Our Founders
Christine Rohde and Douglas Luers are Erie, Colorado residents who believe in the importance of the arts and the value of being a part of a community. As experienced professionals in both dance education and marketing, we have merged our passions to create reVel dance center. Christine, Doug, and our adorable dog (Wrigley) are excited to share the joy and artistry of dance with you! We believe that our students will be encouraged to grow in new ways and expand beyond expectations under the care and expertise of the reVel dance center!! The grand opening of reVel dance center began in the Fall of 2018 and we are thrilled to see our small business thrive and grow, now in our 7th year of business! See below for more details on who we are and what we have to offer.
Christine M. Rohde
Owner/Founder, Artistic Director & Teacher
Photo provided by Annabelle Denmark Photography
Christine Rohde is originally from Madison, Wisconsin but has made Erie, Colorado to be her home since 2009. Ms. Rohde holds a BA in Dance from the UW, Stevens Point, and a Masters in Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography, from CU Boulder. Additionally she has received her Clinical Massage Therapy License and has her secondary emphasis in Alexander Technique and it’s application to dance education. Christine is an award-winning teacher who is experienced, passionate, and versatile in many dance forms, ages, and abilities. As an educator she strives to teach in an engaging and joyful way that enhances learning and develops confidence, teamwork, and highly trained dancers. She has 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 has toured nationally and internationally. As a choreographer Ms Rohde’s work is diverse across multiple genres including concert dance, musical theatre, and opera featured on local, national, and international stages.
A greater in-depth look at Christine's background:
For the past two decades, she has 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, she was awarded the Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she taught university level dance classes from 2009-2012. As way of celebrating excellence in education, in 2011, CU Boulder presented her with The Best Should Teach Silver Award. Her experience in higher education continued when she 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. Her 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 her experience as an educator, Christine has 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 is an actively creating choreographer. Regarding her professional dance career she has performed nationally, including at the Kennedy Center, and internationally in Costa Rica and Korea. Christine has 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 her 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 her choreography include 3rd Law Dance Theater, Thodos Dance Chicago and Interweave Dance Theater. In 2010, she represented CU as a headliner choreographer and performer, and teacher in Costa Rica through the cultural exchange program, Promising Artists of the 21st Century. She also has 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.
Throughout her extensive background and experience the constant motivating force has been her love and passion in teaching dance. Christine is ecstatic to share this ambition and knowledge, while spreading the joy of dance to Erie and beyond!!! We can't wait to see you in class!!!!
Douglas C. Luers
Owner/Founder/CMO
Douglas C. Luers is originally from Indiana and has enjoyed all things CO for the past 8 years. He's been employed in Marketing for the past 16 years and enjoys helping us "turn a phrase." We're excited to see you in our classes and let us know how we're doing with feedback on our communications.
There are many people to thank for this great opportunity to share our passion and love of dance.
To our family, friends, and new family we thank you for your generosity to make this dance center a reality.
Gina Parsons-
Teacher
Gina Parsons began dancing at the age of three with The School of Ballet Arizona. During her pre-professional career, she was a guest performer in numerous productions for Ballet Arizona, including the lead role of Clara in Ib Andersen’s The Nutcracker. Gina attended summer intensives with the American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet School, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and she competed at Youth America Grand Prix’s 2011 Denver regionals where she placed Top 12 in the Classical Junior Women’s Division. While primarily trained in ballet, she also enjoys modern dance and flamenco.
Gina went on to obtain her Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience Honors and Dance at Bowdoin College in Maine. During her college career, when she wasn’t busy studying the lobster’s nervous system, she volunteered her time teaching dance to local kids, other college students, and adults with disabilities. She was the recipient of the Bowdoin Dance Group Award for her contributions of dedicated work, goodwill, and talent over the course of her college career.
Gina is always looking for ways to integrate her two passions: science and movement. As such, she moved to New York City after graduation to work for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as a clinical research associate and spent the last 5 1/2 years studying how exercise affects cancer outcomes.
