Faculty
Maria Castello
Ballet - Modern - Partnering - Pointe & Variations - Student Division
Maria graduated from the National School of Dance and the Contemporary Dance School of Teatro Municipal San Martin, both in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She holds a medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires. She is a Laban/Barteneiff Analyst of movement (CMA) and has a Master Degree in teaching with an endorsement in bilingual education.
Maria has been a dancer, choreographer, and teacher for more than 30 years. She has worked in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, and the United States. Her choreography has been presented internationally read more…….
Theresa Sinks
BarreVite - CardioTap - Adult Active Division
Theresa has been an instructor with RDC since 2010. She holds several certifications through The Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and the National Association of Sports Medicine (NASM). She is also the only certified BarreVite® trainer in the Midwest. Theresa is also a certified SilverSneakers FLEX® instructor. Eligible participants can join her classes for free! You can check eligibility at www.silversneakers.com
Her focus is working with individuals 50 years old or better, concentrating on balance, flexibility, cardio, read more…….
Julienne Jackson
Ballet - Student Division
Julienne Jackson has studied dance since age 7. Julienne has taught and choreographed ballet and pointe for over 24 years in the Rockford area at Rockford Dance Company, Steps to Grace Dance Studio, Dance Source Unlimited and MaryLee's School of Dance. She has also taught Interpretive Worship in the Church and choreographed in the Christian settings for over 20 years. She is a past member of the Rockford Dance Company, studying under Joy Xu for 5 years. Julienne also studied under Jory Hancock and Melissa Lowe, from the New York City Ballet, University of Arizona, Tucson, Az. Read more…….
Meghan Baylor
Modern - Student Division
Meghan is a Rockford-area dance artist, teacher and choreographer. Meghan joined the Rockford Dance Company teaching faculty in 2012 where she took on the additional roles of Outreach Coordinator and School Coordinator from 2013-2016. In 2017, RDC commissioned Meghan to choreograph Anansi, an original full-length children’s ballet. Meghan has worked as a teaching artist for the Rockford Area Arts Council, Rockford Park District, and RPS205 and she has performed with the Grinnell College Dance Troupe, Rockford Dance Company, Without Shoes Modern Dance Company, and as a founding company member of read more……
Stephanie Foster
Ballet - Musical Theatre - Student Division
Stephanie began dancing at age 7 under the instruction of Pauline Baker Rodgers in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where she studied ballet until attending college at the University of Richmond. Stephanie was a member of the University Dancers, and had the opportunity to participate in workshops with Pilobolus, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and many others.
Stephanie loves musical theater and while living in Philadelphia and Chicago, she performed in many musicals including Cabaret, Anything Goes, and A Chorus Line. As a child, dance was a source of inspiration and confidence for Stephanie. Miss Pauline made every read more……
Caitlyn Baylor
Modern - Student Division
Caitlyn enjoys being involved with the Rockford dance community as a teacher, choreographer, and dancer. She currently teaches modern dance at Rockford Dance Company, where she also grew up studying Ballet as a student. She has performed as a company member with the Grinnell College Dance Troupe and Without Shoes Modern Dance Company. She was also a founding company member of Bad Wolf Dance Theatre in Rockford from 2014 through 2018.
Caitlyn frequently works as an independent artist in collaboration with her sister, Meghan, with a focus on choreography that is site-specific, or off the stage. Their most recent site-specific collaborations have included choreography for Alma: A Psychedelic Awakening at MainfraiM and the creation of an evening-length site work at Severson Dells Nature Center, Dance at the Dells. In 2021, both of these works were recognized by the Rockford Area Arts Council with Rockford Area Arts Awards in the categories of "Innovation in the Arts" and "Placemaking" respectively.
Christy Munch
Ballet & Modern - Adult Division
Christy Munch has been involved in the dance theatre profession for 30+ years, as a teacher, director, costumer, & independent choreographer.
She has danced with Jan Bartoszek/Hedwig Dances and Timothy Buckley, & toured with them to Jacob’s Pillow International Dance Festival & Dance Theatre Workshop in New York. Influential teachers in her dance career were from Chicago studios founded by Gus Giordano, Joel Hall, & Lou Conte. She began modern training at Illinois State University and continued at the Dance Center of Columbia College and throughout Chicago.
In the Chicago area Ms. Munch taught a variety of dance technique and methods courses at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Links Hall, & numerous high schools, festivals, studios & park districts. For 12 years she directed the Orchesis Dance Group at Leyden High School.
Her choreography has been produced at numerous dance venues in Chicago, & was featured for five years in Chicago’s NEXT Dance Festival. Ms. Munch’s work has been reviewed in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, Dance Magazine, and more.
Christy now focuses on teaching adult ballet and modern, BeMoved® (Artistry Level Certification), Yin Yoga (200-Hour Yoga Alliance Certification) and Basic Giordano Technique (NGCP® Basic Level Certification). She teaches dance and yoga in Janesville, WI and Rockford, IL. She also holds a Masters in Interdisciplinary Arts and a Masters in the Art of Teaching - both from Columbia College Chicago - and teaches middle school Language Arts in Janesville, WI.
Kate Blair
Instructor
Kate Blair began working at Rockford Dance Company in November 2021. She is certified in Movement Fundamentals®, a holistic approach that celebrates all ages & all abilities, & inclusivity. She is also in process of becoming a certified instructor through Moving for Life, an organization that offers dance classes to support healthy aging, & the prevention & recovery from cancer.
Kate studied at both St. Olaf College & Luther College, and earned her B.A. in theatre/dance from Luther in 2008. Kate’s experiences include teaching dance at Espacio Mujeres in Mexico City, dancing as a member of New ARTiculations Dance Co. (AZ), & as a gardener & resident host at Earthdance (MA). Kate is grateful for her creative, supportive family, as well as her many teachers including Jane Hawley, Amanda Hamp, Sherry Saterstrom, Martha Eddy, Brenda Harris, Andrea Vasquez-Aguirre, and others.
Kate’s teaching is also influenced by her experiences as a musician, gardener, chef, early childhood teacher, and caregiver for children, elders, and those with different abilities.
Gretchen Stark
Modern & Ballet - Student Division
Gretchen Stark began dancing at Rockford Dance Company at the age of three and has been contributing her artistry to RDC since then. Gretchen has been teaching dance at Rockford Dance Company for the past seven years. Gretchen graduated from Rockford University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts. In addition to teaching dance, Gretchen also teaches in other capacities, including as a teacher of Visual Art.