Testimonial Letters and Comments
This page is for posting Testimonial Letters and Comments about the Dance School.
If you would like to leave a comment about the school Click Here to send an email to Rachel. After she reviews the letters Rachel will forward them to the webmaster for posting. Please include your name and how you are affiliated with the school (studen, ex-studen, parent).
Rachel - I just wanted to say thank you. Dance makes such a big difference, especially with my daughter. Shes been struggling with some things and it has resulted in tears and a lot general crankiness. Dancing two and half hours on Monday, we had expected her to be cranky from exhaustion. Quite the opposite has proven true! Rarely during the week is she happier than "Dancing Mondays". Thank You so much for providing these classes for her and for allowing her to try the jazz class - which she absolutely loves. (parant of dancer since 2007)
Jesse Griffin started dancing with me in 2009. After just a few classes Jesse stated "I want to be your 1st professional dancer and I want to dance with the Eugene Ballet Company". I told Jesse you keep that goal, work hard and I will do what I can to make that happen for you. Well, here we are 4 years later and Jesse has landed an Apperitice Position with the Eugene Ballet Company. I couldn't be any prouder of him for working hard and going to that next phase of his life. Keep up the hard work and enjoy the journey and remember you will always have a dance family in Klamath Falls. Rachel
Here is a link to the cast member list of Eugene Ballet Company of Peter Pan.
Your studio has truly become a second home to our family - not just because of the hours that we spend there every week, but because of the environment you have cultivated. The girls have formed great bonds with other dancers in their classes and have wonderful role models to look up to in the older girls, who in turn look out for my girls as little sisters. They are learning the importance of good work ethic, team work and rising to meet challenges, which is helping them to grow into strong and confident young ladies. What you have created is amazing and goes above and beyond dance. I am so thankful to be part of this family. Kristin P, parent
Rachel, As I have said before - I am so very impressed with how far you have taken the studio in the last few years. Both in the number of students and in the quality of their dance. I really look forward to watching them the next few years. Thanks you for your hard work! Eric J. parent of student.
On April 19th, 2008, I took my very first Cecchetti exam as a Primary 3 student. It was only my second year in the studio, and I wasn’t even sure if ballet would become a passion of mine. However, because of the Cecchetti method, I learned how much work and dedication you truly put into dancing to transform yourself into a work of art; the way you hold your body, the strength and flexibility required for every single combination, even when only using your arms, the understanding of music and coordination, the emotional vulnerability, the endurance to dance for 2+ hours at a time, the list goes on forever. At 9 years old, I found a purpose and passion despite how difficult and painful the process was to learn it all. I dedicated years to studying Cecchetti and finding all of the ways to express myself beyond words. When I graduated high school, I felt as if a piece of my soul was ripped out and left in the studio, the devastation that I may never dance with Rachel or study Cecchetti again. But I found my way home, I found myself back in the studio, I found my missing piece. Becoming a dance teacher inspired me (along with my favorite teachers, Zia and Megan) to study Cecchetti again, only this time as a teacher. Together, we learned history, music theory, anatomy, effective correction strategies, and how to teach young students the love in dance. We studied for 7 months with Rachel in preparation for a 2.5 hour exam with two of the most experienced Cecchetti council members on the west coast. All of the sweat, tears, early morning, and long nights brought us to this moment. And I can now say, on April 19th, 2025, 17 years after my first exam, that I PASSED my Grade 1 Teacher Exam and officially became a member of the Cecchetti Council of America! Not only that, I passed with a HIGHLY COMMENDED! My very first high score. I feel nothing but pride for Rachel’s School of Dance and the recognition we earned for our students this year.
As a child, I was deeply passionate about dance. It was my primary outlet for expression and joy. However, as life progressed, I found myself stepping away from it. Various circumstances led me to explore different paths, and for nearly a decade, dance became a distant memory. Yet, the love for dance never truly left me. After a ten-year hiatus, I felt a strong pull to return to it. Reconnecting with dance has been nothing short of magical. It has filled me with immense joy and a renewed sense of purpose. The movements, the music, and the discipline all feel like home to me. Now, I am incredibly passionate about my Cecchetti teacher's grade 1 exam and passing with a pass commended (equivalent to an A). This journey has reignited my dedication, and I am eager to share the beauty and discipline of dance with others. Preparing for this exam has been both challenging and exhilarating, and I am committed to achieving this goal.
