Meet the Board
Our Board of Directors is composed of community members with a strong commitment to promoting dance in Steamboat Springs and surrounding areas.
Staff
Lori Biagi
Executive Director
Lori moved to Steamboat Springs in 2001 and has been an active member of SDT since that time. She previously served on the Board as Vice President and headed the Grant Writing Committee when the organization branched out to include areas beyond the Annual Concert. She was born and raised in South Bend, IN and started dancing at age 3. She was captain of her high school’s dance squad, flag guard, taught tap and jazz at her local studio, and participated in musical theater throughout her childhood. Her love of dance took her to London after college where she studied at Pineapple Dance Studio. She also spent 4 years working as a volunteer coordinator for her University and developed a commitment to non-profit work at that time. Upon moving to Steamboat Springs, she immediately sought out SDT and jumped into performing, making life-long friendships that helped root her to the community. She brings a love of dance, passion for community, and non-profit work to this role and is looking forward to leading the organization into its future.
Board
Kat Goodhand
President
Board Member since 2023
Kat has been enamored with dance from her first recital, donning tap shoes, a red nose, and reindeer antlers. A spirit of adventure and a bit of serendipity landed her in Steamboat in 2011 for seasonal work, yet the beauty of the mountains and the special community swayed her to stay awhile and sow roots with her now husband, Jeff. Professionally, Kat has years of experience in hospitality operations and is currently serving as Business Development Director for a local property management company. She has supported the dance community as a dance instructor, Artistic Director for SDT’s annual performance, and Board Member. As Board President, Kat brings to Steamboat Dance Theatre a spirit of service, love of connecting with people, and a dedication to this amazing and unique community.
Jess LeBlanc
Vice-President
Board Member since 2020
Jessica grew up near Atlanta and began dancing at a young age. Ballet was her passion until high school when her focus shifted to team sports. After the completion of her Masters in Education in 2006, she traveled to India where she rekindled her love of dance. As part of her graduate work, she developed circle dances and various types of movement with children. Jessica continues to dance with children in her Montessori classroom. She also teaches Bitty Ballet at Elevation Dance Studio.
She started dancing in the Steamboat Dance Theater Annual Concert in 2016. Jessica was also a company dancer in the first year of the forty106 Dance Project. She looks forward to bringing these experiences, combined with her own love of dance to help bring more dance and movement to our community in the years to come.
Kelsey Harkins
Treasurer
Board Member since 2017
Kelsey has lived in Steamboat Springs since 2009, and it was only a year after moving here that she found Steamboat Dance Theatre. Throughout the last 10 years, Kelsey has been a member of Steamboat Dance Theatre as a dancer, a board member, and is currently serving as the Treasurer for the organization. SDT has been such an amazing way to stay connected to the local dance community for Kelsey, and over the years, she’s made wonderful friendships and connections within the program. Professionally, Kelsey is the Director of Marketing for Steamboat Sotheby’s International Realty. When she’s not hard at work, she enjoys spending plenty of time with friends, skiing, hiking, fishing, and camping with her husband, Chad, and their two dogs.
Stephanie Juneau
Secretary, Board Member Since 2020
Stephanie moved to Steamboat Springs in 2017 and became a member of the Steamboat Dance Theater in 2019. After performing in the SDT Annual Concert in 2020, she was inspired to join the Board of Directors. She loves the community created and cultivated by dance, and is proud to be a part of this thriving organization of talented individuals. With a degree in Economics from DePauw University, Stephanie is the Finance Controller for the City of Steamboat Springs.
Krista Colby
Board Member, Since 2011, Former Vice President 2012-2015
Krista grew up as an Air Force dependent and moved around quite a bit while she was growing up, including 2 years in Iceland and 8 months in Spain. She is originally from Lake Placid, NY but now considers Steamboat Springs her home. She has a Bachelor of Science from the University of West Florida in Sports Science. She has lived in Steamboat Springs now for 20 years, and loves everything this town has to offer. She is a Litigation Specialist/Paralegal at Eddington Law Firm, LLC. She is a member of Jasmir Bellydance Troupe and loves dancing, snowmobiling, hiking, skiing, camping, biking and traveling.
She loves being a member of the Steamboat Dance Theater and has have met some of the most intelligent, fun and creative people through this organization. Her closest friends were formed as a result of joining the dance community in Steamboat Springs. She did not grow up dancing, but got started by taking classes at Elevation Dance Studio and through Dance Works. She loves learning from the exceptionally talented teachers in this community and looks forward to the annual dance show every year as an opportunity to meet new people, from all facets of life, during the rehearsal process. She feels it is a privilege each Winter to be a part of something where you get to see the results of the many talented choreographers’ creativity and hard work come to life on stage!!
Jenn Simbre
Jenn Simbre was born and raised on the north shore of O’ahu, Hawai’i. She moved to Steamboat Springs in 2010, discovering Steamboat Dance Theatre in 2013 when a good friend of hers introduced her to this community. She loved this opportunity to share the culture of the islands and introduce dancers to hula. Since then, Jenn has participated as a dancer every year and choreographed several of those years. She has made strong connections through the dance theatre, in addition to finding her Steamboat ohana. Jenn decided to become a board member to continue supporting such a great program that allows community members a chance to learn something new or to keep dancing for fun! Jenn is also very passionate about supporting mental health in the community, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, supports students at Colorado Mountain College as a counselor, and has her own private practice.
