Location
471 Blue Prince Road
Bluefield, WV 24701
Gabrielle is a Member of the International Dance Council CID at UNESCO, Paris, as well as a CLI Studios Certified Instructor. She has studied dance for 31 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 Star Systems Dance Competition’s 2007 Solo Champion, as well as Access Broadway’s 2004 NATIONAL Triple Threat Award Winner, and Regional 2005 Triple Threat Award Winner (also receiving the TOP Acting and TOP Vocal score). She has received over one thousand Regional and National Awards for dance, voice, and acting.
Gabrielle has won top awards for Choreography at 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, AZ until leaving Arizona (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. The ALL STARS Program promotes self-esteem & positive choices, while delaying the onset of negative behaviors in our nation's youth. Gabrielle also hosted a television show in Charleston, WV in 2006.
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 4 years, raising 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 the Massie Farm in Summers County, WV with her husband, Gabe, and their son, Jude Luka.
Heather has been teaching Gymnastics & Tumbling for 17 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 for the 2019-2020 season.
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 (Maddi) Jackson began her dance career at the age of 10 with STARZ Performing Arts Academy. After only one year of dance classes, she was invited to join STARZ Competition Team. She quickly advanced and was invited to be a member of STARZ Elite Company in her third year on the Competition Team. Maddi has won numerous awards in Regional competitions including several Platinum awards, specialty awards, and has placed in multiple overall divisions. Maddi was a member of the STARZ Elite Company that won the first Double Platinum award for STARZ Performing Arts Academy. She is also a founding member STARZ Apprentice Program, STARZ Production Company and STARZ en Pointe Company.
In February of 2019 in Charlotte, NC, Maddi was awarded the Grand Prize in Bella Moxi's Emerging Artists Choreography Festival with her original work, "After a Dream". In addition to an exclusive interview with Dance Informa, Maddi's work will be considered by Peridance, where they will select one overall winner that will come and perform their piece at the Peridance Gala in NYC later this year.
Maddi recently auditioned for NYC's Institute for American Musical Theatre's 2 year program. Not only was she accepted, she was awarded a $44,000.00 Scholarship, covering 75% of her higher education with IAMT.
Maddi has completed one full year as a CLI Studios Trainee, giving her the opportunity to work closely with her Mentor, Teddy Forance, and CLI Studios 100+ Choreographers through a curriculum tailored to her individual areas of focus. The Trainee Program is one of the many ways that CLI Studios is helping STARZ Students & Faculty bridge the gap between pre-professional training and a career in the performing arts industry.
In August of 2018, Maddi was named a Liberate Artists Dance Captain after studying with Liberate Artists on Scholarship in NYC. She was promoted from Dance Captain to Apprentice in only one year. She currently tours with the company, having the opportunity to Assist their Faculty at Conventions worldwide. Liberate Artists Faculty members currently include Mollee Gray, Kent Boyd, Comfort, & Lauren Froderman, to name a few.
In Spring of 2018, Maddi 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 in NYC.
Maddi has attended many dance workshops, taught by some of the top dancers and choreographers in the business. She is the 2020 recipient of the Bella Moxi Pro-level Scholarship, giving her the opportunity to attend Bella Moxi's Nationals event in NYC this Summer. Maddi was awarded a scholarship to study at ASH (Artists Simply Human) in Greenville, SC, where she had the opportunity to learn from world-renowned instructors such as Tokyo, Judy Rice, Braham Logan Crane, DJ Smart, and Hannah Wintrode. She has also studied with dance greats Valery Lantratov, Mary Ann Lamb, Dena Rizzo, & Dusty Button.
Morgan's 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 will begin her journey at IAMT this Fall.
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 for the 2019-2020 season.
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'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.
Arissa is a CLI Studios Certified Instructor, specializing in Elementary Dance Education. She began dancing with STARZ at the age of 3. Arissa started performing as a member of STARZ Kidz, and continued to Rising Starz (Mini Competition Team). She first became a competitive dancer at the age of 6, under the direction of Lisa Colombo. She was a member of the current STARZ Competition Team for 4 years, and was a part of 2018's undefeated STARZ Production Company. Arissa has always enjoyed traveling to Dance Conventions, competing with her teammates, now, as a teacher. In her travels, she has had the opportunity to study with greats like Broadway Legend Mary Ann Lamb, Ballet Phenom Dusty Button, and former Radio City Rockette Trina Simon. Arissa has completed STARZ Performing Arts Academy's Teacher Training Seminar for the 2019-2020 season. Her favorite dance styles include Musical Theatre and Tap. She was a STARZ Models Club Model for many years, and has always enjoyed being a part of the STARZ Family. As a STARZ Tutu Academy Instructor, she loves sharing her passion for dance with the youngest of our Shining STARZ.
Coming Soon!