Meet Our Wonderful and Amazing Staff
At Centerstage Starz, we are proud to have a passionate, experienced, and dedicated team of instructors who inspire, challenge, and nurture every dancer who walks through our doors. Our staff brings a diverse range of expertise—from ballet and jazz to hip hop and contemporary, from early childhood education to professional performance and choreography.
Each member of our faculty is dedicated to fostering a positive and empowering environment that enables students to thrive as artists and individuals. Whether they are guiding beginners through their first plié or preparing advanced dancers for the stage, our team embodies excellence, creativity, and heart.
Get to know our wonderful and amazing staff below—we are honored to have them as part of the Centerstage Starz family!
Taami Bash—Founder/Artistic Director
Taami holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with a Minor in Dance from the University of Colorado Boulder. Her extensive background in the performing arts includes technical production, directing, playwriting, Shakespearean performance, performance literature, and theatre development. Her comprehensive dance training spans tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, modern, lyrical, creative movement, and African dance.
While in Los Angeles, Taami was awarded a theatre and dance scholarship and appeared as a featured extra in the film Samantha. She was also a member of CU Boulder’s Harambee African Dance Group, performing at prestigious events including the Colorado Arts Festival and a special performance for President Bill Clinton.
Taami began teaching children’s dance and theatre classes during her college years and has continued to inspire young performers ever since. Her choreography has received numerous accolades at both regional and national competitions, including the International Dance Challenge, Dance Rave, Spotlight, Starpower, Dance Champs, and the International Dance Olympics. Notably, she co-choreographed a Holocaust remembrance piece that received top honors, including “Most Powerful Performance,” and was featured during Holocaust Week at CU Boulder.
In addition to her work as a choreographer and educator, Taami is a certified instructor in Zumba, Zumba Fitness, Zumba Toning, and Zumbatomic. She is passionate about promoting health and wellness through movement and actively works with both children and adults to foster a lifelong appreciation for physical fitness.
Taami also serves as a judge at numerous dance competitions and cheerleading auditions across the country, including the Dance Champs Competition Tour in Kansas City.
In 1996, she founded Centerstage Starz Performing Arts Studio with the vision of creating a comprehensive, high-quality training environment in theatre and dance. Under her leadership, the studio has grown from a single-room operation into a state-of-the-art 12,000-square-foot facility offering over 140 weekly classes. The studio is home to award-winning theatre and dance companies and boasts a highly accomplished faculty.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Taami is the proud mother of triplet daughters—Mia, Arielle, and Tahli.
Katherine Leatherwood – Instructor/Office Manager/Company Director
Katherine Leatherwood began her dance training at the age of seven in Colorado and has since developed into a versatile and accomplished performer and educator. She is trained in a wide range of dance styles, including jazz, hip hop, modern, and tap, with a particular passion for contemporary, lyrical, ballet, and pointe.
Katherine studied as a dance major at the Denver School of the Arts, where she also trained with renowned institutions such as Colorado Ballet and Classical Ballet of Colorado. Following high school, she continued her professional training at Denver Ballet Theatre and began teaching at studios including Miller’s, Inspirations, DBT, and Centerstage Starz.
Her performance career includes dancing professionally with ballet companies such as Ballet Ariel and Thrive, and expanding into commercial styles with the jazz and hip-hop performance group HER. Katherine’s professional accomplishments include performing pas de deux and contributing original choreography to both student and professional works.
In addition to her dance expertise, Katherine holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. She is a certified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), as well as a certified Barre Fitness instructor through Barre Above. Dedicated to continuous learning, Katherine regularly pursues advanced certifications and research to stay current in the fields of fitness, injury prevention, and individualized training.
Passionate about mentoring young dancers, she finds joy in helping them discover their voice through movement. Outside the studio, Katherine enjoys spending time with her daughter, Ellie.
Mallory Weeman – Company Director
With over a decade of experience as a dance educator and choreographer, Mallory Weeman is passionate about training dancers not only for the stage but for life. She is committed to ongoing growth and education, earning her International Dance Teaching Standards (IDTS) certification in 2018. In addition, she is a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and holds a Barre Instructor certification from the American Barre Technique.
