Ms. Rio’s mission is to foster holistic development of young dancers in the Chicagoland area by providing highly-qualified, progressive, and age-appropriate dance training in an inclusive and motivational environment. Her teaching philosophy has been developed out of the American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum, which offers the perfect balance of dance training between the lackadaisical recreational model and the pressurized competitive model. Ms. Rio's students develop the skills necessary to realize their full individual potential, whether their future goals and dreams include a career in dance or not. She emphasizes correct placement and mechanics to prevent injury, and designs each lesson to be developmentally sound for all ages, levels, and abilities. Ms. Rio's students achieve strong discipline, develop a positive self image, and as a result take pride in their accomplishments!
Areas of expertise:
  • ABT® National Training Curriculum: Levels Primary - Five
  • Classical Forms: Ballet, Pointe, and Variations
  • Fitness Forms: Body Ballet® and Dance Cardio
  • Choreographic Work: Classical and Contemporary
  • Other: Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Talent Show Prep, Audition Prep, Orchesis, Poms, Cheerleaders, and more!
“Ms. Rio started teaching me when I was 7 years old. I am twelve now and I could no be the dancer I am today without her. She knows each individual student’s strengths and weakness and works with us to accomplish the goal of making the weakness into a strength. She makes sure we know why we do each individual combination and how that affects our body. In one class we learn so much, whether it's just corrections or anatomy about the body. Her teaching style is fun but we are still disciplined and attentive during class. She wants us to be the best dancers we can be. And teaches us what goes behind the scenes to be a professional dancer. I feel so fortunate to have had Ms. Rio as my teacher because she cares about all of us as a dancer and as a person.” -Isabella Sparrow
​​BALLET WITH MS. RIO
Register below!
Interclub Academy of Dance
Winter 2021 Hybrid Ballet Classes
Niles Family Fitness Center
Winter 2021 Hybrid Ballet Classes​
Mary Seat of Wisdom School
Winter 2021 In Person Ballet Classes​
Private Lessons​
​(Virtual or In Person)
Birthday Parties​
BACKGROUND​
Starting in 2011, Rio successfully began presenting multiple groups at NYC's American Youth Dance Theater for examinations by the ABT® Artistic Board of Examiners. Each year, her students achieved top scores of 80-100%, enabling her to receive the ABT® NTC Affiliate Status award. Having presented more than three consecutive sessions of successful student exams, Mrs. Guillaume also achieved the title of ABT® NTC Fellow among ABT® Certified Teachers in 2016.

In addition to presenting her classes each year, Rio choreographed multiple works for AYDT's bi-annual recitals, and co-managed the student company, The Firebirds. She has mentored and privately coached select students into earning acceptance from professional training schools such as New York City Ballet's School of American Ballet, the ABT® Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, the Paris Opera Ballet Summer School, and LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts. At New York's Center for Dance and Body, Mrs. Guillaume taught Body Ballet® and developed an upbeat fitness class titled Dance Cardio, incorporating simple "building block" movements shaped into a repetitive progression to increase participants' stamina, strength, and flexibility.

In the Chicagoland area, Ms. Rio recently served as a teaching artist at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and regularly guest teaches at Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts and Beth Fowler School of Dance. She also enjoys traveling to Haiti every few years to direct a dance education and therapy program for former child slaves in transition at the Restavek Freedom Foundation. Currently, Ms. Rio serves on faculty at Dance Academy of Libertyville and Ballet Theatre of Illinois, and directs all ballet classes at Interclub Academy of Dance, Mary Seat of Wisdom School, Expanded Learning at D63, and the Niles Family Fitness Center.
TEACHING TIMELINE

​2017-Present
Chicago, IL
BALLET WITH MS. RIO
Program Director
Interclub Academy of Dance
Niles Family Fitness Center
Mary Seat of Wisdom School
D63 Expanded Learning
Ballet Instructor
Dance Academy of Libertyville
Administrative Director
Ballet Theatre of Illinois
Guest Ballet Instructor
Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts
Beth Fowler School of Dance

2017-2020
Chicago, IL
Ballet Instructor
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

2011-2015
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Ballet Program Director
Restavek Freedom Foundation

2008-2017
New York, NY
Ballet Instructor
American Youth Dance Theater
Dance Fitness Instructor
Center for Dance and Body

2008-2010
Brooklyn, NY
Dance Fitness Instructor
The Slope Fitness

2006-2007
Pittsburgh, PA
Contemporary Instructor
​Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School
Point Park University Community Classes
Ballet Instructor
Reach for the Stars Dance Studio
CHOREOGRAPHY

Please note: The lists of work under each category are non-exhaustive.

Virtual Performances & Reels
2020 Virtual Ballet Showcase
Student Choreography Reel
Restavek Freedom Benefit Reel

Contemporary / Neo-Classical
I Spoke Up
Hallelujah
Words Remain
In Company of Angels (aka "Pilot Me")
Pursuit
Pa Lage Sa
O Day of Peace
​Into Light (aka "Forgiven")
Steady Heart
Carol of the Bells
Out of Hiding

Classical
Waltz of the Flowers - The Nutcracker
Pas de Trois Variation #1 - Swan Lake
​Swan Lake Suite
Sleeping Beauty Suite
Hoedown - Rodeo
Sugarplum Fairy Variation - The Nutcracker
Pas de Trois des Odalisques - Le Corsaire
Tarantella