Kimberly Aguirre
Owner/Instructor
Kimberly Aguirre has been dancing since 1984. At age 6, Kimberly
started dancing at Worley-Ellis Dance Studio in Willcox, AZ. She never
thought she would take her knowledge of dance and one day own her very own
dance studio.
After high school Kimberly attend college at Pima Community College
working on her general education classes. She then attended Northern
Arizona University statewide program in Thatcher, AZ. In 2000,
Kimberly graduated with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and is an
Arizona state certified teacher.
In January of 2002, Kimberly took over a dance studio called Backstage
Dance. This was a dance studio run out of the local community center
in the Continental Ranch area of Tucson, AZ.
In October of 2003, Kimberly attended her first yoga training.
She felt this would become a great asset to her business. After
her 8 hours of community service at her school, Estes Elementary School,
she received her Level 1 certificate in January of 2004. Kimberly
enjoys this yoga because it is not like any other yoga she has seen.
This is a fitness based yoga so you get a workout and become relaxed all
in one session. In July of 2004, Kimberly obtained her certificate to teach prenatal/post partum women and seniors. Her latest addition to her certificate collection is Level 2.
Kimberly's business has grown since she took it over. On June 13,
2007, Kimberly moved out of the local community center and into her very own
studio. The studio is located at the corner of Silverbell and Wade
Road in Northwest Tucson, AZ.
In July 2009, Kimberly received her Basic 1 Zumba certification.
She quickly expanded her training to Basic 2, ZumbAtomic, Zumba Gold, and Zumba Toning.
Kimberly loves Zumba because it is a high energy class that uses dance as a
form of exercise. Pointe of Grace currently offers all of these
classes on a regular basis.
Adding to her certifications, Kimberly earned certificates in Lifestyle
and Weight Management Coaching and Core Conditioning in 2011.
In February 2012, Pointe of Grace moved to a larger location with two
rooms and lots of space to accommodate more clients. More classes will
be added once we are all settled in.
Kelsey Osterman
Dance Instructor
Coming Soon!
Vanessa Palestino
Dance & Zumba Instructor
Vanessa was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She trained
professionally in jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, lyrical, and hip hop for almost
20 years. She began her dance training at Dancin' on Broadway School
of Dance, competing on a national level. She continued dancing
professionally throughout college and thereafter. She also attended
classes at Broadway Dance Center and Alvin Ailey while living in New York
City.
In February of 2011 Vanessa became a certified Zumba Instructor.
Mixing two of her passions, dance and fitness, Zumba seemed natural.
Vanessa is now happy to share her love and passion for dance with others.
Elizabeth Sims
Dance Instructor
Elizabeth Sims
began dancing at age 8. It
wasn’t long after her first class when she realized that she had a real love
of the performing arts.
Elizabeth enrolled in the Ballet Barre, owned by Deril Balough.
At age 11, she began pointe work, and by age 12 she was ready for her first
summer intense dance program.
Under Deril’s tutelage, Elizabeth quickly progressed in the basics of
ballet, pointe, and pas de deux and attended other summer intensives such as
Ballet West in Aspen, Colorado. In 1986, she was featured as the Snow Queen
in the Ballet “The Nutcracker.”
With all her dance experience, it was natural that Elizabeth was asked to
teach in 1993 for the Mo Holland Dance Studio in Fairbanks, Alaska, where
her mother, Pat Sims, was also a teacher.
In 1994, Pat Sims branched off to open her own studio, Northland
Dance, which quickly grew with the support of parents and students.
As Elizabeth’s life progressed and she moved from state to state, she always
found a way to be involved in dance. In 2001 she moved here to Tucson to be
closer to her parents and, after a brief hiatus from dance, opened Dance
Innovations in September of 2003.
Now Elizabeth feels she has the best of both worlds, her day job as
Activities Director at a retirement community while still teaching and
choreographing for the students she loves at Pointe of Grace.
Renee Havas
Dance Instructor
Renee is a dedicated and skilled tap instructor with extensive teaching
and performance experience. She studied dance since the age of three and
taught since the age of eleven Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, and Gymnastics.