Mallory has taught and choreographed across the country, including in California, Arizona, Maine, and now Colorado. She joined Centerstage Starz in 2015 as a Company Director and continues to bring her creative vision and dedication to every class. While she teaches a variety of styles, her favorites include contemporary, jazz, and improvisation.
Her choreography has received numerous accolades at both regional and national competitions, including Elite Grand National Champions and Choreographer of the Year honors at KAR Nationals in Las Vegas. In 2009, she was invited to perform at Carnival: The Choreographer’s Ball in Los Angeles, one of the most prestigious international showcases for choreographers.
Mallory takes pride in cultivating a supportive environment where dancers grow into not only exceptional performers but confident, well-rounded individuals.
Tiffany Lopo – Instructor/Company Director
Tiffany Lopo began dancing at the age of four in Colorado before relocating to Arizona, where she became immersed in the competitive dance scene. She began teaching at just 14 years old, starting with tap classes at her home studio. During her training in Arizona, Tiffany had the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers from Los Angeles, further expanding her skills and passion for performance.
Her professional dance experience includes performing as a backup dancer for an Elvis impersonator in Phoenix and as a member of Sofistakit, a professional dance company that toured throughout Arizona. Tiffany studied dance at the University of Arizona before returning to Colorado, where she quickly found a new home in the local dance community.
While she is trained in multiple styles, Tiffany is especially passionate about jazz and brings both energy and experience to every class she teaches. In addition to her work in the studio, Tiffany works in the advertising industry and enjoys spending quality time with her husband and three sons.
Shelby Connelly – Instructor/Company Director
Shelby Connelly was born and raised in Colorado and began dancing at the age of three. She trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop at The Academy of Colorado Ballet until the age of 15, and continued her dance journey at Centerstage Starz through high school, while also performing on her high school’s poms team. She furthered her dance experience at Colorado State University, where she spent two years performing with the Golden Poms dance team.
Shelby has danced professionally with the Colorado Eagles Chicks, Colorado Mammoth Wild Bunch, and the Denver Nuggets Dancers. Her most memorable experience as a professional dancer was traveling and performing in multiple cities across China with the Denver Nuggets Dancers.
She earned her degree in Health and Exercise Science with a minor in Biomedical Science from Colorado State University. Shelby currently works as a Clinical Exercise Specialist at Craig Hospital, a nationally renowned facility for individuals recovering from spinal cord and brain injuries. Her dual passions for health and dance intersect in the classroom, where she is committed to building confidence in her students—both as dancers and as young adults.
Auden Martinez – Instructor/Company Director
Born and raised in Colorado, Auden Martinez began dancing at age six and quickly fell in love with the art form. By age fifteen, he was assisting tap and hip hop classes, and by eighteen, he was teaching multiple styles, including contemporary, modern, jazz funk, and technique. A former competitive company dancer, Auden has earned multiple national titles for his performance and choreography.
He has trained with esteemed choreographers such as Hannah Douglas, Kobi Rozenfeld, Marty Kudelka, Cat Cogliandro, Heather Morris, Pamela Yasutake, and many more, across a wide range of styles. Since 2021, Auden has choreographed solos, duets, and group routines for Centerstage Starz’ elite competitive teams and currently teaches multiple levels of hip hop at the studio.
Auden is also a regional and national assistant with HEAT Convention, traveling across the country to work alongside top-level instructors. He recently graduated from Arapahoe Community College with an Associate of Applied Science in Automotive Service Technology and is a member of multiple academic honor societies.
Sheridan Guerin – Instructor
Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, Sheridan Guerin began her formal ballet training at the age of 12 under the direction of Lisa Slagle at the Ballet Academy of Texas. She spent four consecutive summers training at the American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive in New York and was honored as an ABT National Training Scholar for two years.
Sheridan is a highly decorated dancer, having placed first overall in both classical and contemporary divisions at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), and was invited to perform as a finalist in New York City. In 2017, she joined Oklahoma City Ballet’s Studio Company, performing in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and The Little Mermaid. The following year, she joined Atlanta Ballet’s pre-professional program, where she performed in the world premiere of Yuri Possokhov’s The Nutcracker.
In 2019, Sheridan became a Studio Company member with Colorado Ballet, was promoted to Apprentice in 2020, and advanced to the Corps de Ballet in 2022. During her time with the company, she made history as the first African American dancer to perform the role of Clara in The Nutcracker at Colorado Ballet—an achievement she holds with pride. Sheridan brings elite professional experience and an inspiring presence to the classroom.
