meet the staff
We consider our faculty members our team. Each teacher has been carefully handpicked in order to support our mission and goals at Stage Images! Each instructor has a diverse background that contributes to Stage Images in unique ways.
Julie Eppinger Trujillo
Owner & Instructor
Julie Trujillo is the former Owner/Director of Stage Images Dance Studio (1986 to 1999) and is now the current co-owner of Stage Images Dance Studio-The Next Generation, LLC. Through her 35+ years of teaching, she has received many awards, including top honors at dance competitions and has seen her dancers become NFL cheerleaders, college dancers, dance company members as well as teachers and coaches. At the local high school, she began the Brighton High School Dance Team (now Poms team) and has had past dancers continue on as coaches. Some of her work also included coaching pageant participants for their talent routines. In addition to her dance experience, she was chosen as "Business Woman of the Year" by Colorado Business and Professional Women's Organization Publication and received the "Unsung Hero" Award by the local Brighton newspaper. Julie has had the opportunity to learn from Tommy Walsh, Mia Michaels, Joe Tremaine, Joe Pugliese, Al Gilbert, Joel Ruminer, Jo Rowan, Joan Lather, and Mallory Graham to name a few.
She first discovered dance and her passion to teach under the well-known Brighton community member, Evelyn Maul. From there, Evelyn saw the talent Julie had at the age of 13, and gave her opportunities to teach, choreograph, and perform. As a teen, Julie was a member of the Colorado State 4-H Performers: a small group of dancers dedicated to performing at gatherings through out the state. Julie is also an active judge for a national dance competition, starting when she was acknowledged by the director for her and her dancers professionalism and technical skills. Throughout the years, Julie has studied mainly tap, jazz, and character. As a teacher, she is known for her Pre-School and Kindergarten dance curriculum and overall class structure. Julie can truly pull the best out of anybody.
Julie has two children and a wonderful husband, and continues to work in School District 27J. As she continues to teach the many more generations to come, she wants to remind her students to always follow your heart.
Madeline Kelley
Owner, Instructor, & Company Director
Madeline Kelley first began dancing at the age of 3 in Stage Images- first generation. Since then, she fell in love with dance. Throughout high school, Madeline had the chance to compete at regional dance competitions along with winning the Miss StarQuest 2011 regional title. After graduating Brighton High School, Madeline decided to make dance her profession and life. She has trained in Cecchetti and Vaganova methods of ballet and is experienced in both Horton and Graham modern dance techniques. She spent two years pursuing a B.A. in Dance at the University of Wyoming. While at UW, Madeline trained in ballet, jazz and modern under the instruction of Margaret Wilson, Jennifer Deckert, Marsha Knight, and Lawrence Jackson, and many guest and affiliate artists.
Madeline graduated in May 2018 with her BA in Dance Performance from Metropolitan State University, who partners with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Academy. She trained under the guidance of Nicole Predki and Leslie Merrill, along with guest faculty, Jacob Mora and Edgar Page.
Some of Madeline's most favorite life moments include volunteering at the International
Association of Blacks in Dance Annual Conference in January 2016. Madeline has presented choreography for the 2016 Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop-Student Performance as well as the formal adjudicated concert at American Collegiate Dance Association Central Region Dance Conference 2017. Madeline completed a year long internship with Moraporvida Contemporary Dance in Denver, CO under Jacob Mora.
Miss Madeline has been coaching at the high school dance team level throughout the state of Colorado for 8 years. Her accolades include 2 league coach of the year awards, CHSCA All-State Coach, three CHSAA State Final Appearances in 4A Poms and Hip hop, semi-finals appearance at NDTC in hip hop and pom, and NDTC 3rd place in D2 Game Day . She has coached local teams in Brighton, to Broomfield, to Centennial. She is currently the head coach at Arapahoe High School. Miss Madeline judges throughout the state at the league level for high school dance teams.
As a teacher, Madeline is known for her advanced training techniques and multiple approaches to achieve movement execution. One of her greatest pleasures about teaching dance is watching students overcome obstacles using dance as a tool. She wants her students to know that dance is more than a form of exercise, but a form of art and self-expression.
Miss Madeline is a certified Acrobatic Arts teacher through the Acrobatic Arts program, and is qualified to teach levels Primary through 6 of the curriculum.
