DANCE FOREVER STUDIO 1611 S. Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277 (310)540-6285 Click here for driving directions

My mom took me to my first dance lesson when I was three years old. Like most young kids my energy was boundless. With the helpful guidance of my parents I realized that I needed a creative outlet through which to channel my energy. Dance naturally proved to be the perfect outlet. Many joyful, dance lesson filled years followed. I studied with: Dance Academy of Fallbrook, Beech Street Dance, Performing Arts Civic Light Opera House of San Diego, Creative Impact Dance Studio, Disneyland Resorts, and with North Idaho College by way of their wonderful dance program. Eventually, I decided it was time to give back to the world the training I had absorbed throughout my youth and young adulthood. Now, over a quarter century since that first lesson, my passion for dancing has only grown stronger. I firmly believe that dance is one of the greatest ways to express our natural zest for life. My philosophy at Dance Forever Studio seeks to nurture our kinetic natures through classical dance forms. And whether my dancers wish to try dance out as a fun and fulfilling extra-curricular activity or they plan to evolve into accomplished professionals, I approach all classes with an un-biased, supportive attitude. May everyone "dance forever!"

Hello to all. My name is Rachel Blanchard and I teach Jazz, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Modern and Ballet at Dance Forever Studio. Dance has always been a very big part of my life. There are 5 girls in my family and every one of us studied dance at some point. My poor Mom constantly having to watch the basement dance recitals we would spend hours putting together at home for her enjoyment... it must have been pretty entertaining at times with all of us competing for the spotlight. Needless to say, most of my childhood memories consist of dancing in some way or another. Many different studios and various experiences have ultimately contributed to my dance training. To mention a few: Studio C, Centennial High School's Sweet Liberty Dance, B.Y.U. Idaho's Contemporary Dance Theater, and Utah State University's Sunburst Dance Team. I completed school with a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education and an Associate's Degree in Health Education and Dance. My understanding of the complexity of human body and the art of teaching were two of the most valuable lessons I gained from my college experience. In the years since graduation, I have enjoyed instructing for the Portland Community Ballet and Forest Grove Dance Arts of Oregon. I now am very excited to find myself in California and teaching for Dance Forever Studio! My love for dance is strong as ever. Dance is a tool to develop one's spirit and mind through the body. It is my privilege as an instructor to provide my dancers with an understanding of the body and its wonderful capabilities and to support them in experiencing the fullness and the joy dance can bring into life.

My dance career started at age three when my mother took me to my first ballet class. I still remember wearing a hot pink leotard and loving every minute of dance class. My love for dance has not changed since then. After taking dance classes with Parks and Recreation in Westchester, CA where I was born my family moved to Torrance. I then started taking dance classes at various dance studios in the South Bay, including the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, South Bay Conservatory, Fusion, Center Stage, The Dance Center and Lauridsen Ballet Centre where I studied Ballet and Pilates intensely for four years when I was in high school and in college. Throughout my dance career I have mostly focused on Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical Jazz and Hip-Hop; although I have also studied Modern and Contemporary. I started taking dance seriously when I was in high school. I started with beginning dance freshman year and by junior year I advanced to the South High School Advanced Competition Dance Team, competing in Hip-Hop, Jazz and Lyrical all over Southern California with the United Spirit Association, our team even went to Nationals in Anaheim, CA. I continued my dance career at El Camino College where I received my AA degree in Sociology in 2007; I also studied Ballet, Ballet Variations, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Modern and Improvisation. I graduated in 2009 from UCLA with my Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. Even though I did not major in dance, dance was still and is still a huge part of my life. It brings me great joy to be teaching at Dance Forever Studio. I love that I am able to share my passion and joy for dance and creativity with children. I have worked at Dance Forever since January 2007 and in that time I have been so blessed to be able to see my students succeed, learn new things and most importantly, have fun! Miss. Cari provides a wonderful learning environment at Dance Forever and I have enjoyed every minute working with her and the staff!

From the time I put on on my first ballet slippers, every spot in front of a mirror was a place to practice dance and every living room was my stage. I was always dancing! The best thing that dance taught me is that while not every dancer makes it a career, there is simply no better training to promote self discipline, grace in movement, and above all confidence! I spent my formative dance years at Creative Dance Arts in Tucson, Arizona. Because of the love and the passion that my teachers there showed, I decided I wanted to dance forever! I have also studied with Ballet Arizona, Cyndi Pan’s Dance Studio, The Dance Loft, The University of Arizona and The Edge in Hollywood. I performed regularly at Showstoppers and StarQuest with my competition team, and I was thrilled to dance aboard The Disney Magic for Disney Cruiselines. I am excited to be apart of the Dance Forever family and I hope to instill my love for dance in the hearts of all my students in the same way that my teachers did for me.

Dance to me has always been a way of life. It’s in my body, it’s what I eat, sleep, and breathe. My journey with dance began at the age of three when I first stepped in front of the studio mirror and saw my pretty tutu and ballet shoes reflecting back at me. Dancing through the grocery store aisles and anywhere else I could tap my toes, it was obvious to all that my relationship with dance was just beginning. The recitals, competitions, conventions, and even the time spent traveling, hold my greatest childhood memories. In high school I danced for my hometown studio, Nebraska Dance, and for my nationally ranked high school dance team, Millard West. I had the opportunity of learning and performing at workshops such as Pacific Coast Dance Fest at the University of Long Beach, Gus Giordano’s Jazz Chicago, West Coast Dance Explosion, LA Dance Magic, and Adrenaline. As I grew older, my love and passion for dance grew and I decided to further my studies at the University of Kansas. I became a proud member of the nationally ranked “Rock Chalk Dancers” dance team. I was also a member of the University Dance Company, directed by a former principal dancer of the Joffrey Ballet. My appreciation for performing arts deepened while my knowledge of dance expanded. Senior year, I became a member of the Kansas City Wizards dance team, gaining experience in a professional team atmosphere. After graduating with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography, I knew I was ready to spread my wings. Since then, I have danced in New York City, Chicago, and now Los Angeles. I have had the honor of studying with Chicago’s “Hubbard Street Dance Company” and “LA Contemporary Dance Company”. I am beyond thrilled to be living here in California, where dreams really can come true, and I am so excited to share my experiences and knowledge with the students at Dance Forever Studio!