Biography

About

Rochelle Mapes is the Director of Dance at Mater Dei HS, overseeing all elements of the Dance program including the Dance Conservatory, Hip Hop Team, Song Team, Dance Elective classes, and Yoga Elective classes.   In addition to Mater Dei, Mrs. Mapes teaches at the American Ballet Theatre Gillespie School at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.  Previously, Rochelle was on faculty at the Orange County School of the Arts for 18 years where she was a Facilitator for the Commercial Dance Conservatory teaching contemporary, jazz, and dance history.  Professional commercial credits include dancing on the FX show “Nip/Tuck” and performing with Gladys Knight and Wayne Brady.  She has danced with several contemporary and jazz companies, notably, BARE Dance Company and RhetOracle Dance Company, where she was additionally a choreographer and rehearsal director.  Her diverse choreography has been presented on the professional concert stage, in college dance departments, studios, and extensively with competitive high school dance teams.  As a master class teacher, she has taught for the Dizzy Feet Foundation's National Dance Day, Dance aTAK conventions, United Spirit Association, KAR convention, numerous studios/schools all over the world, and she was a member of the USA Dance Staff for 17 years.  In addition, she judges for UDA College Nationals, USA Dance, USA Japan Nationals, and the Dance Worlds.

What I Love About MD

I love my students and my colleagues!  This school is filled with kind people who are supportive, encouraging, and genuine.

Education: Master of Arts, Dance - Cal State University, Long Beach: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Dance - Cal State University, Long Beach

At MD since: 2021

Teaching since: 2002