Kshitija C Saturdekar
Instructor & Hip hop Crew Director
Kshitija C Saturdekar, originally from Mumbai, is a dance educator, artist and choreographer based in Colorado. She received her Bachelors and Masters of Arts in Sociology from the University of Mumbai, and recently received her Master of Fine Arts in Dance with emphasis in Choreography and secondary emphasis in Hip Hop Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. Prior to that, she spent ten years teaching students of all ages, choreographing for live events and film, and performing with The Terence Lewis Contemporary Dance Company, a reputed dance company in India. Kshitija has worked and trained under Donna Mejia, Helanius J Wilkins, Rennie Harris, Nii Armah Sowah, Terence Lewis and Bertwin Ravi Dsouza. Kshitija has also performed and taught dance in India, Australia, Singapore, Austria, Thailand and USA. During her time at CU Kshitija was also a Graduate Part Time Instructor, a Teaching Assistant and Assistant to the Director of Dance Production for two years which helped her hone her skills in Stage Management, Run Crew and Production Technicalities. Kshitija is passionate about dance education and performance and is honored to be a part of the Stage Images family.
Diane Page
Instructor
Diane Page comes to Stage Images from the Colorado Ballet Academy, the official training institution of the Colorado Ballet Company, and Colorado New Style Dance Studio. She taught at Stage Images in the past, and has a great respect for Julie and her students. Diane is a graduate of the famed National Ballet School of Canada, the first residential school in North America to combine professional ballet training with full, K-12 academic instruction. She is her family’s fourth generation of ballet dancer and teacher; her great-grandmother, Elizabeth Harmston, was a principal dancer at the Alhambra Theater in London, England in 1870. Her mother, Mona Frances, was the first teacher in California to offer instruction in the Cecchetti method of teaching ballet. Diane directed her own dance school in Denver, plus ran five after-school dance programs in Denver’s Public Schools. She has extensive experience in teaching jazz and contemporary as well as tap. Her classical choreographic credits include the Nutcracker Ballet, Les Sylphides, The Mikado, A Ski Ballet, Menotti’s The Telephone, plus selections from Coppélia. Her Jazz and Contemporary choreography includes To Broadway with Love, The Magical Doll, “One,” from Chorus Line, “Take a Chance on Me”, “Beat It”, “All I Ask of You”, and Ballet à la Salsa. Her work teaching ballet to the blind has been covered by 5280 Magazine, the Denver Gazette, and Channel 9 News. The Channel 9 News story, which aired twice, won the regional Edward R Murrow award for feature journalism. It is now up for the national award. Diane is delighted to be returning to Stage Images after several years of absence and she is looking forward to teaching the studio’s excellent and hard-working students.
Kara Dunham
Instructor
Kara Dunham, has always loved dancing. She began participating in dance classes at the age of 3 and after stepping onto a stage for the first time, she knew that was where she belonged. At the age of 5, she joined a competitive dance team and performed her first solo. Winning the local “Stars of Tomorrow” competition that first year of being on the team fueled her infatuation with performing and competing. She would go on to train in various forms of dance and compete for the next 14 years. In High School, she performed and competed with both her Studio Dance Team as well as the High School Poms Team and was even selected to be Captain her senior year. Kara received many awards over her years of competing including Teen Miss StarQuest, UDA All American Dancer, and was often acknowledged for her engaging stage presence. Dance has provided her with lifetime friendships and unique experiences including dancing in the Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade and being in part of an episode of “Dance Moms”. After High School, Kara put dance aside so she could concentrate on her college studies. She quickly realized what once had been a huge part of her life, had left a gaping hole in her heart. She is grateful to be back and is loving every minute she gets to share her passion with others who love and appreciate dance just as much as she does.
Kelsi Ream
Instructor
Kelsi is a technique first dancer and instructor trained in a multitude of styles of dance since the age of 3. She grew up right here in Colorado and has been in the companies at some of the best academy’s in South-Metro Denver, Colorado. Kelsi is trained in ballet - the Cecchetti Method (en pointe), lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, poms, and more. She was on a 3x state championship winning Poms Team during her time at Rock Canyon and earned an award of All American Dancer at UDA. She has taken lessons from some of the industry's leading choreographers through attending conventions like Jump in addition to privately held master classes and mock-auditions.
In college, Kelsi continued her education through elective dance courses while she pursued her Business degree in Operations Management and Finance and continued to earn her Master’s in Business Analytics. By day she manages Advanced Analytics and Global Strategy teams. She has continued training in yoga and pilates.. She is passionate about teaching creativity and mentoring dancers to be the best they can be in and outside the dance studio. She is a strong and passionate instructor who provides a positive and supportive learning environment for students who are looking to excel. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, hiking, camping, and attending concerts with her husband and friends..
