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ITZEL HERNANDEZ
BALLET AND CONTEMPORARY INSTRUCTOR
Itzel Hernandez began training at the Escuela Provincial de Ballet Alejo Carpentier in Havana, Cuba. At age 12, she earned a full scholarship to the Orlando Ballet School, later training at the HARID Conservatory. After graduating, she joined Orlando Ballet. She joined Milwaukee Ballet II in 2014 before being promoted to the Company in 2015. Since being promoted, she has danced the title role in Kathryn Posin’s Scheherazade, has been featured in Val Caniparoli’s Lambarena, the Queen of the Night in Mauro de Candia’s Purple Fools, performed the leading role in Nelly von Bommel’s Gelem, Gelem, and danced the role of Fleur de Lis in Michael Pink’s Hunchback of Notre Dame.
SCOTTY VAN DER HAEGEN
TUMBLING DIRECTOR AND BALLROOM INSTRUCTOR
With a personal career in cheer, Scotty competed for 4 years at the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire where his contribution helped earn his team national championships. During this time he also coached at Eau-Claire Memorial High School helping lead the team to multiple 1st place state championship victories.
Scotty’s love of tumbling coaching continued over the years and he’s been involved with the Mad Hot program which teaches inner city kids multiple dance styles throughout their school year, as well as co-owning Elite Tumbling in Menomonee Falls.
Before his career in cheer began he competed in wrestling for 8 years and tae kwon do for 7. During his free time Scotty loves walking his dog Luna, playing board games with friends, and diving into the mythical fantasy world of Dungeons and Dragons.
LISSA
INSTRUCTOR
Originally from Illinois, Lissa fell in love with dance at just three years old, a passion that has grown into a fulfilling career. She spent her early years training primarily in ballet, jazz, and lyrical. In high school, she joined her high school dance team, where she expanded her repertoire to include kick, pom, and hip hop.
Lissa continued her dance journey at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, earning a BFA in Dance. During college, she was awarded scholarships that allowed her to train both nationally and internationally in New York, North Carolina, Taiwan, and Brazil, broadening her experience and deepening her love for the art form.
After graduating, Lissa shifted her focus to teaching and coaching competitive dance. She led her first team to the Dance Worlds in 2014 and to The Summit in 2015. Since then, she has earned numerous awards, national titles, and Summit championship wins.
Above all, Lissa is passionate about helping dancers grow—not just in skill, but as confident, resilient individuals. She finds joy in challenging her athletes, cheering them on through every milestone, and watching them achieve their goals both on and off the stage.
LAUREN LABRASCA
INSTRUCTOR
Lauren began dancing at 3 years old and quickly developed a deep passion for the art. She explored ballet, tap, jazz, and pom before immersing herself in competitive all-star dance at age 7. From 2013 to 2016, Lauren and her team won 4 world champion titles at the Worlds dance competition.
After high school, she continued her dance journey at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, where she earned a degree in business management. Upon graduation, Lauren accepted a full-time role as a recruiter but kept her love for dance alive by coaching competitive all-star teams and choreographing for local schools and gyms.
Over the past 3 years, Lauren has coached the youth national team, leading them to Summit champion titles in both 2023 and 2024. Through her years of competitive and collegiate dance experience, Lauren has honed the ability to develop not only exceptional dancers but also well-rounded individuals. She teaches more than just technique, focusing on life skills such as time management, accountability, coachability, and respect. Lauren takes pride in building strong, trusting relationships with her students, fostering a safe and supportive environment where they can thrive and grow.
ABI SHEPHERD
INSTRUCTOR
Raised in Natick, Massachusetts, Abi Shepherd trained at the Walnut Hill School of Ballet along with multiple competition teams. After moving to Indiana, she trained with G.Scotten Talent Center’s competition team which led to her graduation from the University of Alabama Honors College with a BA in Dance and an additional BS in Marketing. While in college, she was a scholarship recipient for Gus Giordano as well as Inaside Chicago Dance and interned for ABT summer intensive.
She has choreographed and performed pieces that were presented in Dance Alabama, Dance Collection and Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre. She also received the “Best Performance” award for her dance film “accept it or not, it’s gonna happen” presented at Dance Alabama Film Festival in which she directed and performed.
After college, she joined Madison Contemporary Dance Company where she choreographed and performed for 2 seasons and has also recently performed with Barrio Dance Factory in Madison, WI. She now is choreographing and teaching at a competitive studio as well as running the technique program at an All-Star affiliated studio where she is USASF certified. Abi has been judging regional and national competitions for 3 years also serving as a guest choreographer/teacher for various studios across the country.
