The PEAK School of Dance

The PEAK School of Dance is located on the west side of Colorado Springs near Garden of the Gods. Founded in 2015 by Kelsey Burke, the studio has grown into a community fixture, winning The Gazette's Best Dance Studio for Kids in 2019 and 2020.

The studio teaches ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre, acro and tumbling for dancers ages 2 through 18. The TIPTOE Tots Preschool Dance Program (ages 2–5) was created by Director Kelsey Burke and combines tap, ballet, jazz and tumbling with props and monthly themes. For slightly older beginners, the Pre Level classes (ages 5–7) include Tutu Crew Ballet, Rhythm Rockers Tap, Sparkle Squad Jazz/Lyrical, Groove Gang Hip Hop, and Tiny Tumblers Acro. Beyond that, numbered Level 1–5 classes in each style allow dancers to progress at a steady pace. The studio also runs PEAKCO, a competitive performing company, and PEAKCO Spotlight for advancing dancers.

Kelsey Burke, owner and director, trained extensively in multiple styles and is an award winner for ballet and jazz competitions within Colorado. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a minor in Business from the University of Arizona, where her choreography was showcased in the Arizona Jazz Dance Showcase and she received the Maria C. Mandel Memorial Scholarship for excellence in ballet. After university she performed with Ballet Austin and taught and choreographed at studios in Texas and California, where she created curriculum for Tiffany's renown Twinkle Star Dance classes.

The teaching faculty includes Dana Westfall, who trained at Houston Ballet, Ballet West, City Ballet of San Diego, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and performed with Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre before joining Boston Ballet School's faculty. Lindsey Kellen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Lindenwood University and has been teaching in the Colorado Springs area since 2017; she is also dance and theatre director for an arts-integrated elementary school in Colorado Springs School District 11 and has been a board member of the Colorado Dance Education Organization since 2018. Brittany Hail brings over 30 years of training across ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, lyrical, African, tap, swing, hip hop, belly, hula, acrobatics, musical theatre and acting, with 8 years of aerial hammock and lyra training and certification as an Aerial Hammock and Lyra instructor; she has 23 years of teaching and choreographing experience. Lauren Owens, instructor and administrative assistant, began dance training at age 5 and competed on her local studio's competition team, training in ballet, jazz, lyrical/contemporary, tap and hiphop.

The studio is built with quality craftsmanship by Aaron Burke, the co-owner and a retired executive chef who now runs Burke Handyman Services. The studio offers a free trial week for new students. Beyond regular classes, the studio hosts summer camps, workshops, events and performances.

You can book a free trial week to experience a class at the studio. Classes range from the playful, music-driven TIPTOE Tots programme for the youngest dancers to structured Level 1–5 training for older students across all styles.

Kelsey Burke is the owner, director and founder, trained at Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, Ballet Austin and River North Dance Chicago, with a BFA in Dance from the University of Arizona. Faculty includes Dana Westfall (trained at Houston Ballet, Ballet West, and Hubbard Street; former Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre performer and Boston Ballet School faculty member), Lindsey Kellen (BFA from Lindenwood University, teaching since 2017 and dance/theatre director for an arts-integrated elementary school), Brittany Hail (30+ years of training across ten styles, certified aerial hammock and lyra instructor with 23 years of teaching experience), and Lauren Owens (competition-trained dancer and administrative assistant).

The studio offers free trial weeks and teaches all ages from 2 upwards, with Pre Level classes designed for younger beginners.