Renee Fleischer
Renee is the owner and artistic director of Elevation Dance Studio now in its 14th consecutive season. She has been training in dance since the age of 3. She was a dance major at AZ State University, and received a scholarship at the Academy of Performing Arts in San Diego, CA after college. Renee began a professional career as a San Diego Charger girl from 1996-1998 before moving to Vail, CO in 1999 where she was a Denver Broncos Cheerleader until 2001 and traveled to Sydney, Australia to perform in the American Bowl with international recording artist Chris Isaak. As a United Spirit Association Advanced Jazz Dance Instructor, choreography credits include the Vail Valley Academy of Dance Company, The Dollhouse Revue, Dream Project, The Steamboat Dance Theatre, Elevation’s Nutcracker Productions, and 13 dance recitals.
Melanie More-Smith
Melanie is a Colorado native. She was raised in the Yampa Valley and is proud of her Steamboat heritage. She has always enjoyed watching the annual concert, and decided to start dancing in 2016, to show her children that even when something is intimidating, you can do anything you put your mind to. Though she has never studied dance, her level of kitchen dancing is pretty impressive! You will find her as the chaos coordinator (aka Office Manager) at Elevation Dance Studio where she loves seeing children follow their dancing dreams. She sees firsthand the impact of the scholarship program on a daily basis and decided to join the board to take her passion for dance to another level, and give back to the organization. She has established many friendships in SDT and is happy to be stepping up to help further the organization’s success. She is a wife and mother of 2 children, 5 goats, 12 chickens, 5 dogs and Franklin, the tortoise.
Jacki Brazill
Jacki was born and raised in central New Jersey. The proximity to New York City allowed her to experience the arts first-hand at a very young age, particularly developing a deep love of Broadway. Growing up, she was an enthusiastic participant in musical theatre productions, which is how she discovered her love of dance. She went to college in Philadelphia and moved to Steamboat in 2012.
Since joining Steamboat Dance Theatre in 2013, Jacki has continued to develop her dance skills and passion for performing. In her professional life, Jacki works in college admissions at Colorado Mountain College. She has received her Doctorate of Education from the University of Denver, Master of Science from Drexel University, and Bachelor of Arts from La Salle University. Jacki has two daughters who love dance and performing just as much as she does! They have served as an inspiration for her to get more involved in the SDT community. Jacki is thrilled to serve on the Board of such a vibrant organization full of amazing and talented people.
Jessica Whalen
Coming from Central Pennsylvania in her early twenties, Jessica landed in Steamboat in 2013 after graduating from South Hills School of Business & Technology, a small school just off of Penn State’s campus. Steamboat Dance Theatre came into Jessica’s life in 2015 where she quickly met a diverse, energetic group of people that became lifelong friends. In addition to SDT, she is committed to her professional career with The Paoli Group at Colorado Group Realty where marketing and graphic design are her strong suits. In her free time, Jessica enjoys a good happy hour with friends & colleagues, volleyball, wake surfing & snowboarding.
Alisha Repollo
Alisha moved to Steamboat Springs in 2000 with her family from the Hawaiian Islands. Growing up here she danced in the High School Dance Showcase, where her love for dance started. She found herself country dancing with friends and local peers at the Steamboat Stomp every Tuesday night.
Currently, you will find her working at Rumor Design a local interior design firm. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Colorado Mountain College. After dancing in the production off and on for 10 years and choreographing a country piece in the 2016 show, she is excited to be a part of the board!
Irene Alicot
Irene Alicot was born and raised in Miami, Florida, to Cuban parents. As most people who know her are aware, she is VERY proud of her Cuban heritage. She grew up dancing salsa, merengue, bachata, and a variety of other Latin dances informally at family gatherings. She dabbled in jazz and tap during her younger years before settling on cheerleading for the majority of her middle and high school career. Irene moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2004 to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. There she experimented with tango and became a part of the thriving dance community that exists there. She then moved to Steamboat in 2007 and started a job as a Spanish teacher at Steamboat Springs High School, where she has taught thousands of “eager” students ever since. She also met her husband, Garrett Branson, there, and the two of them comprise half of the Spanish department at the school. Irene and Garrett have two children who attend Strawberry Park Elementary, and yes, the kids DO speak Spanish. Irene has thoroughly enjoyed being a part of Steamboat Dance Theatre and is grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Board.
Pam Peretz
Pam was born in Los Angeles, California to parents who originated from Oahu, Hawaii. She is Chinese, Hawaiian, Japanese and Russian. Ever since her childhood, she has loved music, dance and drama. She plays flute, piano, some guitar and ukulele. She was in a hula troop during her high school years and often performed at parties and luaus. She also played Bloody Mary in the high school production of South Pacific. She worked for Mattel Toys for 25 years with 18 of those years on the iconic Barbie Brand before moving over to Hot Wheels and Nickelodeon.
After working days, nights, holidays and weekends for the past 13 years, she has finally Settled into a Monday through Friday position. This has provided her the time to Volunteer and take time to smell the roses. She is anxious to begin work as a new Board Member and hopes to bring some new and creative ideas to raise funds, recruit new members, increase financial development and maintain sustainability of the organization. She looks forward to a new adventure with the Steamboat Dance Theater and can’t wait to get to work. Let the show begin!