Meet Christine Rohde | Co-Owner, Artistic Director, Teacher of reVel dance center LLC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine Rohde and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My business partner, Doug Luers and I, decided to start reVel dance center LLC in 2018 because of my passion for teaching and dance over the past 20 some years. After having completed my Masters in Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography at CU Boulder and dancing professionally for 20 years, it seemed absolutely fitting to start my own educational environment. It was important to build and develop my own vision and put into action my philosophy of teaching dance for children and adults of all ages. I believe dance can enrich and develop a person’s understanding of their body, mind and spirit and can create new connections in the way we relate to the world around us. The reason we choose to open in Erie, CO is because we love our community and neighbors and want to invest in the town we call home.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My professional background has always been connected to my passion for learning, expanding my experience, and exploring the vast opportunities you can find in the performing arts. The drive to succeed in my career has always been connected to my personal impetus to live fully and find and share the joy of dance with others, hence the name of our business reVel dance center. It’s important to “reVel” in the moment. The journey has never been easy, but loving what I do has always buffered any struggle. I stumbled into the world of dance by taking a free trial class with a friend and was immediately enthralled. I started assistant teaching dance at age 12, which helped pay for my dance classes and instilled a strong work ethic at an early age. Additionally, I am incredibly energetic and love kids, which is a tremendous benefit in the performing arts and education.

For more detail on my professional experience see my bio:

For the past two decades, I have taught at dance studios both locally and around the country, in master workshops around the US and abroad, in public schools, community colleges, for professional dance companies, and at the University Dance Major and minor level. In 2012, I was awarded the Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where I taught university level dance classes from 2009-2012. As way of celebrating excellence in education, in 2011, CU Boulder presented me with The Best Should Teach Silver Award. My experience in higher education continued when I served as Assistant Professor of Dance at the State University of New York in Potsdam for Dance majors, minors and non-majors from 2013-2014. Additionally, I have experience as a guest artist and teacher in residence includes the dance programs at Ursinus College in Philadelphia and at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction.

In addition to my experience as an educator, I also danced professionally for the past twenty years for companies in Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., and Colorado (currently with 3rd Law Dance Theater in Boulder) and I am an actively creating choreographer. Regarding my professional dance career I performed nationally, including at the Kennedy Center, and internationally in Costa Rica and Korea. I have danced professionally for 3rd Law Dance Theater, Rincones & Company Dance Theater, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (which included performances in Costa Rica for Jazz Dance World Congress), Thodos Dance Chicago (representing the United States in the Busan International Dance Festival in South Korea), Interweave Dance Theater, and Jazzworks Dance Company. As a choreographer my work has been showcased as repertory for professional companies, in musical theater and opera productions, for community outreach programs, dance competitions and recitals. Professional dance companies that have performed my choreography include 3rd Law Dance Theater, Thodos Dance Chicago and Interweave Dance Theater. In 2010, I represented CU as a headliner choreographer and performer, and teacher in Costa Rica through the cultural exchange program, Promising Artists of the 21st Century. I also have assisted and choreographed musical theater productions and was the lead choreographer in the opera production Bernstein’s Mass, in collaboration with CU’s School of Music, performed at Boettcher Hall in Denver, featuring three choirs and an orchestra.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Monday Go to The Dairy Arts Center to see a show
Take a Hike at Chautauqua Park in Boulder

Tuesday
Yoga at Yoga Junction in Louisville
Breakfast outside on the Patio at Rose’s Cafe in Erie
Stand up Paddle-boarding at the Union Reservoir in Longmont and
Stop by Cheese Importers in Longmont for late lunch and Shop

Wednesday
Drive to Fort Collins and wander the Colorado State University’s Annual Flower Trials
Brewery tour the New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins

Thursday
Check out the new exhibits at Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver
Visit the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver and pick up a new book
Get drinks and dinner at one of the Union Station restaurants

Friday
Wander and shop on Pearl Street in Boulder and pick up kitchen gadgets from Peppercorn
Go to a baseball game at Coors Field

Saturday
Walk Red Rocks Park in Morrison, CO
See a band perform at Red Rocks

Sunday
Get Breakfast at Snooze in Lafayette
Take a leisurely walk at the Boulder Reservoir
Stop by at Avery Brewery for lunch and drinks

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have so many people I want to give a shoutout to! All of the many teachers, professors, mentors who helped guide me into the world of dance and education have had a major influence in my life and I want to pay it forward to help encourage others!! Additionally, in 2018, upon opening our business I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer. Having to undergo numerous surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation while opening a business was the most challenging situation I have ever been through. The dance community, my students and their families, my significant other and my family and friends were the most encouraging cheerleaders I could ever ask for. After around 16 months of treatment and still teaching dance throughout my caner journey, our business was able to remain open and provided hope and motivation to continue to fight and thrive throughout. I am now cancer free and able to continue to share my passion and give thanks each and everyday to these amazing people.

Website: www.reveldancecenter.com

Instagram: reveldancecenter

Facebook: Revel Dance Center LLC

Image Credits
Grace Creative Studios