April Garner-Hoose, BFA, Artistic Director (Jazz, Leaps & Turns, Tumbling, Lyrical & Ballet)

April Garner-Hoose (BFA) is the driving force behind Dance Force-1. Her passion for dance is visible through her innovative teaching styles and motivating classroom atmosphere. In addition, her high-energy classes incorporate theatrical elements to teach the importance of emotion in dance and stage presence.

April began dancing at the age of 5 in Connecticut. She was accepted in to the Greater Hartford Academy of Performing Art High School where she studied Jazz, Ballet, Tap, African and West Indian dance. While in high school, April was invited twice to perform for the Lord Mayor of Westminster in England. She furthered her dance education at Grossmont College and the University of Arizona receiving a BFA cum laude in Dance. Her comprehensive dance background includes working for Disney, Six Flags, and USA's television show Silk Stalkings. She has had the opportunity to train with renowned choreographers: Frank Hatchett, Luigi, Joe Tremaine, Gus Giordano, Laura Fremont, Mia Michaels and Mandy Moore, just to name a few.

April's true love is teaching children. She has been teaching the art of dance for almost 20 years throughout Connecticut, San Diego, and Tucson. Her students and choreography have won numerous national dance awards, including Overall Top Studio, Top Group, Top Duo/Trio, Top Soloist. She has also received awards for Overall Excellence in Jazz choreography and recently received the prestigious Teacher of the Year award.　In addition to teaching, April enjoys taking classes at the EDGE Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, California.　She believes it is important to keep up with the latest trends and dance styles. Dance Force-1 is a lifelong dream come true for April and she looks forward to developing the potential of each dancer and their love for dance, but most importantly, adding smiles to faces and passion to hearts.

Ginny Murphy

As a teenager Ginny wrote a letter applying for a position at Apple USA Ltd. I had the incredible task of answering the Beatles fan mail for the state of New York. A dream come true but hard work, no pay and lots of hours spent handwriting answers to fan mail. The experience, inspired her to pursue a “behind the scenes” career in entertainment. In college she received a Bachelor of Arts in English and Theatre, Magna Cum Laude in 3 years.

Eventually settleing in Las Vegas where she spent 30 years in the entertainment industry. Her responsibilities included: Manage, produce, and direct world famous Folies Bergere production show at the Tropicana Hotel. Recruitment of a variety of shows and performers including Bird Shows, Magic Shows, Comedy Revues, Headliners, Opening and Variety Acts, Bands, and Singers. Liaison with outside entertainment companies for access to and promotion of shows. Presentation, direction and implementation of appearances on: Regis Live; E! Entertainment; Travel Channel; Wayne Brady Show; Inside Edition; Emerald Live!; VH-1; CNBC Power Lunch; MSNBC; Discovery Channel; Telethons. Liaison with outside print media which included: LA times, New York Times, Vanity Fair, UK Marie Claire, Star Magazine, Vegas Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle Date book.

Creative production design for sets, costumes, special effects and music. Establish strategies for marketing all entertainment and special events within corporate structure including Super Bowl Events, Rodeos, New Years Eve and Casino events. Casino Legends, Hall of Fame Celebrity Inductions annually.

After bringing her grand daughter to dance classes at Dance Force-1 for several years, Ginny realized that she still had the passion for “behind the scenes” assistance to help the next generation to shine!

Natalie Finley, (Jazz & Lyrical)!

Natalie was born in Tucson Arizona and is 22 years old. She began dancing at the age of 5, and started dancing at Dance force-1 at age 13. She has studied under the direction of names like Mandy Moore, Joe Tremaine, Doug Caldwell, Denise Wall, and Stacey Tookey. Natalie's choreography has won many regional titles, special judges awards, and a national title. This is Natalie’s 6th Season teaching for DF-1. Natalie is a student at the U of A She likes to hang out with her 2 dogs in her free time. Natalie loves working with children and sharing her passion for dance!

Lauren Johnson

Lauren Johnston is from Tucson, AZ where she began to study dance. Lauren’s dance training began at three years old in classical ballet, tap, and jazz, later expanding her training in pointe, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and musical theater. While being a member of Creative Dance Arts’ performing company, Lauren received numerous awards at competitions for both solo and group work in conventions such as New York City Dance Alliance, L.A. Dance Force, Showstoppers, Spotlight, L.A. Dance Magic, West Coast Dance Explosion, and more. Lauren has spent time studying dance throughout all of Arizona as well as in Michigan; performing in numerous showcases, benefits, and concerts along the way. She also served as the head of Pusch Christian Academy’s Dance department in 2007 and 2008. She was Creative Dance Arts’ award winning instructor and choreographer, teaching all styles of dance to all ages, specializing in jazz, hip hop, and lyrical. Lauren has a great love for dance and enjoys sharing her passion with others. Lauren is certified and currently teaching Pure Barre when she isn’t busy with her Dance family and Dance Force-1 where she continues to teach and inspire kids daily!

Ceci Cruz (Hip Hop)

Ceci Cruz started dancing at the age of 2 and trained on dance crews and in studio settings. She graduated from the University of Arizona in 2019 with degrees in B.A. in Relgious Studies & B.S. in Physiology. While attending, she was Choreographer Coordinator & worked on Public Relations for the U of A’s Black N’ Blue Crew. Since 2015, Ceci has been teaching all ages and levels in Hip Hop. Her main goal in teaching is to encourage growth & confidence. She is excited to share her love for hip hop with the students at DF-1.

Casey Johnson, (Ballet & Pointe)

Casey Johnson began his training at the School of Nashville Ballet as a full scholarship student. After graduating he went on to dance with Dance Theatre of Tennessee for five seasons. There he got to dance works by Christopher Mohnani, Ron de Jesus, Tom Pazik, Darrell Grand Moultrie, and Ma Cong. He then spent six seasons dancing with Lexington Ballet where he danced numerous principal roles in ballets such as Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cinderella, Giselle, Snow White, and The Rite of Spring amongst many others. He has been a principal guest artist for various other companies including Ballet Fantastique, Ohio Dance Theatre, and New York State Ballet. Casey has been on faculty at several pre-professional schools, as well as choreographing numerous successful competitive routines and professional works. She enjoys sharing her passion for ballet with the students at Dance Force-1.

Elisabeth Heckman (Ballet/Pointe)

Elisabeth Hekman is originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan where she trained under the direction of Marlene Kenneway at the Ada Dance Academy located in Ada, Michigan. She also received further training from dance educator, Amanda Smith Heynen. Hekman spent a year at the Joffrey Academy of Dance in Chicago, Illinois before joining American Repertory Ballet in New Brunswick, New Jersey as a trainee. During her training, she danced the role of Emily in Philip Jerry's Our Town and danced numerous company productions including Douglas Martin's Rite of Spring. Hekman joined Ballet Tucson in 2014 and has since had the opportunity to dance in a wide variety of wonderful pieces. Favorite roles include one of the Russian Demi-Soloists in George Balanchine’s Serenade, the Spanish Couple in The Nutcracker, Little Swans in Swan Lake, and Daniel Precup’s pas de deux Ne Me Quitte Pas.

Arianna Holman (Lyrical, Hip Hop, Stretch, Leaps/Turns)

Arianna Holman BIO Coming Soon.