Alicia Bravo-Nunez
Co-Owner/Director/Instructor Alicia Bravo has over 20 years of training in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, acro, lyrical, and contemporary. Alicia attended Arizona School for the Arts for 4 years where she trained at Ballet Arizona focusing on ballet, pointe and modern classes. She danced on Elite competitive teams for nine years where she has won numerous dance awards and scholarships. She has traveled the US taking classes at various professional companies such as The Edge in LA, and Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Alicia has choreographed and directed various projects for the Agua Fria High School Dance and Drama department in 2012 and 2013. She graduated Rocky Mountain College with Honors and a degree in Physical Education and Health, minoring in Business Management. She also received her Child Development Associate Credential. She performed with Terpsichore Modern Dance Company in Billings, Montana for 2 years. In 2014 to 2016 she was a dancer for the Indoor Football League’s Billings Wolves. Alicia has taught and judged for various dance studios, gyms, and high schools in Montana and Arizona since 2013. She is module 1 certified through acrobatic arts and loves to teach various styles of dance. Alicia’s creativity and love for dance has sparked an eagerness to inspire young dancers everywhere. |
Leticia Clamor
Co-Owner/Director/Instructor Leticia has studied at different studios in the West Valley since a very young age. Leticia discovered her love for the creative art of choreography as a young teenager. She took serious roles of leadership in both her performance lines and pom squad. During college, Leticia was a member of the Moving Company at Scottsdale Community College, Glendale Community college Dance Company, as well as Grand Canyon University’s dance Company. She believes that ongoing dance education is of the utmost importance to her teaching. Leticia's choreography is recognized throughout the valley. She has taught various classes to students all around the west valley. She believes that the arts enrich the life of dancers and families in addition to building the community through cultural awareness. Leticia hopes to be a catalyst for young people that are in search of finding joy in the art of dance. Leticia strives to deliver the highest quality of dance training, while nurturing each student’s unique gift of talent and creativity. Leticia encourages all dancers to achieve their fullest potential. |
Anastacia Robb
Co-Owner/ Office Manager Anastacia grew up dancing in the West Valley. She graduated high school with a full ride scholarship for ROTC to attend ASU. During the day she works for Arizona Department of Education. She helps all of our dance families with registration, policies, and procedures! |
Michael Clamor
Office Staff Michael fell in love with dance when he fell in love with his wife, Ms. Leticia. They met in their high school step class. By day, Michael is the store manager for Ross and by night he helps runt the desk and take his boys to soccer practice. |
Araceli Alvarado
Office Staff Araceli spent many years working as a teacher in Early Childhood Preschool classrooms. She has 2 children and excited to be in the world of dance! |
Valerie Moore-Colvert
Instructor Valerie's first word as a child was "go" and she has been going ever since. She received her Bachelor's in Dance Performance and Psychology at Ball State University. She also had a global dance career performing in Japan, England, Ghana, and throughout the United States. Valerie made Chicago her home for 15 years where she co-founded Rebound Dance, a not for profit production company, and was resident choreographer for two musical theater companies. She taught ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, and modern at various school in Chicago and her hometown studio in Michigan. In 2009, Valerie fell in love with classical Pilates and received her comprehensive certification. In 2019, Valerie received Pilates Method Alliance certificate, a true honor. Valerie believes anyone and everyone can learn how to dance! And dance class does not just teach dance- hard work, leadership, dedication, creativity, the list goes on and on. Ms. Valerie then moved to Arizona and met the Bravo ladies right away. They bonded immediately and Valerie has always been part of the family. |
Niamey Thomas
Instructor Niamey Thomas is a Creative, Educator and Storyteller. Graduate of Arizona State University (ASU) with a BA in Communication, Minor in Dance and Certificate in Brazilian Studies. With her strong faith background and love for the community she graduated from Elevate International Antioch Discipleship and Arts program in 2017 where she learned how to be a disciple implementing projects and initiatives to enrich the community through Art. A graduate from AmeriCorps Public Ally program in 2018 where she continued to strengthen community efforts and engagement. Niamey has been dancing for eighteen years; she has been a member of the WNBA Phoenix Mercury Hip-Hop Squad, Anomalous dance crew, Arizona Raw Talent and many more. She has performed all around the valley, Chicago, Atlanta to name a few cities and has trained with amazing world-renowned choreographers. She has taught many dance residencies in Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe. Creator of Artists’ for Change an artist’s development program that focuses on community arts advocacy and networking. With the goal of infusing community and self-awareness by using arts. Currently Niamey is on a new journey of being Adjunct Faculty at Grand Canyon University (GCU). She is the CEO and Founder of A Young Realist (LYR), which focuses on providing art that questions the status quo through storytelling. LYR focuses on providing education, knowledge and resources for communities of color. Niamey has curated “The Show”, Artists for Change VOL 1, 2, & 3, and host #LYRillestsessions. Niamey has hosted/MC many events within the community and is a dynamic Speaker, Teacher, and Facilitator. She is an Artist and writer for “The I Am Root Co.” (A collective of artists), a Youth Dance Director at Prayer Assembly COGIC. |
Grant Torino