ERIN WALSH
INSTRUCTOR
Erin (she/her) is a performer and choreographer, who is passionate about all things in life. Born outside of Chicago, Erin grew up training with Encore Dance Productions and Company where she started dancing competitively at a young age training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, tap and pointe. She is a graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BFA in Dance and certificate in Design Strategy. In college, she performed in pieces for faculty Li-Chiao Ping, Kate Corby, Collette Stewart, Liz Sexe and Jin-Wen Yu and guest artists Charles O. Anderson, Jared Baker, and Natalie Desch with the Limón Dance Company. Erin has performed in the North Central Conference of ACDA with Li Chiao-Ping’s Still Water and her own solo choreography Waiting. She also performed in Jin-Wen Yu’s research concert Digging in the fall of 2023. She performed a rework of Maenad from Dances for Isadora by José Limón, instructed by Natalie Desch in the 2022 Faculty Concert of the UW Madison Dance Department. Erin has choreographed both solo and group pieces for adjudicated student concerts during her time at UW Madison.
Commercially, Erin has performed at Reconstruct Exhibition based in Los Angeles and Atlanta for works by Sarah Burney and Amelia Koren. Erin’s teaching career started in 2019 with Encore Dance Productions and continued into the Madison area with A Leap Above Dance in 2022. She currently teaches in the Milwaukee area as an instructor for Accent On Dance and is an all-star coach for Blue Rose Dance Studio. In 2024, she accepted an apprentice position for Nova Linea Contemporary Dance Company in Milwaukee where she trained and performed during their 2024/2025 season. This year, Erin will be a company member for THE LAUNCH CHICAGO in their upcoming season. She is excited to explore the opportunity to perform in the Chicagoland area with this new company. Erin’s goal is to strive for continuous growth in her professional dance career as a performer, choreographer, and instructor.
KATIE HOFMANN
INSTRUCTOR
Katie Hofmann was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she began her dance journey at Dance Define Studio, training in tap, ballet, jazz, and contemporary. She later transitioned to a competitive dance team, refining her skills in pom, hip-hop, contemporary, and jazz throughout high school.
Continuing her education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Katie trained under esteemed professors and deepened her passion for dance. It was in college that she discovered her love for teaching, which led her to coach for Premier Dance Company in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Under her guidance, the team won state championships in hip-hop.
Now, as a versatile choreographer and instructor, Katie teaches and choreographs a wide range of dance styles for all ages. She has been with Blue Rose for about a year, and she is excited to continue growing in this vibrant community and sharing her passion for dance with others.
KAYLA GOTTO
INSTRUCTOR
Kayla's passion for dance began in her hometown of McFarland, WI, where she trained at A Step Above Dance and Music Academy in Monona. Throughout her years of training, she mastered a wide range of styles, including ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, and musical theater. As a dedicated member of the competition team, Kayla competed in numerous dance competitions and conventions, specializing in ballet, jazz, and lyrical, and quickly became known for her talent and hard work.
After high school, Kayla continued to pursue her love of dance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, MainStage Academy of Dance, and Dance Tracks, further honing her skills and expanding her repertoire. She is also a second-year dancer with the Lake Country Dockettes, a semi-professional dance team that performs at games with the Lake Country Dockhounds Baseball Team.
Kayla’s teaching career began in 2018, and she has since shared her expertise at renowned studios such as A Step Above, Aspire Dance Center, and Brio Studios. She is now thrilled to be a part of the Blue Rose team, where she teaches jazz, contemporary/lyrical, pom, tap, ballet, and pointe. Over the years, Kayla has coached competitive teams, earning several choreography awards and championships. In 2023, she expanded her role by taking on the responsibilities of directing and managerial work, including curriculum making, scheduling, choreographing, managing staff, and organizational work in the studio!
MCKENNA KUBLY
INSTRUCTOR
McKenna began dancing recreationally at the age of 4 and transitioned to competitive dance at age 8, training at Accent On Dance through high school. There, she studied a wide range of styles including Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical/Contemporary, Tap, Hip Hop, Modern, and Musical Theatre.She is currently entering her senior year at the UW–Milwaukee, pursuing a BFA in Dance with a minor in Kinesiology.
