Hi, I'm Rachel redding. i'm a houston native with a deep love for movement, music, and building community through dance.from a young age, i knew i wanted a life full of dancing, singing, and telling stories. from early childhood creative movement classes, to elementary ballet and jazz classes, competitive dance in middle school, and a repetory dance theatre in high school - my formative years were spent in rehearsals and recitals.in college i discovered my affinity for choreography. truthfully, i've always been a choreographer. i often made up dances in my bedroom and held my family as a captive audience in the living room.as a choreographer i blend modern dance techniques with elements of ballet, jazz, and hip hop, creating my personal movement language that transcends genre that is deeply rooted in storytelling. I often use choreography as a conceptual tool to make sense of my own lived experiences.as a teaching artist and facilitator of dance, my goal is to create spaces for others to feel safe to be exactly who they are. I encourage and value experimentation, exploration, and thoughtful discussion. My approach to teaching dance is informed by my own experiences and struggles as a lifelong student of dance. i reject certain methods and approaches that i find to be harmful to the mental wellbeing of young dancers. I celebrate mistakes and emphasize the importance of somatic safety over aesthetic demands.i try to use dance as a vehicle for investigation and self discovery. i love dance and i try to share that love and joy with others. recently, i have been exploring how dance and film can work together and i am interested in creating work for both stage and screens.outside of dance and choreography, i am a freelance photographer and movement director.someday i would like to choreograph a music video or musical/musical number for stage or tv/film.

work samples

i post more frequently on instagram, but you can find samples of my work below!

houston dance co-op

after graduating from sam houston state university with my bfa in dance, i began to miss the built in community that came with being a student. as a solution to combat the costs and hustle of freelance dance life, i founded the houston dance co-op, a volunteer-based community dedicated to providing an inclusive space for adult dancers to connect, collaborate, and share resources.

Designed with local freelance, professional, and pre-professional performing artists in mind, HDCO offers a less formal setting that emphasizes community and mutual support.to learn more about hdco and our free monthly workshop series, follow along on instagram @houston.dance.co.op