Cherry Creek Dance and Sweet Izzy: A Full Circle Story

June 3, 2024

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Two popular businesses in Cherry Creek North could not be more different, yet both appeal to individuals seeking to enhance their lives. Cherry Creek Dance, which opened nearly 30 years ago, has been instrumental in introducing individuals of any age to the joy of movement. Sweet Izzy, a wonderful dairy-free ice cream shop newly opened in November, offers customers a unique opportunity to enjoy frozen sweet treats made from plant-based ingredients. In a special blending of the old and the new, the young daughter of Sweet Izzy’s owners, Isabelle, is a former dancer of Cherry Creek Dance. 😉

Cherry Creek Dance

Stephanie Prosenjak, owner of Cherry Creek Dance, is part and parcel of the city’s artistic backdrop. Her influence is indelibly stamped upon many young lives, and her creativity is evidenced at festivals, sporting events and a variety of wonderful performances. Since 1993, mothers of young girls have flocked to her studio to introduce their daughters to the special world of dance, providing a unique opportunity to grow children’s self-confidence and encourage them to express themselves through movement.

Giving Back and Moving Forward

Growing up in Denver, Stephanie long held a passion for dance, whether performing before an audience or inspiring students to learn and appreciate the beauty and joy it brings to so many. Long-time Denverites may recognize her from her days as a Denver Nuggets Dancer and Denver Broncos Cheerleader, as well as her work training and choreographing competitions and high school dance teams. Her immeasurable talent could easily have led her out of Colorado or around the world, yet early on she made the decision to remain in Denver where she could make a difference in the lives of young dancers. Beginning with a one-room studio at 3rd and St. Paul, Stephanie steadily built her clientele and soon expanded her space to six studios, bringing in a ballet instructor and adding more classes. Cherry Creek Dance became the go-to studio, eventually moving to its current location at 3rd and Clayton, an 11,000 sq. ft. space that includes nine dance studios and a retail dance apparel section. Her team of hugely talented instructors run the gamut, teaching classical ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, modern, tap and Irish Step Dance.

Dance for All Ages

In addition to overseeing every aspect of her thriving dance studio, Stephanie remains closely involved with a variety of other dance-related events, including work with Kroenke Sports and the popular Nuggets dancers. Her instructors are all top-notch, attracting a wide variety of students interested in many different dance forms. “For a while we saw a lot of younger girls coming here and wanting to learn jazz and hip hop. Now we’re also seeing a lot of adults who come here to learn dance as well,” Stephanie says. “They love to be in a setting with other adults. It’s a non-competitive environment and a lot of fun. We’re seeing women in their sixties coming here to take ballet and tap, some for the first time and others to brush up on skills from long ago.” The bottom line, Stephanie explains, is that dance is widely appealing for many reasons. “It’s good exercise, it’s a childhood passion that conjures good memories, it’s social, and it’s a great alternative to the gym or other traditional workouts,” she says.

For Stephanie, her location in the heart of Cherry Creek North is the perfect setting. “I love it here because the neighborhood is so diverse with restaurants and shops. But it’s the art galleries that make it special, because it’s a wonderful symmetry between the visual arts and the performing arts. Cherry Creek North is a beautiful place to visit and has a great neighborhood feel,” she says.

Never Stop Dancing

Having taught and performed for many years, Stephanie shows no signs of wanting to stop or even slow down. She’s gearing up for her summer camp programs (45 different camps) and continues to do it all at the studio – including artistic director, overseeing staff meetings, teaching seven days a week, choreography and costume design and helping orchestrate special events such as Denver Fashion Week, performances with the Colorado Philharmonic and so much more. “Dancing is my passion and my purpose. It’s all about inspiring people – both kids and parents – and it’s about leading by example, working hard and loving what you do. This is my legacy, whether I’m on this earth or not. I want Cherry Creek Dance to always live on, but for now I plan to stay here forever!

