Rachel attempted to rebel from her dancer family by studying Pure Mathematics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. After teaching high school math for 7 years, she went on to get her Master's in School Leadership and Policy Studies, with the goal of opening a non-traditional school. Fast-forward 5 years when she co-founded the Denver School of Social Dance with her partner Devon Near-Hill. Together, they built the hub of partner dance education in Colorado.

Rachel's first dances were Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Blues, and Salsa. She later became infatuated with Brazilian Zouk, which has held her focus since 2011. As a third-generation social dancer, Rachel started teaching by her mom's side when she was 11 years old and has since facilitated hundreds of classes for over 10,000 students.

Now, she leads young people and adults through workshops that leave students feeling more self-aware, creative, and collaborative. Rachel believes trauma-informed movement tools are powerful in the transformation of individuals and communities. Her workshops have impacted classrooms, companies, and dance studios across North America.

You can learn more about her work at RachelLeighDance.com

Devon Near- Hill is a teaching and performing artist, currently serving as Co-Director/Co-Founder along with Rachel Farley at Denver School of Social Dance. Her diverse movement repertoire spans belly dance, ballet, salsa, modern dance, capoeira, lambada Brazilian zouk, kizomba, urban kiz, Alexander technique, and tango. 

During her pursuit of a BFA in Acting at USC, Devon discovered her passion for Lambada and Brazilian Zouk, leading her to delve deeply into their intricacies. Her dedication and skill were recognized when she received second place in the 2018 LA Zouk Festival Semipro US Brazilian Zouk Open competition, marking her as the first female lead to achieve such a feat. Devon’s expertise extends to her role as a judge for the Brazilian Zouk Dance Council, where she remains committed to continual growth and exploration. This year she judged the first ever Lambada competition for the Lambada Dance Council.

Benefiting from mentorship and collaboration with luminaries like Jerry Lai, Gilson Damasco, Braz Dos Santos, and the Renata Peçanha USA team, Devon continues to hone her craft. Having worked in Sexual Assault Prevention Education, Devon has a passion for teaching embodied consent within the context of social dance. She shares her insights and techniques through her Efficient Follow Curriculum, taught both online and internationally, with a vision of cultivating adaptable, embodied, and purposeful movers. Devon eagerly awaits the opportunity to share her passion for movement with you!