Madeline Rio Axtell
teaches: baby dance club™, yoga, tap dance
Madeline dances as a journey towards embodiment, a coming home to herself. She invites students into awareness of their physical body - through movement, wonder and music. Her degree from Penn State in Kinesiology and immersion in rhythm as a lifelong tap dancer, provide a strong foundation for her teaching. She started tap dancing in 8th grade hasn’t really stopped since - honored to have trained with the legends of tap including: Jimmy Slyde, Heather Cornell, Jason Samuels Smith, Michelle Dorrance, Derick Grant, Chloe Arnold, Dianne Walker, and so many more brilliant artists. Madeline finished her 200hr yoga teacher training in Montana in spring 2022 and found a new love for sharing movement with adults. In her classes you can expect a welcoming of every body, a purposeful playlist, and intentional, creative movement.
When Madeline is not teaching yoga, she is likely scrambling on rocks up high or laying low in the dirt making eye contact with wildflowers. Madeline is married to her best friend Keegan and has two mystical and delightful black cats.
Emma Binstein
teaches: tap
Emma has been a Whitefish resident since she was 2 years old, which is also when she started dancing. Her first dance studio was Whitefish Dance where they learned jazz, clogging, tumbling, and ballet. When she was 6 years old she began tap dancing through Feat X Feet in Whitefish, where she still performs and lights up the stage as an alumni.
Emma graduated college from Oregon State University in 2022 (Go Beavs!), and found her way back home — she just can’t get enough of this place. She currently works as a freelance graphic designer, substitute teacher at Montessori School in Whitefish, and now a teacher at Rio! When Emma is not skiing or working, she loves to read books (mostly romance or fantasy), listen/sing to great music - her current favorite genre is 60’s music, and taylor swift of course!
A note from Emma: “Thank you for finding your way to Rio, can’t wait to see you in the studio.”
Kristin Wilson
teaches: breakdancing
Kristen has had a love for dance since the young age of 5 when she began tap dancing and ballet lessons. When she went to college, she immersed herself in the breakdancing scene, learning from some of the top breakers from Philadelphia. She soon joined her first crew called Ground Abuse.
When Kristin was 23 she moved to Baltimore and formed the crew, Funky Rhythm Junkies, performing in gigs and battles on the East Coast. At the time she was also DJing all over the United States, taking any chance to breakdance in-between sets.
Since then she taught an after school breakdancing program with Creative Alliance in Baltimore and was part of an all female B-girl crew called No Other Means. She has been breakdancing for over 20 years and loves teaching the art. Kristin has also completed 200 hrs of yoga teacher training and has found magic blending aspects of yoga in her breakdancing and hip hop dance classes.
Hilary Madler
teaches: line dancing, modern, hip hop
Hilary grew up in Whitefish and began her career at Whitefish Dance and Acrobat Studio where she first fell in love with dance and took classes in tap, clogging, jazz, hip hop, lyrical/contemporary, ballet, acrobatics and pom.
After high school, Hilary spent her first year of college dancing at the University of Montana before transferring to Northern Arizona University and joining their competitive dance team. Hilary competed at Nationals in Disney World every year in hip hop and jazz as well as dancing at all of the schools sporting events. Flagstaff is also where she learned how to country two step!
After graduating she joined the Air Force in Los Angeles where she continued dancing on her own as often as she could. In her movement career, Hilary also became a certified yoga teacher under Selena Garefino’s instruction in Thailand.
When Hilary is not dancing, you’ll most likely find her hanging out with her two fur babies Rambo and Xena.
Sophia Beaudoin
teaches: contemporary
For Sophia, dancing has always been her truest form of expression and where she has found the most peace. Growing up in the beautiful Arizona desert, Sophia began to dance as a young child. She re-sparked her love for dance in high school, continued dancing at the University of Arizona (#beardown) and eventually paved her fashion design career which led her to Amsterdam. She continued to dance for fun in Europe, while working and traveling around.
Sophia finally made Whitefish her permanent home in 2021 and has fallen in love with her community, landscape, and new career in Interior Design. Sophia has a penchant for Elvis, new destinations, and spicy margaritas (better if all combined).
A note from Sophia: “I am beyond excited to share and create an environment that has given so much to me over the years. I am looking forward to meeting you all and moving’ and groovin’ our bodies together!”
Madame Fromage
teaches: burlesque
Holli, a passionate performer and dance enthusiast, discovered her love for theatrics and act building at a young age.
Throughout her college career, she delved into various dance genres, drawing inspiration from various artists, yoga, and interpretative dance. Holli believes in the importance of developing a robust dance vocabulary, stage presence, and musicality as the foundation for crafting unique acts and choreography.
Beyond the stage, she enjoys karaoke, cooking, and savoring homegrown foods. Holli brings creativity and a diverse range of influences to her role as an instructor.
Meredith Patterson
teaches: ballet, tap, strength & technique
Meredith has performed at the highest levels of the entertainment industry for 25 years. In 2023 Meredith launched her own production company Merie Productions and is producing The Second Story Band at 101 Central, The Whitefish Summer Concert Series and The Whitefish Haunted House with WTC. If you haven’t yet seen her on stage, you are in for a treat.
