Biography
Rachel Taylor began her love of ballet at Wake Forest University’s Community Ballet program with Brantly Shapiro. Later she also trained at Ohio Dance Theatre in their pre professional program for 3 years.
In 2016 Rachel graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BA in dance performance and focus on Ballet Pedagogy. While in Charlotte she also became a certified barre instructor. She taught several years at Xtend barre Charlotte and at Core Integrity Pilates in Greensboro NC. In addition to her Barre certification she has a Flexistretcher and PBT ( Progressive Ballet Technique ) certification.
In the fall of 2016 Rachel joined Gary Taylor’s Winston Salem Festival Ballet where she performed professionally and trained for a year. Rachel also taught for Gary Taylor’s 3 schools, Taylor Dance, High Point Ballet and Winston Salem Festival Ballet.
In the summer of 2017 Rachel joined the US. International Ballet in Wilmington NC. Under artistic direction of Walter Angelini and Ines Albertini, Rachel had the opportunity to perform professionally in many full length ballets including The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland , a Midsummers ’ Night Dream, Giselle , The little Mermaid , Paquita and the Nutcracker.
While in Wilmington Rachel taught for a few of the local dance studios , Techniques in Motion , Point your toes , Studio A and the Wilmington Conservatory of Fine Arts. She also guest performed with WCFA in productions of the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and Americana. Rachel also choreographed and performed several years with the Dance -Cooperative for both the Dance-a-Lorus festivals and the Wilmington Dance Festivals.
August of 2023, Rachel relocated to Asheville to continue dancing professionally with the Asheville Ballet. She not only pursues her own progress with the art form of ballet but also has a heart to teach and share it with others. Rachel has been teaching ballet and fitness classes for serval years and as she continues to learn and grow she passes her passion and knowledge forward for others.