Madeline Rio Axtell
teaches: baby dance club™, rhythm, yoga, tap
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: happy feet, intermediate 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: hip hop flow, intro to 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: let’s line dance!, beg hip hop, turns, leaps and technique
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 or slinging pies at Jersey Boys Pizzeria in Whitefish.”
Sophia Beaudoin
teaches: modern movement
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 foundations
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: beginning ballet, musical theatre tap
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: sexy heels
[ more information about alexandria soon! ]