JaShawn Thornton – Instructor
With over a decade of experience, JaShawn Thornton specializes in Hip Hop, Street Dance, and Breakin’ (Breakdancing), teaching dancers from beginner to advanced levels. His classes focus on fundamentals, vocabulary, groove, and freestyle, while incorporating choreography, athleticism, and creative improvisation.
JaShawn encourages dancers to explore a variety of urban styles and develop their own artistic voice. His approach keeps classes fresh and exciting, offering every student an opportunity to grow as a mover and performer. If you’re looking to challenge yourself, explore new techniques, and have fun doing it, JaShawn’s class is the place to be.
Whitney Gustafson – Instructor
Born and raised in Colorado, Whitney Gustafson has dedicated her life to the performing arts and inspiring young dancers. She currently resides in Highlands Ranch with her husband, Matt, and their two sons, Noah and Christian.
Whitney began dancing at the age of four and started teaching by the age of eighteen. She is a classically trained ballerina with a deep passion for lyrical, jazz, and contemporary dance. Her performance career includes three years as a captain and member of the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders and two years as a Denver Nuggets Dancer. Among her most memorable experiences were USO Tours with the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders, where she served as a lead vocalist and dancer, performing for U.S. Military troops around the world.
For five years, Whitney worked with the Universal Dance Association (UDA), traveling nationally to teach and direct dance camps for high school and collegiate teams, while also judging regional and national competitions. Her award-winning choreography has been recognized at prestigious events such as Dance Champs, Dance Rave, Showbiz, NexStar, Spotlight, and Starpower. One of her standout pieces, a small character group number titled “Honey Bun,” earned first place at KAR Nationals in 2017.
Whitney holds a degree in Communications and Psychology from the University of Colorado. In addition to her work in dance, she is the General Manager and a certified yoga instructor at CorePower Yoga’s South Denver studios. She is also a professional photographer, combining her love for storytelling and visual art through the lens.
A valued member of the Centerstage Starz faculty since 1999, Whitney brings over two decades of experience, creativity, and mentorship to her students.
Sebastian Mazur-Cohen – Instructor
Sebastian Mazur-Cohen is a dynamic professional dancer, choreographer, and performer known for his bold, boundary-pushing movement and emotionally driven work. A Top 7 finalist on So You Think You Can Dance Poland and a graduate of the prestigious EDGE Scholarship Program in Los Angeles, Sebastian has cultivated a versatile and impactful career across both commercial and theatrical platforms.
His performance credits include appearances on numerous television shows and live productions, where he has showcased his unique blend of contemporary, jazz funk, and heels. As a choreographer, Sebastian is recognized for creating powerful, story-centric work infused with precision, edge, and artistry.
Passionate about teaching, Sebastian brings a wealth of professional experience and creative energy to every class. He is dedicated to helping the next generation of dancers grow—both technically and artistically—and is excited to mentor students as they discover their voice through movement.
Pam Gleave – Instructor
Pam has been passionately teaching dance for over 45 years. What fuels her most is getting to know her students — their hearts, their dreams, and what drives them.
A native of snowy Utah, Pam grew up near the mouth of Parleys Canyon. While her friends hit the ski slopes, she spent her days dancing — and dancing a lot. She trained at local studios and later pursued intensive ballet studies at the University of Utah. Each summer, she traveled with a mentor to learn from legendary choreographers such as Roland Dupree, Joe Tremaine, Gus Giordano, the Nicholas Brothers, and more.
Pam also pursued academic studies in Elementary Education at Westminster University in Salt Lake City, where her favorite professor was her own dad.
In 1984, Pam moved to Denver with her husband and continued her journey in dance education. She soon founded her own school, DanceWorks, where she and her faculty led students to perform, compete, and travel. After the birth of her daughter Hallie, she sold the studio but continued teaching, judging competitions, and coaching for various tryouts.
Pam has taught at prestigious institutions including Colorado Ballet Academy and Denver Ballet Theatre. Today, she is proud to call Centerstage Starz her home, where she continues to inspire and shape the next generation of dancers.
Alexander Roy – Instructor
Jessica Payne – Instructor
Zoe Naggar – Instructor
