Dance Instructors and Staff

Learn The Right Moves From Us

Dance Works was founded in 1980 by Kathryn J. Schulte. Since its conception, Dance Works has taken pride in providing quality dance instruction and dance classes in the Grand Valley and continues to be the most respected dance studio in Grand Junction. All teachers at Dance Works are well-qualified dance instructors with extensive dance experience.

Kathryn Schulte

Kathryn J. Schulte

Studio Owner, Dance Instructor

Kathryn J. Schulte

Kathryn J. Schulte has made it her life’s work to provide quality dance instruction in the Grand Valley. She founded Dance Works in 1980 with the vision of creating a well-rounded dance program at an affordable price so that she could spread the joys of dance throughout the community. Kathryn began her dance training right here in Grand Junction from Joanne Gardner. She majored in ballet at the University of Utah under the direction of William Christensen and performed with the Utah Civic Ballet. She transferred to the University of Colorado and studied under Larry Boyette, Nancy Spanier, and Charlotte Irey. After graduating with a degree in dance she moved to San Francisco and was accepted as a company member in the Pacific Ballet Company. Kathryn has and continues to attend master classes with countless legendary teachers and choreographers including Gus Giordano, Luigi, Joe Tremaine, Karen Hebert, Patricia Dickinson, Dolly Kelepecz, Mia Michaels, Frank Hatchett and others.

Kathryn has touched countless lives with her devotion to dance, both as a performer and a teacher. Within her 32 years in business, Kathryn has seen generations of students waltz through the doors of Dance Works. Her commitment to her students has always been exceptional from her business ethics to her teaching skills. Kathryn has also been the primary seamstress for each of Dance Works’ ballet productions and dance concerts, sewing over 600 costumes each year.

Kathryn was married for 41 years to Terry Schulte, also known as “Papa.” He passed away in February 2016 after a courageous battle with leukemia. Papa loved Dance Works and all the students. Together they have three wonderful daughters: April, Crystal, and Rachel. All of them have had professional dance careers.

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Rachel Hogge

Rachel Hogge

Dance Instructor, Performance Director

Rachel Hogge

Rachel Hogge has been dancing since the age of three, trained primarily by her mother at Dance Works through her childhood and teenage years. She also had the opportunity to study alongside many master choreographers. In middle school, she became a member of the Dance Works Connection and won numerous dance awards at regional and national competitions. She taught jazz and tap classes at Dance Works in 1996-1997 before moving to Fort Collins, CO to attend Colorado State University. Alongside her studies at CSU, Rachel received her EMT-B certification and volunteered with the Poudre Valley Hospital and Poudre Valley Fire Department.

At CSU she received her BA in Health and Exercise Science and Sports Medicine and minor in Anatomy and Neurobiology. After graduating in 2002, Rachel moved to Las Vegas, NV where she was hired by the Tropicana Resort and Casino to dance professionally as a showgirl in the Les Folies Bergere. She was very proud to be part of the longest running show in history! During her professional career in Las Vegas, she had the opportunity dance at several Golden Rainbow events, model, and do promotions for various hotel casinos, corporations, and Las Vegas Monorail.

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April L. Schulte-Barclay

April L. Schulte-Barclay

Dance Instructor

April L. Schulte-Barclay

April L. Schulte-Barclay has been dancing since the age of three, training primarily with her mother at Dance Works through her childhood and teenage years. As a sixth grader, April became the youngest member of the Dance Works Connection and won numerous awards at regional and national competitions. In high school she trained for a summer with the David Taylor Dance Company in Denver, Colorado. In college she attended the University of Northern Colorado on a dance scholarship where she danced with their performance troupe and ballet company. She later transfered to Mesa State College to study within a pre-med program. Alongside her studies at MSC, April taught many dance classes at Dance Works and won choreography awards through the dance program at MSC.

She also took a break from her undergraduate program and danced professionally with Jean Ann Ryan Productions in Philadelphia, PA. After graduating Mesa State College with a major in biology and two minors in chemistry and dance, April danced professionally with Greg Thompson Productions in Tunica, MS. Following her professional dance career, April received her masters degree in Oriental medicine, and she now owns Healing Horizons Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine and has received a doctoral degree. April is proud to be teaching at Dance Works alongside her mother and sisters and is enjoying integrating her dance expertise with sports medicine related treatments in her clinic.

