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/Bartenieff Analyst of Movement (CMA) and holds a Master's 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 at prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater and Dance Place in Washington, D.C., the Bay Area Dance Festival and Monterey Dance Festival in California, Espace Tangente in Montreal, Quebec, and the Toronto Fringe Festival in Ontario. From 1996 to 2004, Maria led the School of Rockford Dance Company as the first full-time school director. In 2001, Maria received a Finalist Award in choreography from the Illinois Arts Council. In 2002, she was honored with the Hispanic Heritage Award, given by La Voz Latina for her contributions to the cultural life of the community. Maria is the Artistic Director of the Without Shoes Modern Dance Company. She formerly taught in the Bilingual Department at Lathrop Elementary School.
Julienne Jackson
Ballet - Student Division
Julienne Jackson has studied dance since age 7. She has taught and choreographed ballet and pointe for over 24 years in the Rockford area at various studios, including 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 Christian settings for over 20 years. She is a former member of the Rockford Dance Company, having studied under Joy Xu for five years. Julienne also studied under Jory Hancock and Melissa Lowe, from the New York City Ballet, University of Arizona, Tucson, Az. She studied dance as a child with Janet Quilici, Chuck Hoenes, and Jayne Poor from the Rockford Dance Company School, and Donna Bollinger from the YWCA. Later, she studied under Randy Newsom at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL. Julienne earned an MFA in Art from Northern Illinois University. She teaches Art History at Rock Valley College. Julienne is married to Stephen, and they have two daughters, Ashley and Savannah.
Christy Munch
Ballet & BeMoved® - Adult/Active Divisions
Christy Munch has been involved in the dance theatre profession for 30+ years, as a dancer, teacher, director, costumer, and independent choreographer.
She has danced with Jan Bartoszek/Hedwig Dances and Timothy Buckley, and toured with them to Jacob’s Pillow International Dance Festival and Dance Theatre Workshop in New York. Influential teachers in her dance career were from Chicago studios founded by Gus Giordano, Joel Hall, and Lou Conte. Her choreography has been produced at numerous dance venues in Chicago, and 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 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 holds a Masters in Interdisciplinary Arts and a Masters in the Art of Teaching from Columbia College Chicago. Christy is the Artistic Director of the Rockford DanceMakers Festival.
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.