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OUR ARTISTIC TEAM
BARBARA RINALDO
Founder/Artistic Director
Barbara Rinaldo is Founder and Artistic Director of Creative Stages of San Diego. Her desire to start a non-profit developed through her work as Director of San Diego Danceworks. Danceworks has been providing dance education in San Diego since 1990. In 1992, Ms. Barbara took over as Director. Her unique background in dance; a BFA in Ballet and an MFA in Dance; with years of experience as a performer, teacher, choreographer, and administrator guided her to focus the mission of San Diego Danceworks on encouraging students to develop creative expression while receiving excellent training in all forms of dance. She has encouraged and supported students with diverse abilities to join classes at the studio. Over the years, Ms. Barbara has taught private lessons to students with diverse abilities helping them gain strength, flexibility, and a creative voice to express their struggles through choreography. Creative Stages of San Diego will expand the goals begun with San Diego Danceworks offering a variety of opportunities in studio and throughout the community for students with diverse abilities to express themselves through dance.
BEX
WALKER
Teaching Artist
Bex Walker's philosophy is that we were all created to create. With diverse abilities, come diverse artistic expressions and together we benefit from a spectrum of perspectives.
Bex's formal education in Sociology and professional development in teaching individuals with disabilities has provided her with over 14 years of experience, instructing anyone regardless of age or ability. She has trained with the organization Kids Included Together and worked as an inclusion aid with Eveoke Dance Theater. She has taught adult and senior dance classes at St. Madeline Sophie's Center, through the outreach program with Malashock Dance. Additionally, she has taught with the outreach program at La Jolla Playhouse, working with underserved youth including dancers with disabilities since 2014. She has performed in multiple dance companies locally and internationally, has choreographed award winning full length dance productions and has been teaching dance for over 15 years.
Bex has also worked as a job coach through Options For All; a nonprofit organization designed to serve and integrate individuals with disabilities into the community. She believes combining her two passions, dance and inclusivity, can add enrichment to each and every dancer's journey. Her goal is to create a safe and fun space for all dancers to feel seen, heard, and achieve their own separate goals, together. To contact Bex about programs please email: bex.cssd@gmail.com
