biography.
Rachel is a professional dancer currently residing in New York City, who also sings, acts, choreographs, teaches, models, adjudicates for dance competitions, and most importantly, aims to bring people joy through sharing her passion of performing in any way she can! She grew up training in all forms of dance at Dance Designs on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and attended countless regional and national conventions and competitions, as well as summer intensives at The Gold School and winter intensives at Broadway Dance Center in NYC.
Rachel went on to major in dance and graduate Magna Cum Laude from Elon University in North Carolina with a BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography and Minor in Business Administration. While at college, she was a member and assistant director to Gene Medler for the Elon Tap Ensemble and its annual concert, “TAPPED OUT!”, as well as a member of The Elon Dance Company, President of the student choreography organization, Elon DanceWorks, and an Undergraduate Research Fellow and Grant Recipient for choreography research. She was honored to have her choreography selected twice to represent Elon’s Dance Department at the American College Dance Festival, as well as the North Carolina Dance Alliance. With Elon’s Theatre Department, she performed for Hal Prince in a review of his work, in a “Fosse” review, and performed in the ensemble and was Dance Captain for “Psycho Beach Party”.
Soon after graduating from Elon, Rachel began her first cruise contract as a dancer for Holland America Line/ Stiletto Entertainment. Upon returning from almost a year of performing at sea, she joined the International Tour of “The Aluminum Show”, performing throughout Brazil and Spain as a featured dancer. Next, Rachel was offered the World Tour Cruise contract with Holland America, where she served as Dance Captain and traveled to all 7 continents within a year!
Rachel is passionate about sharing her love of dance with students and young dancers, and has taught master classes, intensives, workshops, and choreographed for studio performance companies, competition teams, and college dance programs around the country. Her choreography has earned high score and special awards recognizing creativity and innovation. One of Rachel’s life-long dreams is to one day own her own studio, company, and touring workshop!
Rachel also absolutely loves serving as a judge at dance competitions and providing insight and feedback to young, aspiring dancers around the country in this fun and exciting way! Every spring she genuinely enjoyes judging for Turn It Up Dance Challenge regional competitions and teaching at their conventions in the fall season. She is also on the roster for IMPACT Dance Adjudicators.
Rachel moved to NYC in January of 2013 following her World Tour Cruise on Holland America Line, and has since done work on music videos, movies, international short films, and TV shows such as NBC’s “Smash” and “Ironside”, FOX's "The Following", and USA's hit series "Royal Pains" and “The Carrie Diaries”. She has also done the Work/Study program for Steps on Broadway and Stage Door Connections Professional Seminars, and has flash-mobbed for Sephora 5th Ave and “Chicago” the Musical. She has also been a member of the Ya’el Tap Company and Alma Dance Company, both based in Manhattan and performing at venues and festivals throughout the city including The Wild Project and the Fab Festival.
In 2013, Rachel played “Princess Pea” on the National Tour of “Super WHY! Live”, then went on to play Olga Mara/Ensemble in New Bedford Festival Theatre’s production of Singin’ in the Rain. In the winter, she was a dancer in "The Spirit of Christmas" at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, MS for Dublin Worldwide/Spirit Productions.
Rachel accomplished a huge goal that fall by signing with Across the Board Talent Agency, and is honored and grateful to be represented by such supportive and amazing agents.
In 2014, she went on to perform in Swing! at Mill Mountain Theatre in Roanoke, VA, and then spent her summer in Meredith, NH at Interlakes Theatre performing as Anytime Annie in 42nd Street, Dance Captain/Ensemble in Hello Dolly!, Swing/Ensemble in Miss Saigon, and Ensemble/Crow in The Wiz!
Rachel performed that fall at Busch Gardens Williamsburg as Nurse Prosperity in FIENDS, directed/choreographed by Lisa Shriver and Kelly D'Amboise, and that winter she performed at The Palace Theatre in Manchester, NH as an ensemble member/featured dancer in All Shook Up and as the Dancing Doll/ensemble in A Christmas Carol, under the direction/choreography of Carl Rajotte.
In the spring 0f 2015, she was ecstatic to be performing in Mary Poppins at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre under the direction of Donna Drake and choreographed by Rhonda Miller. She also had the oppurtunity to become an Equity Membership Canidate during the contract. Immeadiately after, she traveled back to Manchester, NH to perform in The Palace Theatre as a featured dancer in The PIANOMEN, directed and choreographed by her Manchester favorite Carl Rajotte. To finish off the summer, Rachel returned to New Bedford Festival Theatre where she had the oppurtunity to Associate Choreograph, Dance Captain, and reprise her role as Fannie in Mary Poppins under the direction/choreography of Michael Susko.
In 2016, Rachel reached a lifelong dream of hers when she was given the opportunity to perform on the National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, directed and choreographed by the incredible, Tony Award-Winnning choreographer, Andy Blankenbuehler. It was truly an amazing (pun intended) experience and she is so grateful to have been able to perform this wonderful show for appreciative audiences around the country.
This summer, she was given the opportunity to travel with the company to perform at the beautiful Theatre Orb in Tokyo, Japan for a special two-week engagement! The fans were incredible, and performing overseas was a wonderful way to end this Joseph chapter of Rachel's career!
As she has an immense love of learning and growing as a performer, Rachel continues her training at STEPS on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, and through Stage Door Connections Intensives and Classes and The Actors Loft. She also takes private voice lessons with Derric Rosenblatt of Vocal Power, with Brett Teresa, and vocal coaching with Tracey Grimaldi, and recently completed a series of classes with Bob Cline through the Actor's Loft. As a driven, dedicated, and hard-working performer, Rachel is always striving to excel and grow in all aspects of performing, and to constantly push herself to reach the next level and sharing her joy of performing arts with others!
In the Fall of 2016, Rachel performed in West Side Story at North Shore Music Theatre, under the direction/choreography of the amazing team of Bob Richard and Diane Lawrenson. She loved playing the role of Shark girl, Teresita, and was incredibly grateful to have performed this dream show at such a wonderful theatre in her home state of MA!
Rachel's next adventure allowed her another opportunity to see the world while doing what she loves, performing in Grease: The Musical and playing the sassy and fun role of Cha Cha Degregorio for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Independence of the Seas!
Most recently, Rachel has been performing in Utah at the incredible Tuacahn Amphitheatre, where she is a featured dancer in only the 3rd production in the world of Dreamwork’s Prince of Egypt stage adaptation, choreographed by SYTYCD’s Sean Cheesman and overseen by composer Stephen Schwartz and POE's book writer, Philip LaZebnik. While at Tuacahn, she is also performing two other musicals in rep, including the regional premiers of Matilda (Co-Directed by Igor Golden and Mara Newberry (Choreographer), and the most recently revived Broadway version of R&H’s Cinderella (Dir/Choreo: Jani Walsh-Weber).
Rachel is excited to be returning to New York City after performing and growing as a performer out in beautiful Utah for almost a year, and she can't wait to see what exciting opportunities 2019 has in store!