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!! 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. 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!!!!
Wrigley
CEO/Ambassador of Cuteness
Wrigley, our mascot and superior troubleshooter, is from Wyoming. She came to us from the Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue Center. Her mission is to fill joy and energy to all that meet her.
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.
Becky Tibbatts -
Teacher
grew up training at Saratoga City Ballet in Upstate New York for 10+ years. She danced many elite roles, including Sugar Plum Fairy from the Nutcracker and Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland. Becky spent her summers at the New York State Summer School of the Arts under the artistic direction of Daniel Ulbricht and Jenifer Ringer, and also at Boston Ballet School under the artistic direction of Margaret Tracey. At 16, Becky began working at Saratoga Dance Etc., in downtown Saratoga Springs, where she was professionally trained as a pointe shoe fitter by Leslie Roy-Heck, former soloist with New York City Ballet. Becky then went on to receive her Associates in Liberal Arts from SUNY Adirondack. She was delighted to have begun her teaching career at her home studio of SCB and has been an instructor and choreographer for over 7 years. During that time, Becky branched out and dove head first into the world of ballroom dance working as an instructor at Fred Astaire Saratoga Springs. In January 2023, Becky moved from New York to Colorado and has been delighted to continue her teaching journey!
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.
Sonja Davenport - Teacher
Sonja was born in Anchorage, Alaska and moved to Seattle, Washington at the age of 13 to further her ballet training at Pacific Northwest Ballet on full scholarship. Sonja comes to reVel dance center with a decorated career in professional ballet as she has performed professionally with Ballet companies such as the Joffery Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, and Colorado Ballet. Sonja's time on stage has allowed her to perform many soloist and principal roles which has cultivated her love for the arts. She has a passion for teaching and passing down the extensive knowledge and experience she has gained onto the next generation of ballet performers. Sonja also works in the film industry within the production department. She has worked on numerous movies including: About My Father, Jesus Revolution, Map of Tiny Perfect Things, and many more. Sonja has used this connection to bring in former students for movie roles requiring professional dancers. Sonja is extremely excited to begin working with the students at reVel dance center this August!
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.