Michele Kammeyer
Owner/Director ~ Rising Stars & Jazz/Lyrical/Contemporary Instructor ~ Shooting Stars & Competitive Company Director
Born and raised in Chesterfield, Missouri, Michele Kammeyer danced competitively from age six through eighteen. She then pursued her passion and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Western Michigan University (WMU) in 2014, graduating Magna Cum Laude. During the 2011-2012 season, Michele was a member of the Western Dance Project touring ensemble, performing a varied repertoire by numerous choreographers including Eddy Ocampo and Suavé. In 2013, she was one of ten WMU dancers selected for the San Francisco Student Investment Project. She attended the American College Dance Festival in Athens, Ohio in 2014, where she performed WMU professor Carolyn Pavlik’s It Takes Two. For her honors thesis, she cast, choreographed, and designed all lighting and costuming for her eleven-minute dance titled Partita. Additionally, she co-produced the Graduating Presentations concert and performed choreography by Joshua Manculich. Michele has been teaching dance since 2008 to students of all ages. After moving to Fort Collins, Colorado in 2015, she opened Immersion Dance Center (IDC) in 2016. She truly loves getting to work with young dancers and see their growth over the years. She strives to teach engaging and inspiring classes, and to serve as a positive role model. Michele is committed to motivating and challenging every dancer to reach his or her fullest potential, and she loves her amazing IDC dance family.
Owner/Director ~ Rising Stars & Jazz/Lyrical/Contemporary Instructor ~ Shooting Stars & Competitive Company Director
Born and raised in Chesterfield, Missouri, Michele Kammeyer danced competitively from age six through eighteen. She then pursued her passion and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Western Michigan University (WMU) in 2014, graduating Magna Cum Laude. During the 2011-2012 season, Michele was a member of the Western Dance Project touring ensemble, performing a varied repertoire by numerous choreographers including Eddy Ocampo and Suavé. In 2013, she was one of ten WMU dancers selected for the San Francisco Student Investment Project. She attended the American College Dance Festival in Athens, Ohio in 2014, where she performed WMU professor Carolyn Pavlik’s It Takes Two. For her honors thesis, she cast, choreographed, and designed all lighting and costuming for her eleven-minute dance titled Partita. Additionally, she co-produced the Graduating Presentations concert and performed choreography by Joshua Manculich. Michele has been teaching dance since 2008 to students of all ages. After moving to Fort Collins, Colorado in 2015, she opened Immersion Dance Center (IDC) in 2016. She truly loves getting to work with young dancers and see their growth over the years. She strives to teach engaging and inspiring classes, and to serve as a positive role model. Michele is committed to motivating and challenging every dancer to reach his or her fullest potential, and she loves her amazing IDC dance family.
Kat Long
Ballet, Jazz/Lyrical/Contemporary, & Conditioning & Technique Instructor ~ Immersion Dance Project Director
Kat grew up in Parker, Colorado and started dancing in a ballet for figure skaters class. She fell in love with ballet and started training at Colorado School of Dance, where she mainly trained in ballet, but participated in various other styles including modern, jazz, hip hop and competition team, and was a teaching assistant as well. She then continued her training at the University of Wyoming where she studied ballet, jazz, modern, choreography, and pedagogy, and worked with a variety of guest artists including Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Ririe Woodbury Dance Company, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, AXIS Dance Company, and Jacob Mora. In 2014, she graduated with a BFA in Theatre and Dance with a concentration in Dance Science and a minor in Disability Studies. Kat started teaching dance in 2015 and immediately fell in love with sharing her knowledge and inspiring her students. When she moved back to Colorado in 2017, she found her wonderful IDC dance family. As a teacher, Kat challenges her dancers to be the best they can be. As well as finding an amazing studio to teach at in 2017, Kat was introduced to the Colorado Dance Collective in Greeley. She was a member of the ballet and jazz companies, and became Co-Director of the jazz company in 2022.
