Sara Olivier
Early Childhood Program Director • Modern Dance & Student Company Director • Teaching Artist
Sara is the official Early Childhood Program Director, 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. Her teaching style combines techniques of Martha Graham, Jose Limon, Lester Horton, Rudolf Laban, Irmgard Bartenieff, and Bill Evans. She enjoys guiding students through the creative process and providing opportunities for self-expression through movement. In addition to teaching, she collaborates with other local artists. Sara also teaches dance classes for Black Hills Works and choreographs for their all-ability company, Flutter Productions. Having recently completed her certification as a yoga teacher for children with Peace and Motion Yoga, she’s excited to incorporate yoga in her classes too. 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, 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.
