Contemporary

Beginner
Mondays & Wednesdays 4:00-5:30PM

Advanced Intermediate
Fridays, 5:30-7:00PM

Bio

Originally from Pennsylvania, Rachel moved to NYC to train at Broadway Dance Center as an intern in their Scholarship Program, and then continued her training with the Pushing Progress Contemporary Training Program focusing on contemporary movement and anatomy. During this time Rachel enjoyed numerous performance opportunities with an incredible variety of Choreographer's and artists, some of which include Brice Mousset, Calen J. Kurka, Sidra Bell, Jim Cooney -for the Office Max Elf Yourself Ad Campaign and Glamour Magazine, Cara Goodwin - honoring the Wounded Warrior Project at Symphony Space, Emily Greenwell- at the Paul Taylor Theater , Rhapsody James' Sirens After Dark, and the Capezio Ace Awards, Shelly Hutchinson- for the Young Choreographer's Festival, Derek Mitchell- in the Capezio Ace Awards, Carnival The Choreographer's Ball (L.A), Pushing Progress Showcase Series, and a TV promo for Wendy Williams.

Rachel teaches open contemporary classes at Peridance Capezio Center, and as guest faculty at Broadway Dance Center, as well as several studios in and around the tri-state area. Rachel is the Artistic Director of metaphors&similesDANCE, a NYC based contemporary dance company. Her company has presented work at the Salvatore Capezio Theater at Peridance, Galapagos ArtSpace, and at San Jose State in San Jose, CA at the sjDANCEcoChoreo Project, where she was awarded with the Audience Choice recognition for choreography. As well as the Pushing Progress Showcase Series, the Young Choreographer's Festival, In- sight Dance Company's Annual Suite Summer Festival at Socrates Sculpture Park, the Annual DUMBO Dance Festival, the Annual Amalgamate Artists Series, and The Giving Tree, a benefit concert to raise awareness for pediatric cancer. Rachel has also presented work at J CHEN PROJECT's 2015 TRANSLATE (The Voices of Dance) at Dixon Place, the USDAN Center for Performing Arts, the Peridance Faculty Showcase, the Periapsis Open Series at the Gelsey Kirkland Arts Center, and alongside singer/songwriter Jenna Nicholls as part of GIG, a live musical and dance performance collaboration at University Settlement. Most recently, Rachel co-produced an evening of dance at the West End Theater alongside, NSquared Dance Co, directed by Nick Neagle. This was the first ever full evening length work of metaphors&similesDANCE entitled Two Companies, One Stage.

Rachel's class pushes students to embrace the challenges of training- to always be developing ones unique artistry and strength as a technically trained, versatile dancers, story teller, and creator. From start of class to finish, dancers are encouraged to take risks, explore new ideas within their conversation of movement, and to always continue creating and sharing. Class consists of a full 45-50 minute warm up which includes yoga and Pilates based exercises as well as gyro inspired transitions and ideas. Creating a warm up that prepares the dancer for improvisation and phrase work to follow. Phrase work is driven by music from hip hop to instrumental. It is athletic, intricate, and intrinsic. Class environment is fun, light hearted, but driven by the desire to do the work