Before moving to Colorado Springs, Patricia Hoffman was the founder and Director of La Jolla Festival Ballet and Dance Center in Southern California for 10 years. In 1997 Ms. Hoffman founded Colorado Ballet Society, formerly known as Ballet Society of Colorado Springs. Today she continues to teach ballet at several local dance schools as well as Pilates classes and private sessions. Ms. Hoffman began her studies in Monterey, California, with Patricia Wester. At age 16, she began studying full-time with England's Ballet Rambert. She received her MFA in classical ballet from U.S. International University where she also later joined the faculty. Ms. Hoffman performed principal roles created for her with Ballet International and San Diego Ballet. She also directed and taught in London, at the San Diego Ballet School, and at the USIU Conservatory of the Arts. Former students of Ms. Hoffman have gone on to dance with more than 30 professional companies, including world-renowned American Ballet Theatre, English National Ballet, Czech National Ballet, Ballet West, Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Washington Ballet. Additionally, students have been accepted into over 60 prestigious dance schools and trainee programs. Ms. Hoffman is Pilates certified and is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.

Amy Schaefer has 20 years of experience teaching ballet and dance to all ages. She is passionate that training dancers is a collaborative effort between faculty, students and their families and believes all dancers deserve to have the highest quality training. Ms. Schaefer grew up in Wichita, KS where she began dancing just before her 3rd birthday. Her early training included ballet, tap and jazz at the Kansas Dance Academy. As a competitive dancer she was awarded several scholarships, including one to study in Los Angeles with the EDGE Performing Arts Center, and twice awarded Top All American from the National Dance Alliance. In high school Ms. Schaefer left competitive dance and began studying classical ballet intensively with Ms. Sharon Rogers at Rogers Ballet, Inc. Relearning ballet technique as an older student was challenging both physically and emotionally. The experience not only gave her the gift of perseverance but also a deep appreciation for the difference quality training can make. As a senior in high school, she was accepted into the classical ballet apprenticeship program at Friends University to begin her collegiate ballet studies early. Ms. Schaefer later graduated from Friends University with a B.F.A. in Ballet. During her time at Friends, she was honored to have roles created for her by Dominic Walsh, formerly with Houston Ballet and Dominic Walsh Dance Theatre, and Shawn Stevens, formerly with New York City Ballet. In addition to performing many original works, she was a soloist in The Nutcracker, Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, and performed the principal role in Les Sylphides. She also taught evening classes for children and adults. After graduation, she began her professional ballet career with Wichita Ballet Theatre and was an adjunct professor at Friends University teaching tap and ballet for Music Theater. In 2009, Ms. Schaefer joined Ballet Emmanuel, a full-time Christian ballet company based in Colorado Springs. With the company she helped choreographed full length ballets, taught master classes and workshops, and performed nationwide. In 2012, Ms. Schaefer shifted her focus from performing to teaching and has been pursuing excellence in dance education ever since. She is certified in the Vaganova method of Pre-Ballet through the Bolshoi Ballet Academy and is currently training in Level 1. She is also an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Amy has a special passion for dancers with additional needs and is also training to become a Recreation Inclusion Specialist with the National Inclusion Project. Ms. Schaefer’s students have gone on to dance with many companies, full-time pre-professional schools, and collegiate programs such as Boulder Ballet, Ballet Magnificat!, Oregon Ballet Theatre, School of American Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts, Butler University and more. In 2025, she was a presenter at the Colorado Dance Education Organization annual conference. Amy and her husband, Jared, have been married for 17 years and have four beautiful children. She is a homeschooling mom and enjoys sharing her love of dance with her family.

Gabby Zietlow is an accomplished and passionate teaching artist with over 13 years of experience guiding young performers in dance, musical theatre, and stage performance. With a strong foundation in ballet, pointe, acting, voice, and movement, Gabby creates a high-energy, supportive environment where students develop confidence, creativity, and stage presence. She believes every student has a unique story to tell and works to nurture their individual talents, encouraging artistic risk-taking and authentic self-expression. Gabby studied both Dance and Nursing in college, which gives her a uniquely holistic approach to her teaching. She integrates her nursing knowledge to promote student well-being through injury prevention, nutrition, and stress management, fostering resilient and healthy artists both on and off stage. Her evidence-based strategies help students build physical strength and mental resilience, teaching them how to listen to their bodies and maintain balance throughout their artistic journey. With professional performance experience at Walt Disney World, Gabby gained firsthand insight into the demands and high standards of elite entertainment. She also has directing experience, which complements her teaching by enriching her understanding of stagecraft and performer development. Gabby has taught and coached in studios and educational programs across Colorado, Philadelphia, and Orlando, cultivating safe and inspiring spaces where students of all levels can flourish. Gabby’s teaching style blends rigorous technical training with imaginative expression and personalized coaching. She offers comprehensive instruction in acting, voice, dance technique, and musical theatre skills, while emphasizing creativity, storytelling, and emotional connection. Her approach empowers every student to build a strong foundation, find their unique voice, and shine with confidence on stage and beyond. Beyond technique, Gabby is deeply committed to mentoring students as whole individuals—encouraging growth in self-confidence, discipline, teamwork, and resilience. She believes the performing arts offer powerful tools for personal development and strives to inspire her students to carry those lessons into every aspect of their lives. When she’s not helping students chase their dreams on stage, Gabby works as a nurse—cheering people on toward health and healing in every space she steps into.

Laci Landry, originally from Michigan, started dancing at age 6. She began focusing on her classical and modern training when she transferred to the Flint School of Performing Arts in 2000. Under the direction of Karen Mills Jennings, she performed lead roles in notable contemporary and classical ballets, including The Firebird, The Nutcracker, and works by Darrell Grand Moultrie. She further honed her skills and gained national and international touring experience with the Flint Youth Ballet, the school's pre-professional company. After high school, Laci pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in ballet and modern performance at SUNY Purchase's dance conservatory in New York. Her collegiate performances included George Balanchine's Four Temperaments, and she also engaged in freelance work with Lane Gifford & Co. In 2008, Ms. Landry relocated to Colorado Springs, joining Ballet Emmanuel, a professional Christian ballet company, where she performed, toured, and taught for five years. Laci developed her teaching proficiency under the guidance and leadership of Patricia Hoffman from 2009 to 2024. In 2024, Laci stepped away from teaching to pursue a new calling as the Kids Director at Trace Church. She is thrilled to be back in the studio working with Cultivate to develop students.