On Broadway, Meredith originated and starred as Judy Haynes in WHITE CHRISTMAS (Broadway Cast Album), starred as Peggy Sawyer in 42ND ST (2001 Tony Award Winning Revival), co-starred in Julie Taymor’s play THE GREEN BIRD (Broadway Cast Album), and was featured in Madison Square Garden’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Her resume demonstrates a mastery of performance, dance, and longevity in the entertainment industry.
Lucky for us, this incredible careers pairs with a passion to share her knowledge and spread the love and healing that comes with dance at a fundamental level.
Alexandria Rutherford
teaches: heels, hip hop
Alexandria is a practicing physician in rural Montana who loves to stay active. She holds an undergraduate degree in biochemistry and is a former college chemistry professor. She earned her doctorate in medicine (MD) at age 26 and was president of her chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association. Dr. Rutherford is a lifelong dancer, avid runner and hiking enthusiast.
Kara Minnis
teaches: jazz, contemporary
Kara Minnis is a Montana native and a lifelong lover of dance whose journey in the art form began at the age of three. Growing up in Eureka, MT, Kara immersed herself in dance at the Creative Arts Dance Studio, where she honed her skills and developed a deep passion for movement. After graduating, Kara pursued her dance education at the University of Montana, expanding her knowledge and refining her technique.
Through a series of serendipitous events, Kara found her way back to her roots in Eureka and assumed the role of director at the Creative Arts Dance Studio. Under her leadership, the studio has flourished, benefiting from her vision and dedication. Kara is now celebrating her 10th year of teaching and her 8th year as director, a testament to her commitment and love for the dance community.
Kara's genuine affection for her students and profound respect for the transformative power of movement drive her passion for teaching. She is dedicated to sharing her knowledge with the same enthusiasm that fueled her own journey.
Looking forward, Kara is excited to contribute to the Flathead Valley dance community at Rio. She eagerly anticipates the opportunities and experiences the future holds, both for her students and her ever-evolving dance education.
Tikwiza Nkowane
teaches: west coast swing
Tikwiza has always had a love and passion for dance. She started at a young age doing Hip Hop and Breakdance while growing up in Switzerland and London. In 2006 she decided to train and focus on Latin and Ballroom with her dance partner in London for over 10 years and competed in many Latin and Ballroom competitions across Europe over the years. When Tikwiza moved to the US in 2016 she unfortunately was not able to find a like minded Latin and Ballroom partner to continue her journey, but found West Coast Swing (WCS) in 2017! WCS has allowed Tikwiza to express her true self and blend all the dances that she knows and loves into it.
Tikwiza has been dancing WCS since 2017 and travels to competitions and dance conventions nationally and internationally. She is passionate about dance, movement and wants to share, teach and build a community of WCS in Montana.
Tikwiza truly believes that there is no age limit to learning a new dance, we are all born with a natural rhythm. If you have the passion to learn, you can dance!
Note to Madeline: Thank you so much for creating such an environment for people who are passionate to share their skills and bring movement to the community!
Deanna Masgay
teaches: ballet
Deanna Masgay is originally from Calgary, Alberta, Canada where she began training at the age of 6 in ballet. From there she expanded her training into jazz, lyrical and tap.
At age 18 Deanna became a professional dancer performing in companies in Canada, Japan, South America and the U.S. Deanna graduated from Sonoma State University, California with a degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in teaching.
In 2004 Deanna founded the Just Dance Academy dance studio in San Rafael, Ca which offers ballet , jazz, contemporary , lyrical , hip hop and a competitive dance program. The Just Dance Academy produces bi- annual dance performances showcasing all disciplines.
Deanna enjoys teaching all ages and levels and emphasizes the joy of movement and music within her dance classes.
Shane Braverman
teaches: belly dancing
Shane has been bellydancing on and off for the past 20 years and has studied and taught various forms of belly dance from Egyptian cabaret to American Fusion Style belly dance. she has also studied Bollywood dancing and is an avid partner dancer when she is not doing shimmies in the grocery store line.
Shane holds a BA in Linguistics, a BA in Spanish, and a MS in Education. she has studied and taught many subjects including Spanish, Italian, Japanese, French, AIkido, Capoeira, ballroom dance, bellydance, leadership, physical education, and more. she has worked as a teacher in private schools, boarding schools, and public schools, and that work has evolved into teaching both teens and adults how to thrive during their adolescence.
Michelle Skaletski-Boyd
teaches: ecstatic dance
Whether sweating to oldies with her mom at the gym or performing in Show Choir and musicals on stage, dance has always been a way of life for Michelle. She learned rhythm on the drums from her paternal grandmother, who was also her piano teacher, and was taught to trust universal flow from her Appalachian best friend and maternal grandmother who was a teacher of both ballroom and swing.
Trance Dance, a.k.a. ecstatic dance, is spontaneous free-form mind-body-spirit movement that has been around since ancient times and is designed to alter consciousness, release inhibitions, and allow intuition to lead. This inner/outer journey helps you playfully break the rules and embrace your inner weird in a space that is ultimately what you make of it.