Stephanie Strong
Instructor
Stephanie Strong is a retired NFL cheerleader and professional dancer, and combines her passions for dance and psychology in her professional and personal life. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder while actively participating in the Buff Gold Dance Team. Currently, Stephanie serves as a practice administrator at Alpine Lake Counseling Center, where she supports individuals navigating trauma. With over a decade of experience in diverse office environments and dance, Stephanie, a Colorado native, brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Stephanie is a seasoned dance instructor with a robust background in both dance and business administration, and she is eager to contribute to the growth and success of Stage Images Dance Studio. With over 20 years of experience in Jazz, Lyrical, Technique, Hip Hop, Poms, and Ballet, she is passionate about creating a supportive and inspiring environment where young dancers can enhance their skills and build their confidence. She previously spent four years as a flight attendant, further broadening her professional background.
Married to Drew since January 2022, Stephanie is a devoted wife and mother. Together, they welcomed their son in February 2023 and cherish their time with Stephanie’s stepdaughter. As an active member of Orchard Church, Stephanie volunteers regularly and enjoys engaging in family activities, including playing games, snowboarding, and spending time at the pool or lake. An avid listener of true crime stories, she starts her day with coffee or tea and delights in her favorite pizza topped with pineapple, tomato, and bacon.
Stephanie is dedicated to helping students excel technically while also fostering their artistic expression through choreography, stage presence, and the integration of various dance modalities. She is particularly attracted to Stage Images Dance Studio for its commitment to excellence and its nurturing environment. Stephanie is excited about the opportunity to bring her skills, passion, and dedication to the studio and contribute to its continued success.
Julie Eppinger Trujillo
Owner & Instructor
Julie Trujillo is the former Owner/Director of Stage Images Dance Studio (1986 to 1999) and is now the current co-owner of Stage Images Dance Studio-The Next Generation, LLC. Through her 35+ years of teaching, she has received many awards, including top honors at dance competitions and has seen her dancers become NFL cheerleaders, college dancers, dance company members as well as teachers and coaches. At the local high school, she began the Brighton High School Dance Team (now Poms team) and has had past dancers continue on as coaches. Some of her work also included coaching pageant participants for their talent routines. In addition to her dance experience, she was chosen as "Business Woman of the Year" by Colorado Business and Professional Women's Organization Publication and received the "Unsung Hero" Award by the local Brighton newspaper. Julie has had the opportunity to learn from Tommy Walsh, Mia Michaels, Joe Tremaine, Joe Pugliese, Al Gilbert, Joel Ruminer, Jo Rowan, Joan Lather, and Mallory Graham to name a few.
She first discovered dance and her passion to teach under the well-known Brighton community member, Evelyn Maul. From there, Evelyn saw the talent Julie had at the age of 13, and gave her opportunities to teach, choreograph, and perform. As a teen, Julie was a member of the Colorado State 4-H Performers: a small group of dancers dedicated to performing at gatherings through out the state. Julie is also an active judge for a national dance competition, starting when she was acknowledged by the director for her and her dancers professionalism and technical skills. Throughout the years, Julie has studied mainly tap, jazz, and character. As a teacher, she is known for her Pre-School and Kindergarten dance curriculum and overall class structure. Julie can truly pull the best out of anybody.
Julie has two children and a wonderful husband, and continues to work in School District 27J. As she continues to teach the many more generations to come, she wants to remind her students to always follow your heart.
Madeline Kelley
Owner, Instructor, & Company Director
Madeline Kelley first began dancing at the age of 3 in Stage Images- first generation. Since then, she fell in love with dance. Throughout high school, Madeline had the chance to compete at regional dance competitions along with winning the Miss StarQuest 2011 regional title. After graduating Brighton High School, Madeline decided to make dance her profession and life. She has trained in Cecchetti and Vaganova methods of ballet and is experienced in both Horton and Graham modern dance techniques. She spent two years pursuing a B.A. in Dance at the University of Wyoming. While at UW, Madeline trained in ballet, jazz and modern under the instruction of Margaret Wilson, Jennifer Deckert, Marsha Knight, and Lawrence Jackson, and many guest and affiliate artists.
Madeline graduated in May 2018 with her BA in Dance Performance from Metropolitan State University, who pairs with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Academy. She trained under the guidance of Nicole Predki and Leslie Merrill, along with guest faculty, Jacob Mora and Edgar Page.
