As dancers, we push our bodies to the limit in all planes and dynamics of movement. We often sustain recurring injuries that cause frustration, pain, and keep us from practicing our craft fully and performing at our best. In these 45-minute Dance Assessment sessions, Instructor Rachel Barker will work with you to address ineffective movement patterns, weakness or tightness in certain areas of the body, mobility issues, and other factors. She strives to help others find healing through the joy of movement and aligning body, mind, and soul with the ultimate goal to live life to the fullest while pursuing passions with greater strength, confidence, and ease.
Utilizing a combination of Pilates and other dance/movement modalities, Rachel will assess your posture, imbalances, and dynamic alignment while performing specific dance movements and exercises. Rachel will prescribe exercises, stretches, and other protocol to help address your injuries or discomfort. Her goal is to help you attain more efficient body mechanics and patterning to get you moving and dancing at your highest level without pain.
In her 23 years as a dance instructor, performer, and more recently as a Pilates instructor, Rachel has blended her knowledge of various movement forms and philosophies to help dancers return to their practice and perform at their best. She has trained in modern/contemporary dance, ballet, jazz, somatic forms, partnering and improvisation techniques. Rachel has trained in both the STOTT Pilates and Balanced Body Pilates methods, and has taught Pilates in group and private settings at multiple studios throughout the Wasatch Front.
As a dance artist and educator, Rachel has taught in a variety of settings and earned a Master’s in Fine Arts in Dance from The Ohio State University, a Master’s in Teaching from Westminster College, and a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Utah. Since 2016, Rachel has served as Dance Professor at Brigham Young University and University of North Carolina-Charlotte, and prior to that worked in various studios and led a high school dance program. Her creative work, including contemporary dance choreography and dance film, has received multiple awards and been presented nationally and internationally in various festivals and venues. When she is not in the studio, you can find Rachel outside, traversing the mountains on her skis and bike, running rivers, or heading out on solo adventure trips!
All Dance Assessment Sessions with Rachel Barker, MFA will be held at The PEAAC.