Biography
Rachel Bodi is the co-founder and Executive Director at Ballet 314, and also a dance educator as adjunct faculty of dance at Missouri Baptist University, and pre-professional instructor of dance at Devine Performing Arts.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Rachel trained at the Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh and pre-professional intensives (School of American Ballet, Chautauqua, Nashville Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theater- presently Charlotte Ballet), eventually launching her professional career in 2008. She has enjoyed performing and teaching in the St. Louis region for the past 14 years.
Prior to founding Ballet 314 alongside Robert Poe, she enjoyed careers with Missouri Ballet Theatre (2011-2017), Common Thread Contemporary Ballet (2018), and Nashville Ballet 2 (2008-2011). She has appeared as a guest artist with Texture Contemporary Ballet (2011, 2012) and Winter Opera St. Louis (dancer, choreographer 2022, 2023, 2024).
In addition to the Executive Director role at Ballet 314, Rachel performs as a Resident Artist, and acts as the company's Education Director. She has commissioned both full length classical and contemporary works for Ballet 314 including: co-writing and producing "The Nutcracker & the World's Fair," and her newest classical ballet work "Astra Planeta." Original educational dance programs include "Assemblé," "Fiona Flamingo," "llama llama & friends," and co-choreographing and adapting "Chocolat," a bilingual Spanish/English story ballet.
Additional choreographic credits include collaborations with St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (Dance Party!, Wild Symphony, A Zoo Called Earth, Howl at Powell), Sheldon Concert Hall (Dance the Story: Sleeping Beauty, Dance the Story: The Nutcracker & the World's Fair), St. Louis Art Museum (Monet/Mitchell), and Winter Opera St. Louis (Holiday Extravaganza, The Gondaliers, Naughty Marietta). Rachel has choreographed pre-professional recitals, competitive, and concert dance works in her roles on staff at MBU and DPA. Additional performance credits include Jenny Drugg in "The Ride" independent film. (est. 2026 release).
Through founding Ballet 314, Rachel aspires to continue fostering a deeper sense of community both within our organization and in the arts community as a whole, and to continue to provide accessible, inclusive, and diverse arts education programming.