Gina recently moved to Erie and has a 7-month-old boy. She is honored to be performing alongside Ms. Christine & Ms. Jamie (fellow teachers at reVel dance center) as a guest in Third Law Dance/Theater’s upcoming April performance, and she is excited for the opportunity to teach again as part of the reVel dance community :)
Jamie Schuler - Teacher
Jamie Schuler received her early training in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with Maria Caruso at Bodiography Contemporary Ballet where she had the opportunity to train and perform classical and contemporary ballet, as well as, modern works with the professional company throughout her high school years. Jamie went on to earn a Bachelors of Fine Arts in dance performance from Florida State University in 2011. She studied under Anjali Austin, Lynda Davis, Suzanne Farrell, Tim Glenn, Gerri Houlihan, Sheila Humphreys, Rick McCullough, Anthony Morgan, Dan Wagoner, Tom Welsh and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. Working with the amazing faculty at FSU inspired Jamie to pursue teaching so that she could carry on the movement legacy that her instructors shared with her. During her time in Tallahassee, Florida Jamie was a company artist with The Tallahassee Ballet. Upon graduation, life brought Jamie to Boulder, Colorado where she found a rich dance and arts community; since 2012 she has performed with the award-winning modern dance company 3rd Law/Dance Theater under co-artistic directors Katie Elliott and Jim LaVita. During this time of deepening her work as a professional dancer, she began to invest in the GYROTONIC® Expansion System as a part of her personal cross training. Along with teaching classical ballet and modern dance forms to children and adults, Jamie is also a certified GYROKINESIS® and GYROTONIC® instructor. She was previously on faculty at Boulder Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Colorado Conservatory of Dance, Longmont Dance Theatre Academy, and Production Company Dance Center. This season Jamie will be teaching with 3rd Law/Dance Theater, Gyrotonic Bodhi, Kinesis Dance, and Revel Dance Center.
Page Jenkins - Teacher
Page Jenkins graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of the Arts in Dance. After graduating she danced for 3rd Law Dance/Theater, Interweave Dance Theatre, Louder Than Words Dancetheatre, and New Breed Dance Company. Page has taught for Colorado Conservatory of Dance, Colorado Ballet, National Ballet Academy Denver, and the Denver School of the Arts as well as teaching master classes and workshops throughout the region. She was also the Assistant Artistic Director of Colorado Youth Dance Theatre. Page spent several years in Beijing designing and running the dance program at Beijing National Day School as well as teaching master classes and workshops in Beijing and Wuhan. She is currently dancing with 3rd Law Dance/Theater, Wild Heart Dance and New Breed Dance Company. Page also teaches for 3rd Law Dance/Theater and is a licensed Gyrotonic® instructor at Gyrotonic Bodhi.
Ashley Stephan- Teacher
With a deep passion for dance and over 15 years of professional dance experience, Ashley Stephan is a dedicated and skilled dance instructor as well has received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a Minor in Developmental Psychology. Specializing in jazz, musical theatre, tap, poms, and ballet, Ashley has trained under renowned choreographers and performed on stages across her home state of Missouri. She loves teaching children and adults alike, bringing energy, patience, and creativity to each class. By creating a fun and supportive environment, Ashley helps young dancers build confidence, master technique, and develop a lifelong appreciation for dance and older dancers revisit the excitement that comes from dancing. Whether working with beginners or more advanced students, Ashley is committed to helping every person reach their full potential.
Kristin Cartledge
Kristin has been dancing since the age of six. She received most of her training from Belliston Academy of Ballet where she had the opportunity to perform many roles in the Nutcracker as well as at the Summerset Festival. She later went on to train with the Academy of Colorado Ballet where she had the opportunity to perform in several professional productions including the Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. In addition, she has also performed in a number of other ballets including Coppelia, Handels Messiah, The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, and the Thorn. She completed grades 1-5 in the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and grades 1-2 in the Cecchetti Council of America (CCA). She began her teaching career as a substitute teacher with the Colorado Ballet and went on to teach at the Colorado Academy of Music & Dance as well as Danceworks of Colorado Springs. She has had the opportunity to choreograph many pieces, including an urban rendition of the Nutcracker. Kristin received her Bachelors degree from the University of Colorado in Nutrition with an emphasis in Biochemistry and Sports Health & Wellness Promotion. She then completed her Masters Degree and is currently working as a Physician Assistant. She enjoys using her knowledge of health and nutrition to better her students within the dance realm. She is excited to be returning to the studio to teach at ReVel Dance Center and looking forward to sharing her love of dance with her students.
Sarah Casey - Teacher
Sarah Casey has been dancing since she was a small child. She attended Loyola Marymount University, where she trained and performed in a variety of concerts, plays, and at the American College Dance Festival. She received a Bachelors of Arts in Dance. Post graduation, Sarah attended Bates Dance Festival and began her teaching career. She has been teaching a variety of styles and levels for over 10 years. She specializes in working with toddler/preschool dancers. Sarah also attended Naropa University and received her Masters in Somatic Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis in Dance/Movement Therapy. She worked as a Birth-5 Mental Health Counselor for 3 years before shifting back to teaching dance in order to be able to be home more with her 3 amazing children. In her free time, Sarah enjoys taking aerial silks and lyra/hoop classes and outdoor adventures with her family.