Teaching Team
Experienced, Creative, Passionate
Leo Caudillo
Owner | Director | Instructor
Dancing is in Leo's blood. His passion is to create an environment where everyone feels safe, loved, and inspired to dance! He strives to develop an understanding that good training and hard work are fulfilling and rewarding. He is openhearted to learning and growing within his own practice to help his students grow in theirs. His dance classes have high energy, are challenging, and a teacher who will be their biggest cheerleader. His passion is Invictus Dance Project and he hopes it becomes your forever home!
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• COVETED VALLEY QUINCEANERA
& SPECIAL EVENT CHOREOGRAPHER
• AWARD-WINNING NATIONAL &
INTERNATIONAL CHOREOGRAPHER
• PROFESSIONAL DANCER
DeAnna DiGuiseppi
Team Director | Instructor
Phoenician dancer since the age of 6 and teaching for the past 11 years, Miss DeAnna aspires to share her joy and love of dance to every age group; she especially loves working with younger dancers. She strives to positively shape their minds and bodies while creating a strong & safe foundation of flexibility and technique. She is always looking for opportunities to grow and learn more in order to better herself and her teaching perspectives. She has already earned certifications in stretching, acrobatics, and ballet in Nationally and Internationally accredited organizations. Forever an optimist, DeAnna is excited to be a helpful force in the wonderful new adventures of IDP!
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• ACROBATIC ARTS CERTIFIED
• BALLET ACCREDITED, ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE
• NUMEROUS COMPETITIVE & COSTUME AWARDS
Velaine Jollé
Production Director | Graphics | Instructor
Dancing for over 40 years in the Valley and teaching for more than 30. Velaine has traveled the nation as a professional dancer and had the opportunity to expose herself to a multitude of dance genres. She is strong, and creative and encourages her students to learn about how dedication and a hard work ethic will bring them success, confidence and joy to their dance training as well as, the opportunity to achieve their goals. Many of her previous students have gone on to become professionals in the world of dance and she feels fortunate to have helped them along in their dance journey. Miss V hopes to continue to inspire young artists and create productions to excite, entertain and awe her audiences.
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• ACROBATIC ARTS CERTIFIED
• CHOREOGRAPHY & JUDGES AWARD WINNER
• OVER A DECADE OF CONCEPTUALIZING FUN, VISUALLY STIMULATING RECITALS & SHOWS
"Leo is a master at creating a positive and high-energy atmosphere where dancers can find release, have fun, and leave their comfort zone to improve their technique and performance skills. Mr. Caudillo sees the potential in and truly values every dancer he teaches. Since this studio is the creation of Mr. Caudillo,
I highly recommend Invictus Dance Project as your studio of choice in the Phoenix area."
Rachel Haug,
High School
Dance Teacher
Skyler Pierpoint,
Parent
"Leo and his dance instructors have been amazing to work with from day one. The studio is very clean and the company culture is much friendlier and accommodating than the two previous dance schools we attended prior to coming here. The entire Invictus Dance staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about their craft. I highly recommend checking them out ASAP. You won't be disappointed!"
Erika Gutierrez,
Middle School
Dance Teacher
"Leo Caudillo has such a gift when it comes to dance and teaching. His ability to connect with students of all ages, genders, shapes, colors, and abilities is incredible. He is engaging and passionate. Leo is one of the best out there!"
Mary Blanchard,
Parent
"The creative team behind Invictus Dance Project is dedicated to the growth and development of their students - body, mind, and emotions. They encourage their dancers to set goals for themselves and then support the work needed to produce successful results. I find their choreography to be both challenging and exciting to watch - knowing each dancer was encouraged along the way to believe in their abilities and talent."
Applause & Ovations
Kayley Thompson
Instructor
Kayley Thompson has been dancing since the age of five and trained for thirteen years at Royal Dance Works. There she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern/contemporary, hip-hop, and musical theater classes. She also competed for many years in their top performance companies, being part of several national 1st place competition wins. She has trained and taken master classes under some of the best dance teachers and choreographers in the nation including Mia Michaels, Jackie Sleight, Justin Giles, Doug Caldwell, Jaci Royal, Wes Veldink, Sasha Mallory, and many more. Kayley is the director of her own professional dance company with the goal of telling stories by fusing her love of the past (film/music/choreographic styles) with a twist of the present. She likes to challenge her students, watch them succeed, and help them to do their best work. She specializes in teaching advanced tap at IDP.
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• HOLDS A BFA IN DANCE EDUCATION
• DIRECTOR & OWNER OF CLASSICAL FUSION DANCE
• CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD WINNER, PROFESSIONAL DANCER & SPECIAL EVENT CHOREOGRAPHER