Ballet, Jazz/Lyrical/Contemporary, & Conditioning & Technique Instructor ~ Immersion Dance Project Director
Kat grew up in Parker, Colorado and started dancing in a ballet for figure skaters class. She fell in love with ballet and started training at Colorado School of Dance, where she mainly trained in ballet, but participated in various other styles including modern, jazz, hip hop and competition team, and was a teaching assistant as well. She then continued her training at the University of Wyoming where she studied ballet, jazz, modern, choreography, and pedagogy, and worked with a variety of guest artists including Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Ririe Woodbury Dance Company, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, AXIS Dance Company, and Jacob Mora. In 2014, she graduated with a BFA in Theatre and Dance with a concentration in Dance Science and a minor in Disability Studies. Kat started teaching dance in 2015 and immediately fell in love with sharing her knowledge and inspiring her students. When she moved back to Colorado in 2017, she found her wonderful IDC dance family. As a teacher, Kat challenges her dancers to be the best they can be. As well as finding an amazing studio to teach at in 2017, Kat was introduced to the Colorado Dance Collective in Greeley. She was a member of the ballet and jazz companies, and became Co-Director of the jazz company in 2022.
Emery Duet-Champagne
Rising Stars, Ballet, Jazz/Lyrical/Contemporary, Tumbling, & Conditioning Instructor
Emery grew up just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana, where she began dancing at the age of two. Over the next 17 years, she danced competitively and trained extensively in styles including ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, tumbling, and more. Emery was also a member of her high school’s varsity dance team for four years, during which the team earned national recognition at the Universal Dance Association National Competition.
Her training includes time at the Commercial Dance Intensive, where she deepened her technique and gained valuable exposure to the commercial dance world. While studying at Colorado State University, Emery also took ballet courses to further refine her technique and strengthen her instructional skills. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Health and Exercise Science and recently completed her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology in 2025.
Emery is passionate about choreography and teaching, especially connecting with students to help them grow into confident, technical, and expressive dancers. She also has a strong passion for teaching one-on-one private lessons, where she focuses on helping students grow as individuals through personalized technical development and mentorship.
Rising Stars, Ballet, Jazz/Lyrical/Contemporary, Tumbling, & Conditioning Instructor
Emery grew up just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana, where she began dancing at the age of two. Over the next 17 years, she danced competitively and trained extensively in styles including ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, tumbling, and more. Emery was also a member of her high school’s varsity dance team for four years, during which the team earned national recognition at the Universal Dance Association National Competition.
Her training includes time at the Commercial Dance Intensive, where she deepened her technique and gained valuable exposure to the commercial dance world. While studying at Colorado State University, Emery also took ballet courses to further refine her technique and strengthen her instructional skills. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Health and Exercise Science and recently completed her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology in 2025.
Emery is passionate about choreography and teaching, especially connecting with students to help them grow into confident, technical, and expressive dancers. She also has a strong passion for teaching one-on-one private lessons, where she focuses on helping students grow as individuals through personalized technical development and mentorship.
Zarita Apple
Twinkling Stars, Tap, & Hip Hop Instructor
Zarita was born and raised in San Diego, California, where she discovered her love for dance at an early age. She began dancing at just four years old and started competing by the age of seven. Over the years, she has received extensive training in jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, and more—but her true passion lies in tap. During her senior year of high school, Zarita served as Captain of her dance team and earned first place overall for her tap solo at Revolution Nationals in Anaheim, California. She continued her academic and personal growth at Colorado State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Gerontology. In addition to teaching, Zarita works as a Stage Manager for Thunderstruck Dance Competitions, a role that allows her to travel across the country and stay deeply connected to the dance community. She began assisting classes at a young age and now finds great joy in teaching her own students. Constantly seeking growth, Zarita continues to train with various choreographers to expand her knowledge and creative perspective. Zarita is passionate about inspiring her students to dance from the heart, push their limits, and embrace their unique artistic voices. She is proud to be part of the IDC family, where she dedicates her time and energy to helping dancers grow not just in technique, but as confident, expressive individuals.
