Denise Rodriguez is a dedicated dance educator with a passion for cultivating leadership, confidence, and a love of lifelong learning in her students. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a BFA and a certified Texas teacher, Denise began dancing at the age of two. Her early training included four years in the Royal Ballet School System before transitioning to the Vaganova Method of Ballet following a family relocation.

Over the years, Denise has trained under esteemed instructors such as Deborah Case, Irina Vakhromeeva, Alex Ossadnik, and Florian Rouiller. She expanded her experience through master classes with Misty Copeland in New York and the Martha Graham School. Her education also includes prestigious programs such as the Joffrey Ballet School, The Rock School for Dance Education, and the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in NYC, where she was a certified student.

Denise’s teaching journey began at the age of 12 as an assistant, where she quickly discovered her calling in education. Her teaching philosophy centers on nurturing each student’s individual strengths and encouraging personal growth—not only in dance, but in life. She emphasizes discipline, creativity, posture, coordination, and flexibility, all while building a foundation of confidence and leadership that students carry into their futures.

Her diverse dance background includes training in contemporary, jazz, tap, flamenco, hip-hop, Irish, Hungarian, and Arabian styles. Her performance credits include roles in Phantom of the Opera, Carmen, Kitri Riverdance, Concierto de Aranjuez, Mary Poppins the Musical, and The Lion King. She has also performed numerous principal roles in the Rio Grande Valley Ballet’s Nutcracker, including Clara, Dew Drop, Arabian, Snow Queen, and Sugar Plum Fairy, with a special cameo performance with Belles Artes in Brownsville in 2020.

Above all, Denise is committed to empowering the next generation of artists and leaders. Through dance, she helps students build self-belief, resilience, and the skills they need to thrive both on and off the stage.