Renee is a former member of the Cecchetti Council of America, and Dance
Masters of Ohio and America. She is also a graduate of Teachers Training
School, Kent State University. As a student she competed at local, state and
national levels, winning first, second and third places and attended several
workshops and seminars. She has television and film experience. She studied
with renowned performers and choreographers.
Amy Froberg
Yoga Instructor
Hi my name is Amy Froberg. I have been very fortunate
to teach Yoga at Pointe Of Grace. As a former student at the studio, I fell
in love with yoga. I was certified and have taught at Point of Grace for the
last two years. I am a 2nd grade teacher and love the art of
teaching. Yoga is a relaxing, fitness based experience that will tone,
shape, energize your body.
Jennifer Torres
Zumba Instructor
Jennifer has had a lifelong interest in Latin Dancing. She got her first
taste of Latin music through her grandparents. They would play music around
the house, sing in the church spanish choir, and they would always be one of
the first couples on the dance floor at family functions. While growing up
in Willcox, AZ Jennifer danced to Ranchera, Mariachi, and Cumbia music, to
name a few. Jennifer moved to Tucson in 1997 and always kept her eyes, and
ears open for new Latin music. In 2001 while working at a local restaurant
and club she found the music she was meant to dance to....SALSA! She has
taken some classes from some local Tucson instructors but most of her dance
experience comes from the dance floor of local clubs and salsa parties.
Salsa dancing even lead her to meet her husband in 2008.
Jennifer then got certified in Basic Zumba in July of 2009. She quickly
discovered that it was a fitness class perfect for her. Being able to take
her passion for Latin dancing and incorporating it into a fun, high energy
fitness class! She had to take a brief break during the summer of 2010 for
the birth of her son. She came back to Zumba with her son in tow and even
received her certification in Zumba Toning in March of 2011.
Jennifer Davis
Zumba Instructor
Jen grew up dancing at Fox Dance Academy in Walled Lake,
Michigan. Jen received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Arizona
in 2000 with a major in communication and a minor in music. Jen has two
children. Her oldest child was diagnosed with autism in 2006. Since then,
Jen has been actively involved in the autism community, and is currently
serving as the President of the Autism Society of Greater Tucson. Jen is
currently the Worship Director at Desert Son Community Church, as well as being employed at the University of Arizona where she teaches a graduate
level course on autism.
After having two children, Jen decieded it was time to get back in shape. It
was then that she discovered Zumba. Jen had always had a love of dance, and
Zumba was the perfect fit as it didn't feel like a workout, but rather a
dance party! Zumba not only helped Jen get her body back in shape, but also
offered a fun relief from the stresses of her daily life. After a year of
taking Zumba classes, Jen decided it was time to share her love of Zumba
with others and became a licensed Zumba instructor in 2010.
Gigi Burton
Hip Hop Cardio & Zumba Instructor
& Ballroom Dance Instructor
Gigi has a strong history, background and over 20 years experience
onstage, in the arts, and accomplished in a wide array of dance, music and
acting genres.
Her work experience and training ranges from Musical Theater, Opera
voice, (lyric Soprano), film & stage performance, commercials and
voice-overs for T.V. and Radio, promotional modeling and print work.
Professional dance training includes Ballet, Jazz, Latin dance, Ballroom
Dance, Flamenco, and Les Mills BodyJam.
As a Ballroom dance instructor, she has worked for Sonoran Ballroom
Academy and Shall we Dance.
Her passion for dance and interest in a healthy lifestyle led her to the
world of Zumba Fitness! Gigi is currently licensed to teach Zumba,
Zumba Gold, Zumba Toning, Zumba
in the Circuit, and Zumbatomic for kids.
As a ZIN certified instructor for Zumba Fitness , Gigi has taught at
several major gyms and fitness facilities in Tucson, including Gold’s Gym,
(where she served as Group Fitness Manager/Zumba Team Captain), L.A Fitness, Bally Total Fitness, Red Monkey Studio, Curves, Alive Fitness,
Oro Valley/ Marana Parks & Recreation, Anytime Fitness, Prestige Fitness, Sur
Real Night Club, and the prestigious Canyon Ranch Resort.
Gigi enjoys inspiring her participants to achieve a healthy lifestyle
through dance-fitness!
