Our Studio Company

CCD's Studio Company is comprised of dedicated, curious, and talented dancers in our Advanced Division. In addition to performing in CCD’s production of The Nutcracker, these dancers tour to eight elementary schools annually performing an anti-bullying-based production, partner with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra to co-produce two sensory-friendly performances, and perform for 900 children at the Broomfield Auditorium. Their 2022-2023 season culminates with this inspiring production called reLIGHT – bringing together new works and important reprisals celebrating inspiration, renewal, and reinvigoration.

Bridget Church is a 18-year-old senior. She began dancing at age 3 under Deena Fournier at Ann Arbor Dance Classics. At age 13, Bridget began studying with Colorado Conservatory of Dance. This will be her third year as a member of Studio Company. Bridget has performed in 6 productions of CCD’s The Nutcracker and has danced roles including Dew Drop, Lead Russian, Lead Snow, Flower, Mirliton, Columbine Doll, and Spanish. In 2021, Bridget participated in Dominic Walsh’s Movement Lab summer intensive where she performed in Summer Moving Project working with a variety of choreographers including Dominic Walsh, Rosalynde LeBlanc, Shannon Alvis, and Tilman O’Donnell. As a member of Studio Company she has performed in a number of ballets including The Only Boy in Ballet Class, Madeline Stands Tall, Crayon Box, Peter and the Wolf, and excerpts from Sleeping Beauty. Bridget will be attending CU Boulder in the fall and plans on minoring in dance to continue her studies. Outside of dance, Bridget loves taking care of her pets, spending time with her friends, and

Eliza Fogdall is a 18-year-old senior. She began her training with the Colorado Conservatory of Dance at the age of 5, and in 2018 she joined Colorado Ballet’s Pre-Professional Division. Eliza is so excited to be rejoining CCD for her senior year before pursuing a professional career in dance. Throughout her training with both the Colorado Conservatory of Dance, Eliza has had the opportunity to perform roles such as Clara, Lead Chinese, Mirliton, Spanish, and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, as well as being featured in original works by David Barbour and Michael Hinton, and she looks forward to also dancing in works by Carlos Carvajal, Autumn Eckman, Chung-Fu Chang, and Janelle Ayón. With Colorado Ballet, she performed in original works by Domenico Luciano, Maria Mosina, and Mayo Sugano, and she performed in Septime Webre’s Wizard of Oz. Eliza has participated in the Denver Ballet Guild Young Dancers Competition for two years, placing as a finalist in both, and she attended San Francisco Ballet’s Summer Intensive. When she’s not dancing, Eliza can be found reading, catching up on homework, or out with her friends.

Abbey Sterling is a 15-year-old sophomore with a 3.7 GPA. She has been studying with Colorado Conservatory of Dance for 11 years. This is her third year in CCD’s Studio Company. As a student at CCD, she has performed in several works choreographed by Julia Wilkinson Manley, Dominic Walsh, David Barbour, Garrett Ammon, Julia Meng, and Cameron Terry. For eight years she has also performed in CCD’s productions of The Nutcracker in a variety of roles including Dew Drop, Lead Russian, Lead Snow, Flower, Mirliton, Party Mother, and Spanish. Over the past few summers, Abbey has attended summer intensives at Colorado Ballet and Colorado Conservatory of Dance. Besides dance, Abbey loves spending time with her family and friends.

Gabriella Mbagoyi is a 15-year-old junior honor student and member of the yearbook staff. This will be Gabriella’s sixth year dancing at Colorado Conservatory of Dance, and her fourth year participating in Studio Company. In “StuCo,” Gabriella has had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Dominic Walsh, Tilman O’Donnell, Cameron Terry, and Robert Mills. At CCD, Gabriella has participated in six productions of The Nutcracker; dancing roles including Clara, Spanish, Mirliton, Angel, and Snow. In 2022, she had the opportunity to attend Kansas City Ballet School’s summer intensive program with a merit scholarship. Outside of school and dance, Gabriella likes to spend her time reading and drawing.

Franziska (Siska) Nagle is a 15-year-old homeschool student. She has been dancing at Colorado Conservatory of Dance (CCD) for 11 years, and this is her third year in Studio Company. She has performed in six productions of CCD’s The Nutcracker, dancing the roles of Chinese Corps, Soldier, Angel, Sheep, Snowflake, and Flower. In 2021, Siska had the opportunity to perform in Studio Company’s Pivot, working with choreographers Dominic Walsh, Cameron Terry, Caili Quan, and Tilman O’Donnell. She has also performed in Studio Company’s anti-bullying ballets My Secret Bully and Crayon Box. She was able to perform in Dominic Walsh’s Cinderella & the Evil Stepmother in spring 2022. Siska has really enjoyed her years in Studio Company and has learned so much from her fellow dancers, the CCD staff, and the exquisite guest choreographers. In her spare time Siska loves to read, write, and bake treats.

Taylor Portillo is a 16-year-old sophomore. She loves school, especially the friend part, and highly enjoys going to study dance in the evenings. Taylor has been dancing for nine years, six of which have been spent at Colorado Conservatory of Dance. Before dancing at CCD, Taylor attended Westminster Dance Company where she competed up to three times a year. CCD has opened up so many opportunities for her, and she absolutely loves their wide variety of classes and performances. Taylor is a part of CCD’s Studio Company, and is loving it! She has performed in the Studio Company’s anti-bullying ballet, My Secret Bully, in which she performed the role of Katie, and has also performed in Crayon Box, performing the role of Red Crayon. In addition, Taylor has performed in CCD’s production of The Nutcracker for three years and has danced the roles of Dragonfly, Mouse, Snow, Flower, Columbine Doll, Mirliton, and Clara. Taylor has been privileged to work with choreographers including Maree ReMalia, Dominic Walsh, David

Barbour, and Julia Wilkinson Manley. She has attended CCD’s Advanced Summer Intensive for five years. In her freetime, you can find Taylor playing the violin (she has been playing for five years), hanging out with her friends, drinking lots of coffee, and spending time with her family and dogs. Taylor is looking forward to a lifetime of dancing and is amazingly grateful for the opportunities she’s had.

Sarah Wilson is 16-years-old. Currently, she is in her fifth year of dance at Colorado Conservatory of Dance. She is in her junior year with a 4.0 GPA. This is her first year in the Studio Company. Sarah has been in three productions of The Nutcracker with CCD in the roles of Mouse, Sheep, Party Boy, Lead Angel, and Chinese Corps. She was also a Snowflake in Dominic Walsh’s Cinderella.

Antonio Houck, Guest Dancer, began dancing at the age of 9 at Colorado Conservatory of Dance, then kn own as Ballet Nouveau Colorado. He had his first Nutcracker and Studio Company performance, Prince Igor, at the age of 13. Since then he has danced at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Indiana University Ballet Theatre, where he has performed in works by George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, Sasha Janes, Twyla Tharp, Mark Morris, Jerome Robbins and Martha Graham. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the mountains and his cat, Lyra.