Alongside her college studies, McKenna has been actively teaching and choreographing as both a studio instructor and All-Star coach, creating passionate, personalized choreography for soloists and duets. In addition to studio work, McKenna is in her second year choreographing musicals at Badger High School, where her choreography for Matilda earned her a Jerry Award. She also recently joined Fly Dance Competition as a part-time judge, where she brings her eye for detail and heart for encouragement to dancers across the country.
McKenna is thrilled to be part of the Blue Rose Dance Studio team and looks forward to inspiring her students to fall in love with dance while building strong, confident technique.
AARON ORDAZ
BALLROOM MANAGER AND INSTRUCTOR
Aaron began his dance journey at The Ohio State University, where he studied toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts before discovering the world of ballroom—and he’s been hooked ever since. With over 25 years in the industry, he has competed professionally in all four major styles: International Latin, International Standard, American Smooth, and American Rhythm. He is nationally certified in the Arthur Murray, DVIDA, and Fred Astaire syllabi.
Ten years ago, Aaron relocated to Wisconsin to work with Fred Astaire Dance Studios, where he met Rebecca Enea. He’s now thrilled to bring his experience and passion for ballroom to the Blue Rose Dance Studios team.
JD
HIP HOP AND BALLROOM INSTRUCTOR
Originally born in Panama, JD has been teaching Hip-Hop and Reggaeton to kids, young adults, and adults since 2016. In 2017 he started teaching in the All Star Dance circuit and continued with a junior team for the next 3 years. During that time he was teaching, JD started dancing with a Hip-Hop crew back home in Panama called TROKIS DC. Shortly after practicing, the crew decided to enter to compete in the prestigious event, World of Dance: Panama. When they competed in 2019, JD and his team were happy to take 3rd place. Shortly after, in 2019, he moved to the U.S. to pursue working more on his dreams with dance. Since starting his teaching career, he has found more of a passion in dancing than ever and is excited to have the opportunity to prove his skills and talent in the U.S.A!
JD always has a fun energy that he brings to the studio. Everyday he comes to class with excitement and joy in mind for his students. Although JD is a bubbly personality, he has a strong focus when it's time to work. JD is one of the most detail oriented teachers in their movements, and he shows a ton of care into the students he works with. It truly shows he wants every student to grow to their full potential. JD represents exactly the level of commitment and community that Blue Rose Dance Studio values. We are very happy to have JD as a part of our Hip Hop dance program here at Blue Rose!
HAILEY KUHN
BALLROOM INSTRUCTOR
Hailey’s movement journey began in the world of yoga, where she taught a variety of styles before earning her certification in aerial yoga. For over four years, she’s been sharing her love of movement as an aerial yoga instructor.
In college, Hailey discovered a passion for ballroom dance and dedicated her free time to training in International, American, swing, and social Latin styles. Whether she’s teaching social dance fundamentals or helping dancers refine their technique, Hailey brings warmth, encouragement, and adaptability to every class—making students of all backgrounds feel confident and at home on the dance floor.
When not dancing, you’ll find her hiking, gardening, and happily chatting about plants.
LUIS OCARANZA
BALLET INSTRUCTOR
Born in Mexico City, Ocaranza began his ballet training and graduated with certification from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), an internationally recognized dance teaching and examination board based in London, England. The ISTD is accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the Council for Dance Education and Training, and is a member of the British Dance Council
Through the ISTD’s Cecchetti Society, he studied the Cecchetti method of classical ballet—an approach known for its strong foundational technique.
At the age of 18, Ocaranza was personally selected by Edward Villella to join the Miami City Ballet School, where he completed his training after three years of performing and touring with the company.
Throughout his career, Ocaranza has performed a wide range of classical and contemporary works by renowned choreographers, including George Balanchine, Sir Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan, Rudolf Nureyev, John Cranko, Uwe Scholz, Marco Goecke, Nacho Duato, Paul Taylor, Anthony Tudor, Will Tuckett, Ninette de Valois, Val Caniparoli, Michael Pink, Trey McIntyre, Hellen Pickett, Lauren Lovette, and many others.
He has received scholarships to train with prestigious institutions such as Boston Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. In 2014, he participated in the Carreño Dance Festival under the direction of José Manuel Carreño. The following year, he and his partner were named among the “Top Twelve” finalists at the Youth America Grand Prix Finals. As a dancer with The Sarasota Ballet, he performed at New York City Center’s Fall for Dance Festival and at The Joyce Theater in 2016. In 2017, he joined the Milwaukee Ballet under the direction of Michael Pink.
