Location
471 Blue Prince Road
Bluefield, WV 24701
Gabrielle has received Teaching Certifications from Bolshoi Ballet (Moscow) and CLI Studios (US). She is also a Member of the International Dance Council CID at UNESCO, Paris. She has studied dance for 33 years, beginning with her mother - Lisa Colombo - at the age of two. Gabrielle has competed in many styles of dance - winning top awards at regional and national competitions - beginning at age five. She has been interviewed and featured on dance related television shows, studied with top professionals of the dance world, and competed all over the U.S. Gabrielle is the official spokesperson for Beauty of Dance, Music for Professional Dance Instruction, and creator of the custom costume label, VLNTNA Couture.
In addition to numerous Master Classes and Conventions, Gabrielle has also studied dance at BROADWAY DANCE CENTER (NYC), STEPS ON BROADWAY (NYC), MYRTLE BEACH SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS (SC), NORTH PHOENIX DANCE SCHOOL (AZ), BETTY JOHNSON SCHOOL OF DANCE (AZ), ACTION ARIZONA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (AZ), THE GREATER YORK CENTER FOR DANCE EDUCATION (PA).
Gabrielle is a Star Systems Solo Champion, Access Broadway REGIONAL & NATIONAL Triple Threat Award Winner, and has received over one thousand Regional and National Awards for dance, voice, and acting.
Gabrielle has won top awards for Choreography at Artists Simply Human, On Point, StarQuest, Bravo Talent, L.A. DanceForce, Hall of Fame Dance Challenge, Revolution Talent & Access Broadway. She was the recipient of the CAPEZIO/NEW TALENT GENERATION Dance Scholarship which allowed her to study at Steps on Broadway in New York.
Gabrielle has received performing arts scholarships from Access Broadway, L.A. Elite, & New Talent Generation. She was awarded the Grand Prize & Scholarship at Hollywood Vibe Regional Talent Competition in 2005, including a Team Hollywood Vibe Scholarship & Scholarship to study at Millennium Dance Complex (Los Angeles, CA).
Gabrielle’s Miss America Organization titles include Miss Princeton 2006 and Miss Southern West Virginia 2005. Gabrielle was 1st Runner Up to Miss West Virginia 2006. She received a Dance Scholarship at the 2006 state pageant, and was awarded the title of "West Virginia's Sweetheart", giving her the opportunity to compete at 2006 Miss America's National Sweetheart Pageant. Gabrielle was a Top 5 Finalist at the Miss West Virginia USA Pageant in 2007. In 2008, she won the title of Miss West Virginia International and advanced to the Miss International Pageant.
While living in Arizona, Gabrielle studied acting with Donna Pippin of Actor's Connection (Scottsdale, AZ). Gabrielle has studied with Casting Directors & Acting Coaches in Arizona, California & North Carolina, including Becka Korby, Jean Fowler, Bobby Clark, and others. Gabrielle began modeling at age 7 at the Jean Kennedy Modeling Studio. She continued modeling (on scholarship) at the Arizona School of Modeling (Scottsdale, AZ), and was a Top Finalist in the Great American Modeling & Talent Search in Los Angeles, CA at the age of nine. Gabrielle also attended the Manhattan Model Search Finals in Washington D.C. in 2001.
Gabrielle has been featured as a print model for Tucson Tourism (Tucson, AZ) and The Clay Place (Phoenix, AZ). She was also featured as a cover model twice for Prerogative Magazine in her hometown of Bluefield, WV. Gabrielle has been hired for commercials, dance videos, and magazine print work. She was represented by Action Talent of Tucson, until leaving AZ (Phyllis Boyd, Agent).
Gabrielle studied voice at Bluefield College (Bluefield, VA), where she is noted for her performance as Hodel in the musical, "Fiddler on the Roof". Gabrielle began studying voice at the age of 10 in Phoenix, AZ (Quicks Music), and continued with Dee Wilkins at Action Arizona Performing Arts Center while living in Pima, AZ.