Twinkling Stars, Tap, & Hip Hop Instructor
Zarita was born and raised in San Diego, California, where she discovered her love for dance at an early age. She began dancing at just four years old and started competing by the age of seven. Over the years, she has received extensive training in jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, and more—but her true passion lies in tap. During her senior year of high school, Zarita served as Captain of her dance team and earned first place overall for her tap solo at Revolution Nationals in Anaheim, California. She continued her academic and personal growth at Colorado State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Gerontology. In addition to teaching, Zarita works as a Stage Manager for Thunderstruck Dance Competitions, a role that allows her to travel across the country and stay deeply connected to the dance community. She began assisting classes at a young age and now finds great joy in teaching her own students. Constantly seeking growth, Zarita continues to train with various choreographers to expand her knowledge and creative perspective. Zarita is passionate about inspiring her students to dance from the heart, push their limits, and embrace their unique artistic voices. She is proud to be part of the IDC family, where she dedicates her time and energy to helping dancers grow not just in technique, but as confident, expressive individuals.
Terri Jo Englund
Ballet & Pointe Instructor
Terri Jo grew up in a small town just south of Springfield, Illinois. Her first passion was gymnastics where her goal was to go to the Olympics. Once she started taking ballet classes her focus switched to dance. As a teen, she enjoyed performing with the Springfield Ballet Company. This led to her desire to pursue dance in college where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in ballet and her Master of Arts in modern dance from the University of Cincinnati. There she studied with a variety of teachers including Denise Warner Limolli, Oleg Sublime, and James Truitte. After graduation, she became the principal ballerina for the Springfield Ballet Company performing leading roles in The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Coppelia. She then moved to Chicago to be on scholarship with Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago dance company. After performing with several companies in the area, she created her own company, TJ and Company Dance Theater. She was the Artistic Director, primary choreographer, and performer with her company for 12 years. Terri Jo has taught at numerous studios in the Chicagoland area, including teaching at Northwestern University. She recently moved to Colorado where she taught Ballet at Canyon Concert Ballet for four years and has been part of the dance faculty at Front Range Community College. In addition to teaching ballet, jazz, acro and modern dance, Terri is also certified in and teaches Gyrokinesis, Pilates Mat and Reformer, and Aerial Yoga. Terri Jo excels at building strong foundations in dancers through proper technique, strength, and muscle development. By developing the body correctly from the start, dancers gain the control and stability needed to safely progress to more advanced movements and confidently perform any style of dance.
Ballet & Pointe Instructor
Terri Jo grew up in a small town just south of Springfield, Illinois. Her first passion was gymnastics where her goal was to go to the Olympics. Once she started taking ballet classes her focus switched to dance. As a teen, she enjoyed performing with the Springfield Ballet Company. This led to her desire to pursue dance in college where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in ballet and her Master of Arts in modern dance from the University of Cincinnati. There she studied with a variety of teachers including Denise Warner Limolli, Oleg Sublime, and James Truitte. After graduation, she became the principal ballerina for the Springfield Ballet Company performing leading roles in The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Coppelia. She then moved to Chicago to be on scholarship with Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago dance company. After performing with several companies in the area, she created her own company, TJ and Company Dance Theater. She was the Artistic Director, primary choreographer, and performer with her company for 12 years. Terri Jo has taught at numerous studios in the Chicagoland area, including teaching at Northwestern University. She recently moved to Colorado where she taught Ballet at Canyon Concert Ballet for four years and has been part of the dance faculty at Front Range Community College. In addition to teaching ballet, jazz, acro and modern dance, Terri is also certified in and teaches Gyrokinesis, Pilates Mat and Reformer, and Aerial Yoga. Terri Jo excels at building strong foundations in dancers through proper technique, strength, and muscle development. By developing the body correctly from the start, dancers gain the control and stability needed to safely progress to more advanced movements and confidently perform any style of dance.