Instructor Grant Torino has been dancing for 18 years and has taught for 8yrs. His love for dance started by watching his older cousins get down with various street styles from break dancing, popping and house. In high school he was introduced to more choreography. From there he began performing and competing with teams such as: Future Shock San Jose, The Company and The Tribe Crew. He has performed and competed in events such as Body Rock, Prelude, World of Dance, Bridge, Complex and Hip Hop Nutcracker. Grant Torino was born and raised in San Jose, Ca. He is currently enlisted in the Air Force and is stationed here at Luke AFB. Prior to joining the Air Force and making his way out to Arizona, he was a man with many hats. He was a massage & sports therapist and youth boxing coach at UFC Gym San Jose. He was a dance teacher and director for the hip hop program at DAU in Cupertino, Ca. Upon arriving and a year later he picked up where he left off with dance and coaching at his new homes here at Bravo Dance Studio and Knockout Fitness. |
Monica Bravo
Instructor Monica Bravo has been teaching Preschool Dance Classes for over 20 years. She started her dance career as a professional dancer for Ballet Folklorico Azteca in Phoenix, AZ. When her children were very young, she started her Early Childhood Education career where she focused on Music and Movement and Creative Dance. Monica served her community with Head Start and Early Headstart for over 10 years. She is an early childhood expert who has shared her passion for young children in a variety of environments including High School programs, elementary schools and Girl Scout camps. Monica currently is our Toddler and Me instructor. She has 10 grandkids and enjoys bringing her knowledge of child development to our toddler program! |
Mattie Thielke
Instructor Mattie has been dancing for 18 years and teaching for over 7 years. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, she grew her skills and talent in both the competitive and collegiate dance world. After attending many workshops and intensives at colleges across Colorado, she knew she wanted to study the art at a higher level. This eventually brought her down to pursue her passion in college at Grand Canyon University. After a few years learning at the collegiate level, she decided to pursue her other passion of writing in order to turn that into a career. Although she is working as a writer professionally, she still makes time for dance. Bringing together all sides of her creative talent and sharing that with students has been her greatest passion of hers for many years. Mattie has training in a variety of styles, most notably jazz, lyrical, ballet, tap, modern, hip hop, contemporary and pointe. She hopes to inspire the next generation of students to always keep dancing. Dance has an ability to create light and love with every movement. That feeling carries over into all parts of life, making grey skies blue again and making the world magical. Sharing that feeling and preparing dancers with exceptional technique allows students to thrive. She is excited to create a safe environment to help foster learning and connect with students at Bravo Dance Family. |
Gabby Barragan
Instructor Gabby works as a teacher assistant for preschool at Countryside Elementary. She has been dancing for 17 years and currently pursuing the Wight Noise adult dance company. She also is on her 3rd season with IFL's Arizona Rattlers as a Sidewinder dancer. She is excited to teach this year! |
Alexis Tarpley
Instructor Alexis is from Avondale, Az. She is currently a teacher aide at an elementary school and works with the preschoolers through 5th. She has been dancing since she was 5years old at local studios and later continued through her high school career. She could not see herself pursuing anything other than dance. She loves competitions and conventions. She is a dance major at Grand Canyon University and attends many dance events and drop-in classes! |
Leticia Fierro
Instructor/Substitute Leticia Fierro has been a dancer her whole life. She began her formal training at the age of five studying at Ballet Arizona and continuing at Arizona Youth Ballet. In addition to ballet she has studied and competed in many styles throughout the years including jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and ballroom. As an adult Leticia has continued her dance training through various classes and clubs in university and has begun pursing a teaching certification in ballet from the Royal Academy of Dance. Leticia believes that a dance class should be a space where everyone feels welcomed and encouraged to be the best dancer they can. She feels that what we can learn in a dance class goes beyond the art of dance itself and enriches the lives of dancers Leticia strives to share her love for dance with her students and desires to instill confidence in dancers to reach their full capacity. |
Velaine Jolle
Substitute/Choreographer Native of Arizona, Velaine Jollé has been a lover of the world of dance for as long as she can remember. She began her dance training at the age of 3 at On Stage Dance Academy under the guidance of Rose Trioani and the inspiring, Michaela Romero. Velaine broadened her scope with tumbling, cheerleading, wrestling and bodybuilding throughout her teens and early 20’s. She studied and danced more at G.C.C. with the Physical Graffiti Co. and the greatness of Lenna DeMarco. She’s traveled and performed throughout the nation with many dance companies and entertainment corporations like Nebellen, Twilight Productions, and Dance Fx for over a decade. This gave her the exposure and knowledge of more urban styles like hip hop and all the genres within it. With over 30 years of teaching, performing and sharing her passion of dance with others, she has been awarded both regional and national choreography, overall high placings and judge’s awards throughout the competitive dance circuit as well as, directed over a decade of productions with a cast of 150 plus amazing students. Many of her students have gone on to dance professionally either on stage or in the studio. Velaine's certification with Acrobatic Arts keeps her strong, knowledgeable, and on trend with her favorite genres to teach: acrobatic tumbling and technical dance skills. She equally enjoys creating and training in lyrical, jazz, contemporary, and foundational hip hop styling. She is extremely grateful to be able to be an artist of dance and excited to work with the next generation of artists and dancers! |