Dance Faculty
Meet Our Faculty
Our teachers are specially selected and trained to safely bring out the best in each child. When recruiting staff members, we find that the technical knowledge of dance and teaching methods can be taught, but we cannot train someone to genuinely love working with children.
Although almost all of our teachers have personal gymnastics and dance experience, when we’re hiring staff we look for people with a sincere enjoyment of children, a high energy level, and a love of movement and athletics.
Our dance faculty is the most well rounded and caring faculty around. Our teachers are passionate about dance education and offering our students the opportunity to develop a life long love of dance. Our teachers are educated in child development and they are passionate about offering a healthy culture and learning atmosphere for their dancers, from our youngest Dancing Bees to our Pre-Professional students. Our faculty have put together a dance education curriculum that breaks down technique into intentional and manageable chunks that are age appropriate, fulfilling, FUN and progressive at each level. Our lead faculty have extensive professional careers along with a robust dance education. They have mentored a community of students who have grown up at Airborne and are pursuing their own professional careers in dance.
Faculty Leaders
Company Director
Drew Heflin
Drew Heflin, a Frederick, Maryland native, earned a BFA in Dance Performance from Towson University and launched his career performing at theme parks and on Holland America Line cruises worldwide. He danced six seasons with the Rockettes in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and toured nationally with Twyla Tharp’s Movin’ Out. On Broadway, Drew achieved his dream performing in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark as Assistant Dance Captain. Now a judge and teacher with Intrigue Dance Convention, he inspires dancers to explore creativity while enjoying time with his wife, kids, and outdoor pursuits. Drew’s choreography has earned multiple regional and national awards.
Maggie Foster
Maggie Foster, based in Boulder, CO, is a contemporary choreographer and dance educator with a BFA in contemporary dance performance from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Originally from Westchester, NY, she trained with renowned institutions like LINES Ballet, The Ailey School, and Boston Ballet. Her choreography has earned top placements at YAGP Regionals and Groove Nationals, and her work has been showcased by The Boston Conservatory and Avante Garde Denver. Maggie teaches at Airborne Dance Company, where she fosters healthy, creative, and strong artists, while also running her own massage therapy business.
Karolina Blonski-Heflin
Karolina, originally from Poland and raised in Calgary, Canada, has an impressive dance career spanning Broadway, international tours, and Disney. She performed in An American in Paris, West Side Story, and Movin’ Out, as well as 7 seasons with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. A certified ABT® teacher, Karolina also judges for Intrigue Dance Convention and has choreographed award-winning pieces, earning numerous accolades regionally and nationally. She is a proud mom of two, wife to fellow dancer Drew, and is passionate about inspiring young artists to dream big, dance big, and never stop learning!
Alberta Shulman
Alberta Shulman, a Colorado-based dancer, teacher, and performer, discovered her passion for dance at age seven in Maryland. Trained in diverse styles, she pursued a BFA in dance, studying at The University of the Arts and The University of Colorado Boulder, where she explored somatic techniques and performed in numerous productions. As Dance Director of Airborne Dance in Longmont, Colorado, Alberta revitalized the program and founded the Airborne Dance Company, earning numerous awards for her choreography. Dedicated to fostering safe, inspiring spaces, she passionately helps students explore and grow as dancers and artists.
Teachers
Riley Holcomb
Riley loves dance because she believes movement can tell stories that words can’t express. Her favorite dance teacher moment is when one of her students told her they want to be a dance teacher when they grow up. When Riley is not dancing herself or teaching dance, she enjoys drawing and crocheting.
Madi Haynie
Madi loves to dance because she loves the way she feels when she performs. Her favorite memory from teaching is watching her students’ faces light up with joy when dancing in the Winter Showcase. In her free time Madi enjoys cheering with her varsity cheer team, participating in her school musical theatre program and she loves reading!
Lily Hensley
Lily loves to dance because she can explore her creativity and express her emotions through movement. Her favorite memory from dance is traveling to Nationals with the Airborne Dance Company where she learned a lot and spent time with her dance people. When she is not dancing, Lily enjoys both running and hiking.
Hannah Lechman
Hannah loves to because it provides her with a creative outlet that helps her feel like herself. Her favorite teaching moment was attending her first recital dress rehearsal (as a teacher) and watching her students practice and find joy on the stage. Outside of dance Hannah’s favorite hobby is reading.
Mason Luedtke
Mason feels like dancing is a part of his soul. It is his happy place and he feels most connected to himself while expressing his creativity through dancing. His favorite dance memory is dancing on stage at Nationals with his company mates. In his time away from the studio Mason enjoys painting and playing video games.
Keira Saban
Keira loves dance because it gives her an outlet to express herself and push her body to new limits in order to tell a story and produce thought provoking art and movement. Watching her students progress in their movement patterns and development and witnessing their excitement when a skill they’ve been working on “clicks” is what drives her to teach. When she is not in the studio dancing or teaching, Keira loves to ski, bake and do yoga.
Eva Smathers
Eva loves to dance because it gives her a space to express her creativity through physical movement and connecting to music. Dancing and making memories with friends is an added bonus to her time spent in the studio. Her favorite memory is watching one of her students win the Airborne dancer of the year award. Guiding her improvement from week to week and seeing her student’s hard work come to fruition was a special moment for her that she will remember forever. Outside the studio you can find Eva skiing or socializing with friends.
Sydney Tow
Sydney loves dance because it is the best mix between artistry and athleticism. One of her favorite memories was spending late nights and early mornings with her team and life long friends she has made with her dance peers. When Sydney is not dancing or teaching in the studio she enjoys snowboarding