Rebecca Arends is originally from the Chicagoland area and
began dancing at Denise Sabala Dance Studios in Arlington
Heights, IL. She went on to earn a B.A. in History and Afro
American Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
where she was a Powers-Knapp Scholar. Following
graduation, Rebecca attended The Ailey School under the
direction of Denise Jefferson and was awarded the Oprah
Winfrey Foundation Fellowship.
Ms. Arends has been a member of the Seán Curran
Company since 2008 and performs in New York and theaters
across the country. Chosen to perform and teach throughout
Central Asia as cultural ambassadors of the US State
Department, the Company toured Turkmenistan, Kazahkstan
and Kyrgyzstan through DanceMotion USA (produced by the
Brooklyn Academy of Music). The following year, SCCo
embarked upon a U.S. tour of Travel Songs, a collaborative
project with British a cappella, Grammy Award winning vocal
ensemble, The King's Singers.
In 2014, Rebecca founded RAredancework, a non-profit
organization, dedicated to the performing arts and her
choreography has been presented at Dixon Place and Green
Space in New York City. She is also a longstanding member
of SAG-AFTRA and continues to work in film and television.
Photo Credit: Takao Komaru
