Cindy Burdine, the owner of the now-closed Frequency Dance (formerly Kinesis Dance) in south Boulder, has been indicted on 21 felony counts that prosecutors say trace back to two allegedly staged break-ins and nearly $568,000 in insurance payouts. The grand jury indictment, unsealed at the end of March, describes an alleged maze of forgeries, bogus billing and theft that left families and local vendors unpaid. The studio abruptly shut its doors in December, leaving parents and former employees scrambling for answers.
According to The Denver Post, court records allege that Burdine received a total of $567,897.80 in insurance payouts tied to two incidents in 2023: $69,696.26 for a claim in April and $498,201.54 for a claim in July. Those same records list 21 felony counts, including multiple forgery and insurance-fraud charges tied to the alleged cash windfall.
Grand jury documents filed in Boulder County were presented on March 27, according to Boulder Reporting Lab, which has been chronicling the studio's unraveling as parents complained of overbilling and vendors flagged unpaid invoices. That outlet also reports that the Colorado Attorney General's Office has been involved in portions of the fraud investigation.
Police records show the second reported break-in happened on July 28, 2023, at Kinesis Dance, 635 S. Broadway in Boulder. City officials, in a public call for tips at the time, said security footage appeared to show two people entering the studio and leaving behind spray paint and shattered mirrors. The city estimated more than $100,000 in damage and released surveillance video while asking the public for help.
What prosecutors allege
Prosecutors told The Denver Post that Burdine allegedly set up a sham business called Revolution Dance Sport, complete with a fake website, to support fraudulent billing statements and forged checks. The indictment reportedly lays out 13 counts of forgery of a check with a commercial instrument, five counts of insurance fraud by claims, one count of attempting to influence a public servant, and two theft counts that cover different dollar ranges. Together, they make up the 21 felony charges she now faces.
Community fallout
Parents say the sudden collapse of the studio left them out thousands of dollars in tuition and fees, while local dance teachers and vendors report they were never paid for their work. The landlord for the studio space also filed suit for unpaid rent, and the business was ultimately evicted earlier this year. For families and small businesses tied to the program, the alleged fraud turned what was supposed to be a dance community into a lingering financial mess.
Legal implications
One of the theft counts alleges losses above $100,000. Under Colorado law cited by Justia, that level of theft is treated as a class 3 felony, which can carry roughly four to twelve years in prison and significant fines. The remaining forgery and insurance-fraud counts are lower-level felonies, but they still expose a defendant to years of potential prison time if convicted.
Boulder Reporting Lab reports that as of April 3, Burdine had not yet been taken into custody. A judge set her bond at $10,000, and she did not respond to requests for comment. Former staffers and parents say they are hoping the indictment is a first step toward accountability as prosecutors and state investigators sort through the alleged trail of fake invoices and checks.