In 2020, Ocaranza became a member of the Compañía Nacional de Danza, where he took part in international Galas such as the Theater im Pfalzbau Dance Festival in Frankfurt, Germany, and the Festival Internacional Cervantino. He also performed in several major productions and Galas at Palacio de Bellas Artes, including Giselle choreographed by Alicia Alonso, John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet, and Alberto Alonso’s Carmen, the grand Pas de deux from Don Quixote among others.
In addition to his performance career, Ocaranza has developed a growing choreographic portfolio. His original works have been commissioned and presented by organizations such as TEDx, Ballet RI, Revolve Dance Project, and the Festival Internacional de Cancun. His choreography merges classical technique with contemporary expression and reflects a voice shaped by his international performance experience and commitment to artistic innovation.
Ocaranza is also an experienced dance educator, having taught and coached students across both the United States México and Europe. He has been on faculty or taught classes at institutions including Miami City Ballet School, The Sarasota Ballet School, Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy (MBII), Ballet RI, Jose Checa Ballet (JACB) in Madrid, and Axxis Dance in Italy. His teaching is rooted in the Cecchetti method, enriched by his professional stage experience, and focused on developing artistry, precision, and versatility in young dancers.
AMANDA DERUS
INDEPENDENT SOCIAL DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Amanda Derus is a passionate social dance instructor serving the Greater Milwaukee area. A graduate of UW-Stevens Point with a degree in Theater Arts-Dance, Amanda brings years of performance and teaching experience to every class she leads.
Amanda's journey into social dance began when she moved to Chicago and fell in love with the vibrant social dance scene. There, she trained and taught with the prestigious dance studio May I Have This Dance, honing her skills in partner dancing. Chicago also introduced her to the West Coast Swing community, where she discovered the perfect fusion of her classical and contemporary dance training with the creative freedom of partner dancing.
What sets Amanda apart is her ability to work with dancers of all ages and skill levels—from enthusiastic beginners taking their first steps to advanced dancers looking to refine their technique. She believes that social dancing should be accessible and joyful for everyone, and her teaching style reflects this philosophy.
Beyond instruction, Amanda has cultivated a true community of dancers who have formed lasting friendships both on and off the dance floor. She understands that social dance is about more than just steps—it's about connection, creativity, and building relationships.
Amanda is thrilled to bring her expertise and passion to Blue Rose, where she looks forward to teaching her classes and collaborating with the Blue Rose family of dancers. She's excited to help grow the social dance community in her new home and continue sharing the joy of dance with students of all backgrounds and abilities.
APRIL JENSEN
COLLEGE DANCE PREP
Many of the dancers at Blue Rose have aspirations to dance competitively in college. With that comes lots of questions in terms what it takes to get there. Blue Rose is blessed to be affiliated with April Jensen, a college recruiting consultant that works with Blue Rose that is available for those dancers/parents who want to begin having those conversations. April has spent the last 30 years of her dance career either performing, directing, coaching, choreographing or consulting with some of the top dance programs in the United States. A three-year captain of her college dance team, she helped lead the team to multiple national championships.
April was a 2013 DX Coach of the Year Finalist and was later inducted in the 2015 DanceXtreme Hall of Fame. A member of the USASF 2015 Mentoring Leaders program, April helped guide the vision and creation of the BOLT Athlete Leadership Course and continues to assist in the curriculum development of all-star athlete leadership programs. This led her to be recognized by CheerBiz News as one of the “35 under 35 People to Watch” in the Cheer & Dance Industry in both 2015 and 2016. She is a lead facilitator for the BOLT program and looks forward to teaching each year at the USASF Athlete Leadership Academy at The National Conference.
April currently serves as the Worlds Athlete Ambassador coordinator for the USASF and is also secretary of the USASF Dance Advisory Board. Servant leadership is at the core of April’s mindset when it comes to dancer growth and education, and it shows in her passion for 1x1 training and development of all star dancers.
April is passionate about training dancers for placement on top collegiate teams, and has a proven track record of setting up athletes for post-secondary success. Through individual dancer assessments, private lessons and coaching, social media and image/brand consultation, and realistic goal setting, she believes that every dancer has the opportunity to achieve their college dance dreams. April strongly believes that no two collegiate dance journeys are the same, and the landscape of college dance recruitment is ever-changing; so it’s important to create a customized plan specific to each dancers’ particular goals, while maintaining a focus of positive mental health all while embracing and celebrating their current season of life.