Excellence in Dance Education for over 65 Years

Rachel Rubin began her training at the Charlotte Klein Dance Centers in Worcester at the age of three. Through the years, Rachel continued with her training and eventually she joined the Charlotte Klein Dance Company and also worked as an assistant.

After graduating high school, Rachel continued her dance education and training at Dean College graduating Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in Dance and a minor in Business. There she studied Ballet, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, Dance History and Pedagogy. At Dean she was a member and a soloist of the Dean College Dance Company and was also the co-captain and choreographer of the Dean College Dance Team. At Dean College she was awarded the Joan Phelps Palladino Scholarship, the Franklin School of Performing Arts Scholarship as well as the Trustees Prize in Dance.

From 2004-2006, Rachel was a member of the She Figure Dance Company where she performed in Cambridge, Boston and Martha’s Vineyard. In 2007 Rachel joined the Charlotte Klein Dance Center as a full time faculty member teaching students from 2 yrs through 18 yrs old.

Her choreography has been regionally and nationally recognized. This competition season she received a choreography award at the Hall of Fame Dance Competition for her contemporary duo “The Double.” In 2010, her modern piece “Arizona 1941” won 1st place high score at the Headliners National Competition. She also choreographed the routines for Master Dance of New England 2005, Teen Miss and Mr. Dance of New England 2009, Mr. Dance of New England 2011, co-choreographed Teen Miss Dance of New England 2013 and co-choreographed the current Miss Dance of New England 2014, Alexis Nevalsky.

In 2013 Rachel become the owner of the Charlotte Klein Dance Center. In addition, she is a teacher at Notre Dame High School in Worcester teaching dance, choreographing the Fall and Spring shows and is the director of the dance ensemble. Rachel is a member and an active board member of Dance Masters of New England. She loves sharing her passion with the dancers at the studio. “Seeing their faces light up when they accomplish something, whether it is getting their splits down or finally mastering the time steps, seeing the joy and the excitement in the dancers faces on their accomplishments is why I love doing what I do”. Besides her teaching and being the owner of the studio, she is a wife to Joel Rubin and the proud mother of 3 children, one of whom is dancing at the studio.

Christine Carlson is CKDC’s Associate Director, Senior Associate Artistic Director and Choreographer of the Dance Company and has over 27 years of teaching experience. Ms. Carlson received a B.F.A. Degree from The Boston Conservatory and has been a member of the faculty of Charlotte Klein Dance Centers since 1978. She is a president of the New England Chapter of Dance Masters of America and has been a guest teacher for DMA’s New England, New York and Pittsburgh chapters. She has also served as a competition judge in Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Canada, Florida and New York. Ms. Carlson has performed and taught in London and Paris with the noted teacher and choreographer Matt Mattox and studied with him at the 1990 Jazz Dance World Congress in Evanston, Ill.

Other past accomplishments include performing with Rudolf Nureyev in the film Valentino, the choreographer for the film Agatha, a member of Disney on Parade touring Europe and South America and appearances on BBC television. Ms. Carlson’s choreography has won numerous first place and highest adjudication awards at many regional and national competitions.

Callie Kamanitz danced with Charlotte Klein Dance Centers for 10 years and danced with the company for four years. She currently attends Washington University in St. Louis where she is working towards a BA in Psychology and Organization and Strategic Management with a minor in Dance.

Callie has choreographed multiple musicals for her highschool and taught dance classes for a variety of ages and levels at Charlotte Klein. She has also managed the front desk in the Worcester location. Callie works currently at Charlotte Klein as Director of Operations and as a special choreographer. She is excited to continue to be a part of the CKDC family!