top of page
Meet the Coaches
CHRISTINA LEONE
Head Coach
16th Year Coaching at RC
21st Year Coaching in DCSD
Christina Leone is in her 21st year coaching at the high school level and is currently the head coach at Rock Canyon HS. RC Dance Team has earned numerous regional and state titles, are perennial finalists at UDA Nationals. 6x Colorado State Champions, Rock Canyon has also placed in the top three at NDTC since 2020 earning seven National medals. In 2018, they were selected as the Varsity Brands American Spirit Leader Award winner. Recently, Christina was announced as a 2023 NHSACA Coach of the Year Finalist and previously was named the Positive Coaching Alliance Double-Goal Coach (2015) and Colorado Coach of the Year (2016). A veteran adjudicator, she regularly judges for the USASF Dance Worlds, National Championships at the High School, All-Star, & Collegiate levels for UDA, NDA, USA, GSSA, Dance Summit, Jamfest/Jamfest Japan and currently serves on numerous industry committees. Christina is an avid fan of figure skating, all Colorado sports, loves camping, traveling and spending time with her husband & daughters.
16th Year Coaching at RC
21st Year Coaching in DCSD
Christina Leone is in her 21st year coaching at the high school level and is currently the head coach at Rock Canyon HS. RC Dance Team has earned numerous regional and state titles, are perennial finalists at UDA Nationals. 6x Colorado State Champions, Rock Canyon has also placed in the top three at NDTC since 2020 earning seven National medals. In 2018, they were selected as the Varsity Brands American Spirit Leader Award winner. Recently, Christina was announced as a 2023 NHSACA Coach of the Year Finalist and previously was named the Positive Coaching Alliance Double-Goal Coach (2015) and Colorado Coach of the Year (2016). A veteran adjudicator, she regularly judges for the USASF Dance Worlds, National Championships at the High School, All-Star, & Collegiate levels for UDA, NDA, USA, GSSA, Dance Summit, Jamfest/Jamfest Japan and currently serves on numerous industry committees. Christina is an avid fan of figure skating, all Colorado sports, loves camping, traveling and spending time with her husband & daughters.
PAIGE HESEN
Varsity Coach
11th Year Coaching at RC
Paige Hesen is thrilled to be entering into her 11th season coaching with the RC Dance Team. As an alumni to RC and the program herself, she understands the commitment, resilience and strength it takes to be successful at this sport. Recently, Paige was honored to be named the Assistant Coach of the Year in 2021 from all high school sports in the state of Colorado. She has helped lead the RC Dance Team to 3 State Titles, 2 Runner-Up Titles and 4 League Titles over the last 5 years, as well as placing in the top 3 at Nationals in several divisions since 2020. As a Back-to-Back state champ herself, Paige couldn’t be happier to watch her dancers achieve these enormous accomplishments!
Outside of dance, Paige is a midwife at a free standing birth center in Denver. She enjoys spending time with her fiancé Blake and their adorable new puppy Norman.
11th Year Coaching at RC
Paige Hesen is thrilled to be entering into her 11th season coaching with the RC Dance Team. As an alumni to RC and the program herself, she understands the commitment, resilience and strength it takes to be successful at this sport. Recently, Paige was honored to be named the Assistant Coach of the Year in 2021 from all high school sports in the state of Colorado. She has helped lead the RC Dance Team to 3 State Titles, 2 Runner-Up Titles and 4 League Titles over the last 5 years, as well as placing in the top 3 at Nationals in several divisions since 2020. As a Back-to-Back state champ herself, Paige couldn’t be happier to watch her dancers achieve these enormous accomplishments!
Outside of dance, Paige is a midwife at a free standing birth center in Denver. She enjoys spending time with her fiancé Blake and their adorable new puppy Norman.
GRACE STUTLER
JV Coach
3rd Year Coaching at RC
Grace Stutler is an RC Dance Team alumni and is in her 3rd year of coaching at Rock Canyon High School. She has always loved dance, but she is most passionate about the opportunity to help shape her athletes' success and growth on and off the dance floor. Grace's teams have been extremely successful competitors earning regional, league and invitational championships in Pom, Jazz and Game-Day categories. Recently, she was announced as the CSCA 2024 JV Dance Coach of the Year in honor of her competitive successes, leadership and contributions to her athletes.
When she's not coaching, Grace loves to spend time traveling, camping and hiking with her husband and their two dogs, Gus and Blondie.
3rd Year Coaching at RC
Grace Stutler is an RC Dance Team alumni and is in her 3rd year of coaching at Rock Canyon High School. She has always loved dance, but she is most passionate about the opportunity to help shape her athletes' success and growth on and off the dance floor. Grace's teams have been extremely successful competitors earning regional, league and invitational championships in Pom, Jazz and Game-Day categories. Recently, she was announced as the CSCA 2024 JV Dance Coach of the Year in honor of her competitive successes, leadership and contributions to her athletes.
When she's not coaching, Grace loves to spend time traveling, camping and hiking with her husband and their two dogs, Gus and Blondie.
NICOLE GENTILELLA
JV Assistant Coach
2nd Year Coaching at RC
Nicole Gentilella is in her 2nd year of coaching at Rock Canyon High School.
She is a native of New York City and relocated to Denver to pursue her
career as a lawyer and sports agent. She has trained in all forms of dance, but especially enjoys ballet, tap, jazz, pom, and hip hop. Nicole has studied dance at Joffrey, Boston Ballet, Broadway Dance, and many more notable dance organizations. She was also both a collegiate dance team member and a NFL Cheerleader. She teaches dance locally, works with various college dance teams, and assists high school dancers in preparing for collegiate dance auditions. Nicole also travels the country judging for various studio and dance team competitions. When she’s not coaching, Nicole enjoys watching football and gymnastics, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.
2nd Year Coaching at RC
Nicole Gentilella is in her 2nd year of coaching at Rock Canyon High School.
She is a native of New York City and relocated to Denver to pursue her
career as a lawyer and sports agent. She has trained in all forms of dance, but especially enjoys ballet, tap, jazz, pom, and hip hop. Nicole has studied dance at Joffrey, Boston Ballet, Broadway Dance, and many more notable dance organizations. She was also both a collegiate dance team member and a NFL Cheerleader. She teaches dance locally, works with various college dance teams, and assists high school dancers in preparing for collegiate dance auditions. Nicole also travels the country judging for various studio and dance team competitions. When she’s not coaching, Nicole enjoys watching football and gymnastics, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.
ASHLEY NUSS
Frosh Coach
1st Year Coaching at RC
An RC dance team alumni, Coach Ashley was a 4 year member of the program and captain her senior year! She is so looking forward to being a part of the RCDT program again and can’t wait for the season ahead with our Frosh team.
1st Year Coaching at RC
An RC dance team alumni, Coach Ashley was a 4 year member of the program and captain her senior year! She is so looking forward to being a part of the RCDT program again and can’t wait for the season ahead with our Frosh team.
bottom of page