Meet the Team

Meet our Founder, Leta Rundell

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  • Founder

    Leta began her dance career at age six under the tutelage of Charlie Ann Manning at Michele’s Dance Academy in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Due to her father’s military career, Leta moved to Montgomery, Alabama continuing her dance education at Alabama Dance Theatre. She moved to Tonya Speed’s Dance Connection in 2022. Leta became a member of Chloe Arnold’s international youth tap company, SoleTalk, in early 2021. Once more, the military moved Leta and her family to Colorado Springs.

    Leta founded Autistic Wings Dance Company as a place where exceptional dancers on the Autism Spectrum can fellowship together in their love of dance while not being treated as “the autistic kid.” A place where limitations are acknowledged and worked with, but limits aren’t something the dancers know.

    Leta is proud to have co-founded the Golden Chrysalises, a pre-professional group for neurodivergent dancers.

    Leta also co-hosts “Leta’s Tap Styles (and My Autistic Life) Podcast” with her mom, Amanda where they talk about tap dancing, autism, and interview people from around the world about autism. List wherever you listen to your favorite podcast.

  • Becca began her journey as a theatre kid who then blossomed into the dancer/educator she is today. While she danced as a younger child, she always felt like an outsider who didn't feel like she belonged in the dance community. Encouraged in college to dance again, she began to come out of her shell ultimately resulting in a passion and drive to help others love dance.

    Originally from Texas, Becca moved to Oklahoma for college and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre with a Minor in Dance from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 2016. While in Oklahoma, she began her teaching journey with the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival's after-school program. There she taught one on one acting to young performers and dance while in college full time.

    After graduation, she moved back to Texas where she began working off her student debt, and finding another after-school program, Kids Who Care, where she taught dance for 2 years. While working full time, she also performed professionally around the metroplex and choreographed musicals for The Granbury Theatre Company before moving to Colorado in 2020. 

    Since Becca has been in Colorado, she started a family with her husband, bought a home, and she has now found the last piece to her puzzle with Autistic Wings Dance Company. 

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  • Our fearless dance leader, Gayle Knowles has been dancing since she was a little child.

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  • Dancing from a very young age, Faith Lloyd made the decision to apply for a part-time job at Autistic Wings Dance Company because she loves dance and she’s always enjoyed working with the Differently Abled Community. (It runs in her blood.) She never knew that applying to be a helper in classes would blossom into becoming Autistic Wings first intern.

    Besides teaching and helping run the office, Faith has also co-founded the Golden Chrysalises, Autistic Wings’ pre-professional dance group. She also runs some rehearals for the Golden Chrysalises and has become one of the faces for Autistic Wings.

OUR FOUNDING BOARD of DIRECTORS

Amanda Trisdale President

Gayle Knowles Vice President

LeeAnn Kay Secretary/Treasurer

Kristin Kew, Kristi Merriam, Joey Kovach, Jill Phenegar, Ambrie Sward, Maria Tucker, Claire Zavislan, Drew Fountain, Tripp Fountain, Calob Rundell, and Suzanne Ellis