Sweet Izzy

The quaint allure of Cape Cod is perfectly ensconced within the confines of Cherry Creek North, where Denver’s only plant-based ice cream shop has amassed a loyal following. Open since November, Sweet Izzy is an utterly delightful neighborhood spot that is the pride and joy of Elizabeth Doucette, who founded the business with her husband Mike. Both Elizabeth and Mike were born and raised in Cape Cod, but made the move to Denver in 2012 for Mike’s business. On a whim, the couple began experimenting with the idea of plant-based ice cream, and the idea took root.

From Cape Cod to Denver

“We opened our first Sweet Izzy on the Cape, even though we were living in Denver,” Elizabeth says. “We were knee-deep in the project, my husband had left his job, and then Covid hit. There was not much we could do, so we pushed forward, even though the challenges were huge.” And the rewards for this perseverance were sweet indeed. “We wanted to open on Cape Cod because it’s such a tourist-driven destination in the summer and ice cream is a huge part of the experience. I cannot eat dairy or gluten, and it was always disappointing because getting ice cream is such a fun thing to do. So we started experimenting in our kitchen, then moved to a test kitchen to develop ice cream that both me and my daughter could eat.”

Named for their daughter Isabelle, Sweet Izzy was a huge hit among a large population of people affected by food intolerances. “People have Celiac, lactose intolerance, and so many dietary reasons that preclude them from eating ice cream,” Elizabeth explains. “We tested and retested to come up with delicious alternatives, and our customers rave about the results.”

Unique and Special

In November, the couple opened their second location in Cherry Creek North, offering soft and hard serve ice cream, made-from-scratch cones, and organic fruit sauces. All ice cream is made in-house, and is plant-based, dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free and vegan. As in Cape Cod, reaction to the ice cream shop has been wonderful. “We have so many loyal customers, and even have regulars who drive down from Boulder just to get the ice cream. People are so incredibly happy to have a place where they feel safe. When you have a food intolerance, you always worry about ingredients. So many of our customers have children who have never been able to have an ice cream cone or a hot fudge sundae. I’ve had moms come up to me in tears who give me a hug and are so grateful their kids can have this experience. It’s ice cream, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a connection, a way to give back and bring smiles.”

While the shop in Cape Cod is strictly take-out, Sweet Izzy in Denver pays homage to the Cherry Creek environment while retaining the unique charm of Cape Cod. “We incorporated the feel of Cape Cod with cedar shingles, white accents and hot pink and gold. It’s very Cape Cod but has a Denver aesthetic. Cherry Creek is the ideal spot for Sweet Izzy,” Elizabeth says. “We’ve always lived in the area since we came to Denver and wouldn’t be anywhere else. When we moved here we drove around and saw all the neighborhoods but nothing felt like home. Then we got to University and saw Whole Foods and behind it a lovely area with very friendly people. It’s different than the East Coast, but still has a bit of an East Coast vibe. Our kids were all born here and it’s a great place for a family. (On a side note, Elizabeth’s daughter danced at Cherry Creek dance, one of hundreds of young girls who benefit from studio’s prime location.)

Slow Down and Smile

The most important thing we want our customers to feel is that when they get here they’ve come to a place where they can literally relax. We like to say everyone here is on Cap Cod time, there’s on rush, no pressure. Especially for someone like me, who has always been so limited in what I can eat, it’s heartening to watch people take their time and make choices. We want everyone to have many choices and to get just what they want. We want them to have a fun and uplifting experience, and even if someone is not having their best day, we want to be a light in that day.”

Even fans of traditional dairy ice cream have become Sweet Izzy devotees, thanks to Elizabeth’s and Mike’s tireless efforts to emulate the true ice cream flavor in all their offerings. “We try to make everything taste as close to dairy flavor as possible, and to recreate that bit of nostalgia that will bring them back to that original taste. Our customers love it, and there’s nothing more wonderful than watching a child take that first bit of a hot fudge sundae when their parent thought this was never something they could enjoy.”

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