Learn from the Pros - State of the Arts Dance Studio

Keri L. McLean



State Of The Arts Studio for Dance and the Performing Arts was founded by its director, Keri L. McLean, in 1997. Ms. McLean has enjoyed a career in dance and the performing arts for over 25 years. During which time she has trained in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Precision, Pep Arts, Ballroom, Swing, Latin and Country Dance. Keri has traveled across the country in order to perform, teach, and train with top national and international instructors. Ms. McLean is trained in the Russian and Cecchetti methods of classical ballet and is certified to teach the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) method. Ms. McLean has trained extensively in the Luigi style of Jazz, and continues to pass on his method as well as incorporating new, popular, and stylized techniques when teaching Lyrical, Hip Hop and Pep Arts (Pom & Cheer). The style of Tap Keri instructs is a blend from different artists. She calls upon theatrical styling such as those used by Fred Astair and Gene Kelly, and also the natural rhythm of the “Hoofers” such as Henry Le Tang, Gregory Hines, and Savion Glover. Ms. McLean has trained in Smooth Ballroom, Swing, Latin, and Country Social Dance styles with such masters as Pierre Allaire & Mireille Veilleux, Melanie La Patin & Tony Meredith, Jim & Janelle Maranto, Buddy Schwimmer, Ron Montez, Jo Thompson, Ramiro Gonzales, Mario Robau Jr., Jordan Frisbee & Tatiana Mollmann, Kyle Redd & Sarah Vann Drake, Kelly Casanova, and Sylvia Sykes. She has performed, choreographed, taught and judged throughout the United States for such organizations and events as Marlboro Country Nights Dance Showdown, Girls Scouts of America, the National Kidney Foundation, Children’s Hospital, the Nation’s Capitol Professional Cheerleader’s Association, Colorado Women in Sports Conference and many others.

Keri began her Pep Arts and Precision experience within the National Cheerleading Association (NCA). During her first year with the NCA, she was a member of the squad that took first place in the Body Rock and High Kick divisions at the National Championships in Anaheim, California. She continued her performance experience further by becoming a Professional NFL Cheerleader with the Nation’s Capital Professional Cheerleaders. She was a member of the Redskinettes, the professional squad cheering for the Washington Redskins in Washington, D.C. While on the Squad she performed as a soloist and served as a choreographer for the Redskinette “Show Troupe” performing USO variety shows both nationally and internationally. She keeps up her Pep Arts certifications through the Universal Dance and Cheer Associations (UDA & UCA) and continues to pass on her knowledge by coaching and choreographing for local 4A & 5A High School Varsity Pom Squads. Continuing her long time association with the public school systems and institutions for higher education, Keri currently serves as a guest instructor and performer with her professional dance partner, Jared Oz, for Arapahoe/Denver/Douglas/Jefferson Counties, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the School of Mines. She is also a guest choreographer for local theatre groups such as the Evergreen Players and the Ascot Theater. Keri is also proud that State Of The Arts supplies Arapaho Community College with Instructors for their Community Education program in Dance as well as produces the Dance Program at the South Metro Denver Recreation Center.

Ms. McLean currently competes on the World Swing Dance Council’s national competition circuit and has earned many championship awards in several divisions. She also fills her time by being a commercial and film actress, a regional and national spokesperson as well as a runway and print model.

Keri as a soloist, and, with Jared as her partner or with her State Of The Arts Swing Team, travels the United States as a guest instructor, competitor and performer thus having a following of students at a national level. However, Ms. McLean has chosen to return to the Denver area in order to provide a unique educational and performance environment, to share with her students her passion for the arts, and to establish State Of The Arts as a leading studio in the performing arts arena.