Gabrielle was a Drug Free ALL STARS Program Facilitator at Bluefield Middle School, where she had the opportunity to work with 6th grade students. She was also the host of a television show in Charleston, WV.
Gabrielle has had the pleasure of serving as a Dance Pro, Choreographer, and Judge for WV United Way’s annual Dancing with the Stars event for 5 years, helping raise thousands of dollars for the local organization.
Gabrielle remains dedicated to her craft; researching, studying, and taking classes in many disciplines of dance. She resides on North Star Farm in Summers County, WV with her husband, Gabe, and their son, Jude Luka.
Heather has been teaching Gymnastics & Tumbling for 19 years. Her love of gymnastics began at the age of 14. She was a Cheerleader for her high school for 4 years and served as Team Captain her Senior year. During that time, she attended NCA & UCA Cheer Camps and Tumbling Clinics. Heather is USA Gymnastics Safety Certified and CPR Certified, making her a valuable asset to STARZ Faculty. She has also completed STARZ Performing Arts Academy's Teacher Training Seminar.
After high school, Heather became an EMT and studied Nursing. She currently maintains her Nursing License. It wasn't until after her daughter, Morgan, became interested in gymnastics that Heather returned to her roots. In 2003, she began coaching gymnasts at Gym Dandy's in Bluefield, VA. In 2004, Heather took over as Director of the Tumbling program at STARZ. During her time at STARZ, she began coaching the award-winning STARZ Acro Team.
Heather has had the opportunity to work with students from many local schools and organizations. She has choreographed competition pieces for Bluefield Middle School's Show Choir, Talent entries for pageants (as seen on Toddlers & Tiaras), and WV State Pageants.
Heather is proud to offer classes for all ages and skill levels at STARZ Performing Arts Academy, working with groups age 2 1/2-Adult, and offering Private Lessons for all. She enjoys working with her students at STARZ, alongside her daughter, Morgan Raskosky.
Madison Jackson began her dance career at the age of 10. While at STARZ, she has won numerous awards in regional competitions including several Platinum and Double Platinum awards, specialty awards, and has placed in multiple overall divisions. She is a founding member of the STARZ Apprentice program, and the STARZ Production and en Pointe companies. In 2018, she was accepted into the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School in NYC. In February of 2019, she was awarded the Grand Prize in Bella Moxi’s Emerging Artists Choreography Festival with her original work, “After a Dream” in Charlotte, NC. She was also awarded a $44,000 scholarship to study at the Institute for American Musical Theatre in their 2-year program in New York City. Maddi is a certified CLI Studios Instructor and former trainee, and a certified Cornell Nutritionist. She is also NRF Foundation certified in Advanced Customer Service and Sales. She has an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree from Southwest Community College, and is a Graham High School Alumni. In 2018, Maddi began traveling with Liberate Artists as an assistant. There, she assisted dance workshops in multiple cities for an entire season. In 2021, she was promoted to an Apprentice, where she assists at a higher level. In addition, she has recently been in concept videos filmed in North Carolina. During quarantine in 2020, she began taking singing lessons, guitar lessons, and music theory lessons. She also loves to write, cook, and learn as much as she can about anything she can! Her dream is to inspire the people she meets to be kind, be unique, and to chase their dreams relentlessly.
Morgan is a graduate of The Institute for American Musical Theatre. Her passion for dance began at the age of two. She has been training at STARZ for the past 16 years. Morgan was a member of the award-winning STARZ Competition Team from age 6 to 16. She was the youngest member of the original STARZ Acro Team and was also a member of STARZ Mini Lyrical Company, STARZ Models Club, STARZ Elite Company, STARZ en Pointe, and a founding member of the STARZ Apprentice Program.
Morgan recently auditioned for NYC's Institute of American Musical Theatre's 2 year program. Not only was she accepted, she was also awarded a $36,000.00 Scholarship to study at the performing arts school.