Madison Hard
Ballet Instructor
Madison began her dance training in Thorton, Colorado at the age of 3 years old and began competitively dancing at 5 years old. She quickly fell in love with dance and never looked back. Madison continued her training through the collegiate dance program at Colorado State University and now proudly holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance and a minor in Business Administration. Throughout her time at Colorado State University, Madison further extended and developed her technique, performance, and pedagogy skills. Her time with the dance program has grown and strengthened her abilities and love for dance. Currently, Madison is a company artist with the dance company, Animus Movement, located in Denver, CO. Madison has a strong passion for teaching; re-defining what being an artist means by centering dance around love, growth, and experience. Her passion and drive to share the art of dance through performing and teaching widens as she continues to explore new ways of moving and creating.
Ballet Instructor
Madison began her dance training in Thorton, Colorado at the age of 3 years old and began competitively dancing at 5 years old. She quickly fell in love with dance and never looked back. Madison continued her training through the collegiate dance program at Colorado State University and now proudly holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance and a minor in Business Administration. Throughout her time at Colorado State University, Madison further extended and developed her technique, performance, and pedagogy skills. Her time with the dance program has grown and strengthened her abilities and love for dance. Currently, Madison is a company artist with the dance company, Animus Movement, located in Denver, CO. Madison has a strong passion for teaching; re-defining what being an artist means by centering dance around love, growth, and experience. Her passion and drive to share the art of dance through performing and teaching widens as she continues to explore new ways of moving and creating.
Katie Giron
Twinkling Stars & Rising Stars Instructor
Katie was born and raised in Northern Colorado, where she began dancing at the age of four. Throughout her training, she explored a variety of dance styles, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, tap, and clogging, with a particular focus on ballet and clogging. At the age of five, Katie began competing in dance, participating in multiple styles but focusing primarily on clogging. Her dedication and passion for the art led her to earn multiple national championship titles. During her sophomore year of high school, Katie joined the competitive company at IDC, where she continued to train and compete through her senior year, graduating from high school in 2026. Katie is excited to continue her journey with IDC in a new role, inspiring and mentoring the next generation of dancers while sharing the same passion and love for dance that has shaped her own journey.
Twinkling Stars & Rising Stars Instructor
Katie was born and raised in Northern Colorado, where she began dancing at the age of four. Throughout her training, she explored a variety of dance styles, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, tap, and clogging, with a particular focus on ballet and clogging. At the age of five, Katie began competing in dance, participating in multiple styles but focusing primarily on clogging. Her dedication and passion for the art led her to earn multiple national championship titles. During her sophomore year of high school, Katie joined the competitive company at IDC, where she continued to train and compete through her senior year, graduating from high school in 2026. Katie is excited to continue her journey with IDC in a new role, inspiring and mentoring the next generation of dancers while sharing the same passion and love for dance that has shaped her own journey.
Harlow Knecht
Tap Instructor
Harlow was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado where she began her dance training at the age of 5. Harlow started dancing at Immersion the first year it opened, in 2016. After 2 years at Immersion, she joined the competitive company where she deeply grew her love for dance. She trained in all styles, her favorite being contemporary and tap. This year will be Harlow’s senior year in high school, and her 9th year on the competition team. Harlow wants to continue her dance journey throughout college whether that be joining a college dance team, or earning a degree in dance. She has always loved showing her passion for dance while being onstage or even in rehearsals. This year she gets to express that through teaching younger classes. Harlow wants to communicate the importance of being dedicated to something you love, which for her, is the artistry and movement of dance.
Tap Instructor
Harlow was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado where she began her dance training at the age of 5. Harlow started dancing at Immersion the first year it opened, in 2016. After 2 years at Immersion, she joined the competitive company where she deeply grew her love for dance. She trained in all styles, her favorite being contemporary and tap. This year will be Harlow’s senior year in high school, and her 9th year on the competition team. Harlow wants to continue her dance journey throughout college whether that be joining a college dance team, or earning a degree in dance. She has always loved showing her passion for dance while being onstage or even in rehearsals. This year she gets to express that through teaching younger classes. Harlow wants to communicate the importance of being dedicated to something you love, which for her, is the artistry and movement of dance.