Denise Leitner, born and raised in Los Angeles, started her dance training at age 3.  As a serious ballet student she received her training from Stephen Wenta, Olga Fricker, Stanley Holden and Margaret Hills.  After her studies at the Royal Ballet School in London Denise returned home and discovered her love for jazz and contemporary dance.  She became assistant to master teachers and choreographers including Hama, Ben Lokey and Joe Bennett.  Denise has choreographed across the globe for stage, screen, television and music videos.  She travels throughout the United States and abroad conducting workshops and master classes.  Denise has trained numerous dancers who have gone on to work in all entertainment mediums and she is a private coach to many artists including Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn, Paul Stanley and Elizabeth Berkley. She has worked with many artists including St Vincent, Bjork and Nona Hendrix. Her company Dancer’s Voice was founded in 1993 and has been critically acclaimed by the Los Angeles Times, and was nominated for a 2008 Lester Horton Award.  The company performed for dance festivals worldwide. Some of Denise’s  choreographic credits include Tommy the Musical, choreography for Olympic and World Champion ice dancers Tenith Belbin and Ben Agosta, and West Side Story for the Canyon Theater Guild and she has been a movement coordinator for Columbia Pictures. Dance faculty positions include Edge Performing Arts Center, Loyola Marymount University, UCLA, Santa Monica College, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Innerspark, Maui Performing Arts Academy, Idylwild School for Music and Art and most recently Director of Dance at Mayfield Senior School. Her adjudicating credits include the Great Canadian Dance Festival and Loyola Marymount University. Hama has been her mentor since age 13 and it gives her great pleasure to be teaching at Hama Dance Center.