Meet Our Instructors

The Youth Theater Collective team brings together seasoned educators and performers who help students grow, shine, and belong.

Ryan Rose

Founder, Artistic Director

Ryan Rose grew up in Denver’s arts community, stepping onto the stage at the age of seven and building a lifelong connection to performance. Early experiences with St. Luke’s, Highlands Ranch, Younger Generation Players, Heritage High School, Ascot Theater, and Academy of Theater Arts shaped a foundation in ensemble work and a passion for storytelling.

At seventeen, Ryan began training in ballet and performed professionally until twenty-eight. He later transitioned into education, teaching English Language Arts, Creative Writing, and Theater at Hill Campus of Arts and Sciences in Denver Public Schools. Ryan holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Communications from the University of Denver’s College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS), where he focused on global media, identity development, and storytelling. He also earned an undergraduate degree in Philosophy, and later completed advanced training at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver, focusing on curriculum design, equity, social emotional learning, and transdisciplinary pedagogy.

As Founder, Artistic Director, and Choreographer of Youth Theater Collective, Ryan directs and choreographs productions that challenge and inspire young performers while fostering inclusion, collaboration, and courage. His philosophy is simple and strong: theater is a studio for growth and belonging, and every young person deserves a place on stage and in the ensemble.

Ryan is also an avid writer whose work explores the intersections of theater, education, creativity, and equity. He publishes regularly on Medium, where his series The Director’s Notebook offers insight into the artistic process, and Studio Series shares cultural values, rehearsal practices, and lessons for young performers. His writing is an extension of his teaching, blending reflection, research, and storytelling for both families and fellow educators.

Ryan is available for private lessons in dance, including cleaning choreography for competitions, coaching solos, and preparing students for auditions and performances. He has worked with young dancers in both individual and group settings and has developed a strong record of success. His coaching helps students refine their technique, sharpen performance quality, and build the confidence needed to excel on stage.

In addition, Ryan offers private acting lessons and coaching. Students can book sessions to prepare for auditions, monologues, and competitions, or to deepen their craft in a focused, supportive environment. To schedule, use the booking link below or email ryan@youththeatercollective.com.

And if that was not enough, Ryan will admit he is also pretty handy as a tutor in English, writing, and reading, because sometimes the best performance really does start on the page.