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Crystal Heinsma

Crystal Heinsma

Dance Instructor

Crystal Heinsma

Crystal has been dancing since the age of three, trained by her mother Kathryn Schulte. Throughout her childhood, Crystal also had the opportunity to train with master teachers including Joe Tremaine, Bobbie Bolling, Mia Michaels, Paul Franklin, Charles Kelley, and continues to train with master teachers and choreographers currently through Dance Educators of America. Crystal performed and competed with the Dance Works Connection during Middle School through High School and received numerous scholarships and awards. She was named All American in High School and started instructing and choreographing for the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA DANZ) during her senior year. After attending Mesa State College she pursued a professional dancing career that began on Norwegian Cruise Lines with Jean Ann Ryan Productions in Miami, FL. Crystal later relocated to Las Vegas, NV and danced in "Jubilee" at the Bally's Resort and Casino, "Legends in Concert" with On Stage Productions at the Imperial Palace, and performed and choreographed in numerous concerts and benefits throughout Las Vegas, Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Crystal has also danced for Greg Thompson Productions in Lake Tahoe, NV. She enjoys teaching the art of dance and disipline to her students and loves working alongside her mother and sisters.

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Shelby Steele

Shelby Steele

Dance Instructor

Shelby Steele

Shelby Steele started dancing at the age of 3 in Meeker CO when she discovered tap dancing through ERBM Recreation Center. Later on she added more to her repertoire including jazz, lyrical, contemporary, poms, hip-hop, and ballet while also adventuring into cheerleading in high school where she was captain senior year at Meeker High School. She was also an active member in band and choir. Shelby is currently attending Colorado Mesa University and working towards getting a BFA in Dance where she was on the Mavettes Dance Team and a club officer for Dance Society. She is excited to share what she loves and inspire others here at Dance Works!

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Mia Moore

Mia Moore

Dance Instructor

Mia Moore

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Macy McComb

Macy McComb

Dance Instructor

Macy McComb

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Natalie Ramirez

Natalia Ramirez

Dance Instructor

Natalia Ramirez

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Imagyn

Imagyn Anthony

Dance Instructor

Imagyn Anthony

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Paityn

Paityn Grant

Dance Instructor

Paityn Grant

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Adelaide

Adelaide Gustafson

Dance Instructor

Adelaide Gustafson

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Holly Trout

Dance Instructor

Holly Trout

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Non-Traditional Instructors and Staff


Heidi Marie

Heidi Marie

Belly Dance Instructor

Heidi Marie

Heidi believes that belly dance is medicine, and it brings her great joy to share it with other women. Connection with the breath, movement and the physical form provides us with a path to find the flow state, heal the body, and clear our energy. She began dancing in 2000, and continues to this day. She has traveled much over the years to study dance and teach workshops. Some of her more notable dance influences have been Rachel Brice, Zoe Jakes, Carolina Nericcio, and Mardi Love. She is teacher certified in American Tribal Style (ATS) by Carolina Nericcio, and teaches a rotation of ATS and tribal fusion belly dance in the format of regular weekly classes. Bella Rouge Dance Company

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Joseph Eller

Joseph Ellerin

Kenpo & Tai Chi Instructor

Joseph Ellerin

Mr. Joseph was a student of Ed Parker, known as the father of American Kenpo and he studied tai chi under a student of Cheng Man Ching, a pioneer of tai chi in the United States. Joseph has been teaching American Kenpo self defense for 40 years and studying and teaching tai chi for over 35 years. He holds a 4th degree black belt in American Kenpo, a very practical and effective form of self defense. Mr. Joseph is offering introductory courses in both American Kenpo self defense and tai chi. The classes are open to children and adults. If you would like more information, please contact him at 303-638-6949.
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Miss Heather

Miss Heather

Front Desk Administrator

Miss Heather

Please help us welcome Miss Heather to our Dance Works family. Throughout her lifetime, Heather has found solace and inspiration in the dance studio. She returned to her soul space of Colorado as an experienced professional ready to lay down roots and bloom. Heather is blessed with two daughters, a niece, and a close extended family. She enjoys nature walks, water sports, reading, music, Aspen trees, and our winter wonderland. Miss Heather looks forward to contributing to the Dance Works family in her new role as front desk administrator. We are happy to have you, Miss Heather!

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