Some of Madeline's most favorite life moments include volunteering at the International
Association of Blacks in Dance Annual Conference in January 2016. Madeline has presented choreography for the 2016 Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop-Student Performance as well as the formal adjudicated concert at American Collegiate Dance Association Central Region Dance Conference 2017. Madeline completed a year long internship with Moraporvida Contemporary Dance in Denver, CO under Jacob Mora.
Miss Madeline was the first head varsity dance coach at Riverdale Ridge High School, where she led the team to multiple top regional finishes, a league title, a state finals appearance, and was awarded League Coach of the Year twice (2019 & 2021), with a nationals appearance in 2022. After four years of being a Raven, Miss Madeline has transferred to Prairie View High School where she will continue coaching the legacy of the PVDT, currently ranking 2nd in the state for hip hop.
As a teacher, Madeline is known for her advanced training techniques and multiple approaches to achieve movement execution. One of her greatest pleasures about teaching dance is watching students overcome obstacles using dance as a tool. She wants her students to know that dance is more than a form of exercise, but a form of art and self-expression.
Miss Madeline is a certified Acrobatic Arts teacher through the Acrobatic Arts program, and is qualified to teach levels Primary through 6 of the curriculum.
Kshitija C Saturdekar
Instructor & Hip hop Crew Director
Kshitija C Saturdekar, originally from Mumbai, is a dance educator, artist and choreographer based in Colorado. She received her Bachelors and Masters of Arts in Sociology from the University of Mumbai, and recently received her Master of Fine Arts in Dance with emphasis in Choreography and secondary emphasis in Hip Hop Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. Prior to that, she spent ten years teaching students of all ages, choreographing for live events and film, and performing with The Terence Lewis Contemporary Dance Company, a reputed dance company in India. Kshitija has worked and trained under Donna Mejia, Helanius J Wilkins, Rennie Harris, Nii Armah Sowah, Terence Lewis and Bertwin Ravi Dsouza. Kshitija has also performed and taught dance in India, Australia, Singapore, Austria, Thailand and USA. During her time at CU Kshitija was also a Graduate Part Time Instructor, a Teaching Assistant and Assistant to the Director of Dance Production for two years which helped her hone her skills in Stage Management, Run Crew and Production Technicalities. Kshitija is passionate about dance education and performance and is honored to be a part of the Stage Images family.
Diane Page
Instructor
Diane Page comes to Stage Images from the Colorado Ballet Academy, the official training institution of the Colorado Ballet Company, and Colorado New Style Dance Studio. She taught at Stage Images in the past, and has a great respect for Julie and her students. Diane is a graduate of the famed National Ballet School of Canada, the first residential school in North America to combine professional ballet training with full, K-12 academic instruction. She is her family’s fourth generation of ballet dancer and teacher; her great-grandmother, Elizabeth Harmston, was a principal dancer at the Alhambra Theater in London, England in 1870. Her mother, Mona Frances, was the first teacher in California to offer instruction in the Cecchetti method of teaching ballet. Diane directed her own dance school in Denver, plus ran five after-school dance programs in Denver’s Public Schools. She has extensive experience in teaching jazz and contemporary as well as tap. Her classical choreographic credits include the Nutcracker Ballet, Les Sylphides, The Mikado, A Ski Ballet, Menotti’s The Telephone, plus selections from Coppélia. Her Jazz and Contemporary choreography includes To Broadway with Love, The Magical Doll, “One,” from Chorus Line, “Take a Chance on Me”, “Beat It”, “All I Ask of You”, and Ballet à la Salsa. Her work teaching ballet to the blind has been covered by 5280 Magazine, the Denver Gazette, and Channel 9 News. The Channel 9 News story, which aired twice, won the regional Edward R Murrow award for feature journalism. It is now up for the national award. Diane is delighted to be returning to Stage Images after several years of absence and she is looking forward to teaching the studio’s excellent and hard-working students.
Kara Dunham
Instructor
Kara Dunham, has always loved dancing. She began participating in dance classes at the age of 3 and after stepping onto a stage for the first time, she knew that was where she belonged. At the age of 5, she joined a competitive dance team and performed her first solo. Winning the local “Stars of Tomorrow” competition that first year of being on the team fueled her infatuation with performing and competing. She would go on to train in various forms of dance and compete for the next 14 years. In High School, she performed and competed with both her Studio Dance Team as well as the High School Poms Team and was even selected to be Captain her senior year. Kara received many awards over her years of competing including Teen Miss StarQuest, UDA All American Dancer, and was often acknowledged for her engaging stage presence. Dance has provided her with lifetime friendships and unique experiences including dancing in the Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade and being in part of an episode of “Dance Moms”. After High School, Kara put dance aside so she could concentrate on her college studies. She quickly realized what once had been a huge part of her life, had left a gaping hole in her heart. She is grateful to be back and is loving every minute she gets to share her passion with others who love and appreciate dance just as much as she does.