Morgan is an Acro Dance Adjudicator: Certified Founding Member of the Acro Dance Teacher's Association. She is also an Acrobatic Arts Certified Instructor. The Internationally recognized Acrobatic Arts Teacher Training & Certification Program is designed to teach dance educators how to safely & effectively instruct AcroDance in the dance studio. Morgan has also completed STARZ Performing Arts Academy's Teacher Training Seminar.
Morgan is a CLI Studios Certified Dance Instructor, and has also completed one full year of training as a CLI Studios Trainee. She is a Radix 2018 Cutting Edge Scholarship Recipient for Jazz & Contemporary, awarding her scholarships to study at DancerPalooza in CA & The Main Event in NYC. Morgan attended The Main Event in August 2018, giving her the opportunity to study with Brian Friedman, Mia Michaels, & Wade Robson. In addition, she has attended many workshops and conventions over the years including NYCDA, where she was most recently awarded a High Gold Achievement and the Outstanding Concept Award for her self-choreographed original Solo, "Moments Passed" .
Morgan has worked with many industry icons such as Tessandra Chavez, Tyce Diorio, Alex Wong, Emily Buffard, Valery Lantratov, and Fikshun, and continues her study of dance, acting, and voice at STARZ & through online courses with CLI Studios.
Morgan is a Brand Ambassador for JUST BE STRONG Activewear, an active lifestyle brand designed to empower & motivate women. Throughout her years of competition, she has earned many prestigious Awards & Overall rankings. Morgan has also been a competitive gymnast and cheerleader, and was invited to cheer in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC in 2016.
Morgan's most recent accomplishments include auditioning for and obtaining a spot in the Broadway Dance Center's AIM Invitational where she had the opportunity to perform on a Broadway stage for the first time. She also earned the Title Miss StarQuest 2017, and was named National Dance Champion of the ECAEDA. Morgan auditioned for and was accepted into the Joffrey Ballet School's summer jazz/contemporary program. She was also awarded acceptance into their prestigious four year Trainee Program.
Morgan studies all genres of dance and enjoys sharing her love of the arts with her students. She is First Aid and CPR certified. Morgan plans to continue her dance education with the goal of turning her passion for dance into a dream career.
Kyla is a first year student at The Institute for American Musical Theatre in NYC. She received a $60,000.00 Scholarship to study at the prestigious school. She has loved to sing and dance since a very young age. She started dance lessons at the age of three. From 6th through 11th grade she studied voice, ballet, lyrical, jazz, tap, pointe, musical theatre, acting, ballroom dancing and piano with Lisa Colombo at Lisa’s School of Music, Dance & Design (Summers County, WV). She then advanced to studying at STARZ – and has been a member of the STARZ Competition Team, STARZ en Pointe & STARZ Production Company since the spring of 2020.
Kyla attended the three week intensive BROADWAY BOOT CAMP at IAMT in New York City during the summer of 2021. She also attended JOFFREY BALLET SCHOOL'S PRE-PROFESSIONAL JAZZ & CONTEMPORARY INTENSIVE in NYC during summer of 2021.
Kyla placed second at HINTON’S GOT TALENT in 2018 (vocal & tap dance selection) and won the “PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD” at HINTON’S GOT TALENT in 2020. She was a guest performer at The United Way’s “DANCING WITH THE STARS” event in 2019, and also performed at “WONDERLAND OF TREES” (2019) – sponsored by The United Way.
Kyla has competed at Showstopper Dance Championships & Southeast Showdown Competition (2020/2021). She has also studied with Artists Simply Human in Greenville, SC.
Kyla has taken master classes at STARZ from guest artists - including Mark Sampson, Olivia Cece, Cassy Surianello, Victor Smalley & Tessa Hogge. She also attended Ballet Boot Camp at Beckley Dance Theatre School.
Kyla’s voice is heard in dance studios and recitals all around the world, as a featured vocalist for BEAUTY OF DANCE: MUSIC FOR PROFESSIONAL DANCE INSTRUCTION.
Kyla loves to share her knowledge of voice and dance with young students.