Graduating in Dancetheater from Reed College, Rachael has worked in arts integration since she teaching for Anne Green Gilbert at the Creative Dance Center in Seattle, WA. After studying dance therapy at the New School in New York City, and building a thriving early childhood program there, she has since returned to her Oregon roots to found Sparkplug Dance Educational Resources, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, dedicated to Making Learning Fun for Everyone Through Dance. Sparkplug Dance has developed collaborative community partnerships to provide direct services in early childhood arts education, K-8 arts integration in the schools, and teacher training. As an independent non profit, Sparkplug Dance has received generous support from many regional granting organizations and private foundations. And our client list includes the Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children, Headstart of Oregon, The Oregon Department of Education, The City of Eugene Department of Library, Recreation and Cultural Services, The Springfield Public Schools, The Provider Resource Organization, the Oregon Association for PE, Recreation and Dance, The Oregon Music Educators Association, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Art's Partnership in Education, among others. Recently, Rachael presented on inclusive dance in The Hague, The Netherlands, and at an international festival on inclusion in the arts in Istanbul, Turkey. Rachael serves as chair of the National Dance Educators Organization Early Childhood Interest Group, and she is the dance writer for the Eugene Weekly. When she's not busy dancing, she loves spending time with her husband and two adorable children.
National board, board of directors, teachers and staff: Under construction