RAYCHEL VALENTIN

Born and raised in New Jersey, my exposure to dance started at a young age, and the passion grew intensely immediately. Training in a variety of styles such as Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, and Hip-Hop, I had vast opportunities to gain a certain level of mastery as well as perform in multiple different cities around the United States. Under amazing teachers and instructors, I was encouraged to pursue a life and career in the field of dance. Teaching and creating by the age of ten, I grew more hungry for information and exposure in dance and the different opportunities available to me. I accepted a spot into a renowned performing arts high school, where I vigorously trained and studied the art of dance through courses such as; dance history, and introduction to kinesiology—acquiring unique styles and somatic practices such as aerial dance and yoga. Choreographically, my four years there allowed multiple opportunities to continue my exploration of my artistic voice through more rigorous composition classes, as well as auditions to present student work in department showcases. In which, I took full advantage of. Ultimately, my years of training, performing and creating lead me to Ohio State University, where I continue my professional training through advanced courses, lectures, seminars and labs, as well as continuing my creative journey through focused and specialized composition classes such as; Creating as a Freelance Artist, multiple performance opportunities with many staff and student run concerts throughout the year, and endless amounts of space to create and showcase my work on and off campus. All of which were deeply investigated without hesitation. As I prepare for the next chapter in life, I reflect on my training, creating, and experiences with content, as I know I carry a fully stocked tool-belt for any opportunity.