Exploring Together. Moving Together.
Hixon Dance offers a different approach to dance education in central Ohio. Our outreach and educational programs emphasizes collaboration, creativity, community, and developing a growth mindset. Hixon Dance can provide a variety of experiences for different communities, ages, levels, and abilities. We offer master classes, workshops, intensives, school assemblies or outreach experiences, and more! Some of our past partners include:
Worthington City Schools
Upper Arlington Schools
Columbus City Schools
CATCO is Kids
Worthington Chamber Orchestra
The Wellington School
Dublin Dance Center
The McConnell Arts Center
For more information or to inquire about having Hixon Dance provide educational programming, please fill out the form below.
Our Teaching Artists
Rachael Riggs Leyva is a dance notator, educator, scholar, and performer. She has taught for Denison University, The Ohio State University, and CATCOisKids, and presented research at CORD/SDHS, Dance Studies Association, International Council of Kinetography Laban, and Trinity/LABAN. She earned a PhD in Dance and Literacy Studies, and an MFA in Dance Documentation from The Ohio State University. She currently serves as Education Director for Hixon Dance.
Sarah Hixon has more than 20 years experience as a dance educator. She has taught for The Ohio State University, the American College Dance Festival, BalletMet, Wittenburg University, New Albany Ballet Company, Dublin Dance Center, Columbus City Ballet, & the OhioDance Festival among others. She holds a BFA in Dance from George Mason University and an MFA in Choreography from OSU.
Dr. Rachael Riggs Leyva
Sarah Hixon
Grace Glowacki has been working with students in performing arts and early childhood settings for the last 10 years. Grace participated in multiple performing arts during middle and high school, before she began directing. While working for the Worthingway Arts Program, she began to help backstage with Hixon Dance performances. In 2021, Grace officially began working for Hixon Dance as Studio Operations Administrator. Grace earned her Bachelors of Science in Early Childhood Education and Intervention from Otterbein University in 2022. Grace has since taken a full-time lead teacher position at The Learning Spectrum. She looks forward to following her dream of teaching in special education, while also continuing to support Hixon Dance’s mission as our Studio Manager.
Alicia Hann received a BFA in Modern Dance from Ohio University. Alicia is also a Dancing Mindfulness facilitator certified through The Institute for Creative Mindfulness in 2017. She believes that everyone is a dancer. Alicia has over a decade of experience in dance education & continues to teach dance technique classes in Modern, Ballet, & Contemporary Dance forms at several central Ohio studios. She is also a facilitator for Perennial Movement Group, a Columbus-based group focused on providing dance classes & performance opportunities for adults 50+. Alicia has taught workshops & master classes in Modern Dance Technique, Improvisation, Dance Composition, & Dancing Mindfulness throughout the Midwest. Alicia is excited to be entering into her 5th season teaching with Hixon Dance. She values the community of movers at Hixon dance & their progressive approach to dance education.
Grace Glowacki
Alicia Hann
Mercedes Hicks is a recent graduate of the Ohio State University, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. During her time in the dance department, Mercedes performed in a variety of faculty and student works in styles including but not limited to contemporary, modern, ballet, west African, house, and hip hop. She also worked directly with Bebe Miller, Sidra Bell, and the Limón company's artistic director Dante Puleio. In 2022, she spent a short but fulfilling summer semester in Denmark where she was introduced to Danish gymnastics and release technique. Shortly after she wrote a research essay on the roots of jazz dance that would later be published in the University of California Irvine's Dance Journal. In addition to being a performer, Mercedes is a passionate teacher/choreographer. She’s excited to continue her dance journey as a teacher at Hixon Dance!
Anne Raspe is a performer, choreographer, and dance advocate. She received a degree in Dance Studies, under the instruction of Rashana Perks-Smith, at Ohio Wesleyan University and maintained many leadership positions within the campus dance company, clubs, and department board. She is passionate about keeping art accessible and has thoroughly enjoyed dancing alongside her company members. This is her first year teaching at Hixon Dance and her second season with the Hixon Dance Company. She has loved every moment so far.
Mercedes Hicks
Anne Raspe
Sarah Price
Sarah Price is a current company dancer for Hixon Dance, as well as Teaching Artist and Communications Administrator. Sarah is a recent graduate of Western Kentucky University where she received a B.A. in dance. At Western, Sarah was a member of the National Dance Education Organization WKU student chapter as well as a company member. Sarah is from Erie, PA where she trained and taught at Longs School of Dance for 6 years. While there she taught ballet, acrobatics, hip hop, contemporary, and Irish dance. She was also a competitive gymnast for 6 years. Sarah is looking forward to sharing her love of dance.
Jasmine Shafley
Jasmine Shafley has been with Hixon Dance since 2017. She is a former Company Dancer for Hixon Dance, and is currently a Teaching Artist and part of the admin team. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a minor in Somatic Studies from Ohio University, as well as teaching experience in Yoga and Pilates Mat Training. Jasmine earned her Child Development Associate Credential through Action for Children and taught preschool at North Broadway Children's Center. Jasmine has enjoyed sharing her love of dance through teaching Modern and Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz, and Tap at several dance studios in the Central and South-East Ohio areas and is excited to be part of Hixon Dance's mission to create a collaborative, creative, and inclusive community of young movers.
Sarah Vah
Sarah Vah is a graduate of Kent State University, where she received her B.A in Dance Studies, and a double minor in Arts Entrepreneurship and Disability Studies. Sarah grew up in Hilliard, Ohio and danced competitively for 11 years. She has taught dance classes at various studios in both Columbus and Kent in all styles and to all ages. During her tenure at Kent State, she was a member of the Kent Dance Ensemble and served as the Student Artistic Director. She is in her second season with Hixon Dance as both a company member and a teacher. Sarah is excited to further her teaching career at Hixon Dance!
