“I’d probably be staying home raising babies right now,” the twenty-year-old brunette dance teacher thoughtfully speculates. “If I hadn’t received that scholarship, there’s no way I would have been able to dance, and most of my peers from my neighborhood are married with kids now.” Growing up, Leilani Montoya always had an interest in the arts. The Commerce City native recalls how her mother was constantly crafting and her older sister often performed in theater productions. As a child, Leilani took a few dance classes at the local rec center but felt like they mostly just played around to music. However, one fateful day, Colorado Conservatory of Dance (CCD) waltzed into Leilani’s world, changing her perspective on dance and redirecting her entire life trajectory.
CCD, a local non-profit and conservatory, makes an incredible impact in the Broomfield community and its neighboring towns. Through unique endeavors like the Anti-bullying Ballet Program, Move2Learn Cultural Series, and After School Ballet Programs, CCD reaches people and populations who would otherwise have no exposure to dance. Leilani participated in one such program at her school when she was just seven years old. CCD brought a dance experience about bugs to the young girl’s elementary school, and she was enthralled. “They had us move to music in a way that I had never moved my body before. We crawled like ants and jumped like grasshoppers. I loved it!” The instructors of the program noticed Leilani's aptitude for dance, and offered her a scholarship to the conservatory. “I think there was actually a mix-up,” the poised, yet approachable young lady recalls. “They offered me a full scholarship for the dance program for my remaining seven years of schooling. I don’t think it was supposed to be that much, but after they offered it, they didn’t take it back.”
The happy miscommunication, and generous scholarship, gave Leilani access to all the dance classes she desired. Initially, Leilani attended classes three afternoons a week at CCD’s state-of-the-art facilities. When she got into middle school, her training increased to six days a week. “My parents were incredibly supportive, while still being realistic,” Leilani shares, “They somehow figured out carpooling to the studio and sacrificed a lot to keep me dancing. However, they also made sure I thought about my future and the likelihood of making a living out of dance.” Leilani loved her classes, but performing live really captured her heart and sealed her dedication to and passion for dance. “Stepping on stage with the lights, feeling the presence of the audience even though you can’t see them, then putting all your hard work and hours of practice out there… there’s nothing like it!”
Leilani performed her favorite role when she was only fourteen, in a ballet called, Spring Water, in a pas de deux (duet) en pointe with a male lead. “It was a ‘sexy’ dance with a lot of cool lifts,” Leilani laughs, “the connection with my partner was incredible, and working so hard with someone else to create something new became my new favorite kind of dance.” Leilani continues to value community creations and partner or group dance.
Though she began as a “bun-head” (ballet purist) thirteen years ago, Leilani has since branched out into jazz, modern, tap, and other dance forms. In fact, tap now features as one of her favorite classes to teach at CCD. Leilani loves helping children and adults progress from their initial plies in class to their first performances under the lights. “I can feel what they’re feeling as they step on the stage, and it makes me so excited for them and so proud!”
When asked if she’ll stay with CCD forever, Leilani replied, “I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. It is all I’ve invested in for the past 13 years. I’ve thought about exploring other interests, but I want to give one last push to dance for a professional company. I get to do what I love as a job with a community that loves what I love.” As with many impassioned artists, Leilani's love for her art spills out onto those whom she tutors. The young dancer clearly enjoys people, values connection, and gives back a hundredfold to a community that has given so much to her.
If I hadn’t received that scholarship, there’s no way I would have been able to dance...