Rachel Giles
Rachel’s passion for dance started in the studios of CDM. Starting at the age of five, she trained in numerous styles including ballet, jazz, lyrical, acrobatics, hip hop, and contemporary, where she took part in CDM’s first competitive team. After training for two years as a national-level rhythmic gymnast, Rachel nurtured her love for the arts at Claude Watson School for the arts, and later at Earl Haig Secondary School’s Claude Watson Arts Program. Through her experiences in the Claude Watson Programs, Rachel has had the pleasure of working with artists including Benoit-Swan Pouffert, Gino Berti, William Yong, Jerome Bob, Melanie Mah, participating in numerous extra-curricular arts events, while also developing her managerial, and performance experience.
While pursuing her degree at McGill University, Rachel was a proud member of Mosaica Dance Company, an egalitarian contemporary dance company and the oldest arts society at the esteemed university. During her university years, she was able to hone her teaching and choreographing skills at Montreal Studio Danse Nanci Moretti, and as a collective member of Mosaica Dance Company. Her creative, organizational, and event managerial experiences culminated in her position as Mosaica Dance Company’s coordinator where she had the opportunity to organize a team of 21 dancers and partake in countless fundraisers and performances throughout the city of Montreal.
Rachel continues to keep dance as a part of her professional life and seeks to inspire creativity and confidence in her students. As a product of arts-based education, Rachel believes that the arts play a crucial role in developing of well rounded, creative, and intelligent individuals regardless of the role that it may play later in their career. Rachel is thrilled to return to her second home as a teacher at CDM!
