Meet Rachel | Dancer of the Year Nominee

“ I began dancing in Los Angeles at the age of 10, later setting focus in ballet with opportunities to train in schools around the country including Pacific Northwest Ballet, LINES Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Chicago, North Carolina Dance Theatre, and the Richmond Ballet. I am ecstatic to have been nominated for the Dancer of the Year RVA Dance Award, and really owe this nomination to my many mentors and supporters, Shannon Hunter McConville, Nicole Mickey Shaver, Madison Ellis Ellington, Lisa Rumbauskas, and of course to my many beautiful and talented dance students at the West End Academy of Dance who I love so dearly. My fun fact is that my favorite activities outside of ballet are tap dancing, water aerobics, hanging out with Bretta (my cat) and crying over episodes of the Great British Baking Show.”

Ballet, VMFA, Virginia Repertory, RVA Dance Awards, STAVNAKatrina Taggart-HecksherNovember 24, 2019Ballet, Ballet Photography Session, STAVNA Academy, Stavna Ballet, West End Academy of Dance, Virginia Repertory Theatre Comment

Meet Jen

"Dance has always been a constant in my life. It’s what I grew up doing and it’s what I have fallen in love with. I can’t imagine my past without it nor dream of a future that did not include it. Creating art and articulating movement is how I think."

STAVNA, BalletKatrina Taggart-HecksherJuly 16, 2017Main Street Train StationMain Street Station, Richmond, Richmond Virginia, Train Station, Sta, Stavna Ballet, STAVNA Academy Comment

Meet Rachel

"Dance is as much apart of me as the air that I breathe. I hope to step on stage until I’m gray and old, and that I continue to dazzle the audiences until the curtain closes."

STAVNA, BalletKatrina Taggart-HecksherJuly 9, 2017Deep Run ParkBallet Photography Session, STAVNA Academy, Stavna Ballet, Deep Run ParkComment

Meet Shannon

"Dance has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. So much so that it is at the center of my very being. It's not just that I like to dance or love to dance; it's that I have to dance."

STAVNA, BalletKatrina Taggart-HecksherJune 25, 2017Maymont ParkDance, Maymont, STAVNA Academy, Dance Photography, Dance Photographer, Gianna Grace Photography, Dancers of RVA, Dance StudioComment

Dancers of rva is a heart project that shares the passion and stories of dancers in the richmond, va area.

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email: dancersofrva@gmail.com