a voice as well is a big part of why I want to be a leader in this space.

Juan Miguel Arias

(He/Él)

Instructor

Learn more about Juan Miguel
How did you get started dancing?
I have danced Salsas, Cumbias, & Vallenatos at Colombian family gatherings my whole life. I danced, taught, and choreographed Salsa and Bachata in college and continued to learn with the In Lak’ech Dance Studio when I lived in the Bay Area. I moved to Colorado Springs and connected with Tish and the studio in 2020, and have been so happy to be part of this community ever since.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job here?
Sharing joy with a class when we learn a new technique and successfully try it to music! Also seeing a student level-up from my course and continue their dance journey — I’m constantly impressed 😀
What are you passionate about within your field?
I am passionate about being an ally and advocate for all dancers to feel welcomed in this community — this includes people who have never danced before and need a friendly introduction, to queer and trans dancers who are searching for safe and affirming spaces to be themselves and dance however and with whomever they want. I work and learn every day to be a part of these welcoming spaces, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this strong and joyful community of dancers and learners.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I love being outside in the sunshine or on the other side of the wall at Nexus Community Fitness! Hiking, Climbing, Lifting, Napping

Diane Celestin

(She/Her/They/Them)

Instructor

Learn more about Diane
How did you get started dancing?
I danced around the house as a kid. We danced to kompa all the time. It was always my favorite activity. In college I found a huge dance community in Orlando. It was my Friday night activity every week.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job here?
Seeing students who thought they “couldn’t dance” have breakthroughs. The way their body language changes as they become more confident is a great feeling.
What are you passionate about within your field?
Social dance. I enjoy watching 2 people or 3 people, sometimes even more dancing together for a moment. There is so much magic that can happen in partner dances.
What are some of your hobbies and interests?
I love visual art and music. I go to concerts and shows as much as I can.
What is something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I am a big foodie.

Andrew Horn

(He/Him)

Instructor

Learn more about Andrew

How did you start dancing?

A friend needed a dance partner for a competition and I thought, “why not?”

What’s the most rewarding part of your job here?

I love seeing the moment things “click” for the students.

What are some of your biggest accomplishments in this role?

Helping students get a full grasp of the fundamentals and setting them up for success in later classes.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Outside of work I enjoy shooting pool, playing video games, and learning.

What is something people might be surprised to learn about you?

People might be surprised to know I was formerly fluent in Arabic, ran a marathon, and was a nationally-ranked high school athlete.

Claire Franco

(She/Her)

Instructor

Learn more about Claire
What was your educational background and how did prepare as an instructor?
I trained as a dancer at a performing arts high school and at a private arts college in Los Angelas, dedicating most of my childhood to the dance industry. In my junior year of college, I pulled my right labrum and was out on injury leave for 6-months, forcing me to stay strong and agile throughout my recovery, while taking a kinder, injury preventative approach upon my return. 7 months later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and I was forced to shift gears. I am an advocate for taking the non-traditional route and with my educational dance background, I’m grateful for the vast knowledge and guidance I’ve received that molded my teaching style into what it is today. While I’m not an instructor with LHDC, I’m grateful to have this space as a student and appreciate the high level of instruction and empowerment they provide in their safe space.
What are your areas of specialization within the field?
Ballet, modern, tap, jazz, musical theatre.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job here?
Providing my energy and time to support the growth and retention of the Latisha Hardy Dance & Co studio, engaging with the students, and ensuring that their experience is just as incredible as mine continues to be. Everyone deserves a safe and empowering community they can call their own and I’m grateful to contribute to this goal.
What are you passionate about within your field?
I’m passionate about creating welcoming, injury preventative, and empowering dance communities for all walks of life. Whether you’ve danced your entire life or plan to take your first class, the feeling dance gives you will never go away and I love participating in the journey of reminding students how incredible dance truly is. Whether it’s for your physical health, mental health, a chance to get out of the house, or start a new chapter, moving your body to music and reminding yourself that you can do hard things is truly magical.
What are you most excited about for the future of the company?
Continued growth, success, and awareness about who we are and the positive impact we make on our students through dance, all while growing the latin dance scene in Colorado Springs!

Janner Conde

(He/Him)

Instructor

Learn more about Janner

How did you start dancing?

I was interested in getting closer to my Cuban roots and I wanted to do something social that would get me out of my apartment.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job here?

I love the community. It is a place where I feel seen and can express myself.

What are you passionate about within your field?
I like partner work. The social aspect is what originally got me interested and partner work is a huge part of that.

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

Games, Reading and Writing, Design.
What are your core values and how do they influence your work?
I think curiosity is a big one. I love learning new things, or improving.

Grace Owino

(She/Her)

Instructor

Learn more about Grace
How did you get started dancing?
I studied Spanish in college and wanted to get into the culture so I took a Salsa class that was on offer.
What are you most excited about for the future of the studio?
I am excited to see us expand the Kizomba program.
What are you passionate about within your field?
I am most passionate about the mental health aspects and benefits that come from dance.
What are some of your hobbies and interests?
I enjoy reading, Dungeons and Dragons, hiking, and traveling.
What are your core values and how do they influence your work?
Curiosity. I approach my work with a mindset of curiosity, which helps me keep learning, accept what I cannot change, and focus my energy on changing what I can.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

The best part of doing business is doing it with those you love. 

Ashley Coffey

The NEXUS Community

We do what we do for the community and for the people in it. If you have been looking for an inclusive gym, that sees its members at every level, then you have found the place for you. We would love to have you come by and check us out!

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We see you. We hear you. You Matter.

DJ Gift’d & DJ MaCherie

Kizomba DJ’s & Instructors

Gary and Casey are passionate Kizomba and Zouk DJs/instructors who have a proven track record of building vibrant dance communities in North Carolina, Utah, and Hawaii since 2015. With their extensive training across various dance genres, they bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to every class and event.

Now, they’re excited to bring their expertise and energy to Colorado Springs, aiming to grow and enrich the local dance community. Join them on this incredible journey and experience the magic of Kizomba and Zouk!

Hours of Operation

Mon

4:00pm – 9:30pm

tue

12:00pm – 9:45pm

wed

12:00pm – 9:45pm

thur

12:00pm – 9:30pm

fri

12:00pm – 5:00pm

Sat

9:00am – 12:00pm

Sun

We are closed

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