Kelsi Ream
Instructor
Kelsi is a technique first dancer and instructor trained in a multitude of styles of dance since the age of 3. She grew up right here in Colorado and has been in the companies at some of the best academy’s in South-Metro Denver, Colorado. Kelsi is trained in ballet - the Cecchetti Method (en pointe), lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, poms, and more. She was on a 3x state championship winning Poms Team during her time at Rock Canyon and earned an award of All American Dancer at UDA. She has taken lessons from some of the industry's leading choreographers through attending conventions like Jump in addition to privately held master classes and mock-auditions.
In college, Kelsi continued her education through elective dance courses while she pursued her Business degree in Operations Management and Finance and continued to earn her Master’s in Business Analytics. By day she manages Advanced Analytics and Global Strategy teams. She has continued training in yoga and pilates.. She is passionate about teaching creativity and mentoring dancers to be the best they can be in and outside the dance studio. She is a strong and passionate instructor who provides a positive and supportive learning environment for students who are looking to excel. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, hiking, camping, and attending concerts with her husband and friends..
Stephanie Strong
Instructor
Stephanie Strong is a retired NFL cheerleader and professional dancer, and combines her passions for dance and psychology in her professional and personal life. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder while actively participating in the Buff Gold Dance Team. Currently, Stephanie serves as a practice administrator at Alpine Lake Counseling Center, where she supports individuals navigating trauma. With over a decade of experience in diverse office environments and dance, Stephanie, a Colorado native, brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Stephanie is a seasoned dance instructor with a robust background in both dance and business administration, and she is eager to contribute to the growth and success of Stage Images Dance Studio. With over 20 years of experience in Jazz, Lyrical, Technique, Hip Hop, Poms, and Ballet, she is passionate about creating a supportive and inspiring environment where young dancers can enhance their skills and build their confidence. She previously spent four years as a flight attendant, further broadening her professional background.
Married to Drew since January 2022, Stephanie is a devoted wife and mother. Together, they welcomed their son in February 2023 and cherish their time with Stephanie’s stepdaughter. As an active member of Orchard Church, Stephanie volunteers regularly and enjoys engaging in family activities, including playing games, snowboarding, and spending time at the pool or lake. An avid listener of true crime stories, she starts her day with coffee or tea and delights in her favorite pizza topped with pineapple, tomato, and bacon.
Stephanie is dedicated to helping students excel technically while also fostering their artistic expression through choreography, stage presence, and the integration of various dance modalities. She is particularly attracted to Stage Images Dance Studio for its commitment to excellence and its nurturing environment. Stephanie is excited about the opportunity to bring her skills, passion, and dedication to the studio and contribute to its continued success.
Testimonials
Our girls have been dancing with Stage Images for over 5 years. They have found a second home at Stage Images! This studio has helped build confidence and courage in both of our daughters. We highly recommend Stage Images.
Vanessa R.
My daughter absolutely loves dancing and going to “her” studio! Ms. Julie and Ms. Maddie are not only the owners but great leaders, mentors, coaches and instructors. They have helped build her confidence and skills so much and I truly appreciate everything they have done for her and us!
Martha T.
Contact Us
ADDRESS
975 Platte River Blvd Unit K, Brighton CO 80601
Mon : 3:00pm – 08:30pm
Tues : 4:00pm - 08:30pm
Wed : 4:00pm - 09:00pm
Thu : 04:00pm - 08:30pm
Friday : 04:00pm - 07:00pm
Sat : 09:00am – 01:00pm
Sunday : Closed
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About
Stage Images Dance Studio - The Next Generation, LLC is a traditional dance studio focusing on athleticism and artistry, emphasizing technique and performance.
Opening Hours
Mon : 3:00pm – 08:30pm
Tues : 4:00pm - 08:30pm
Wed : 4:00pm - 09:00pm
Thu : 04:00pm - 08:30pm
Friday : 04:00pm - 07:00pm
Sat : 09:00am – 01:00pm
Sunday : Closed
ADDRESS: 975 Platte River Blvd Unit K, Brighton CO 80601
Email: admin@stageimagesdance.com
Telephone: (303) 746-4996
@ Copyright 2024 - Stage Images Dance Studio - The Next Generation, LLC - All rights reserved
