Sara Olivier
Modern Dance Director, Teaching Artist, Yoga Certified
Sara is our Modern Program Director, who teaches modern, improvisation, and choreography and directs the Academy’s student dance company.
A graduate of South Dakota State University with an MA in English, a dance minor, and teaching certification, Sara was dance faculty at Expanding Harmony Studio and Dance Company in Brookings, and also trained at New Mexico State University’s Dance Department.
She enjoys guiding students through the creative process and providing opportunities for self-expression through movement. Having completed her 200-hour certification as a yoga teacher with her Vinyasa practice and an additional certification for young people with Peace and Motion Yoga and training in Brain-Compatible Dance Education with the Creative Dance Center, Sara integrates these teachings in classes and programs.
She also teaches dance classes for Black Hills Works and choreographs for their all-ability company, Flutter Productions. In addition to teaching, she collaborates with other local artists.
Sara shares the many benefits of dance and creative exploration through community outreach, having worked with Lifeways, Rapid City public schools, the Dahl Arts Center, YMCA, RC Public Libraries, Black Hills Symphony Orchestra, Children’s House Montessori, Black Hills Community Theater, and other local non-profit organizations.
Always up for a spontaneous field trip, you can find Sara improvising with students anywhere from parks to art galleries! She lives in Rapid City with her husband, Austin, and sweet dancing son, Henry.