Miss Rachel Esplin Freeman began dancing at a studio in Northern California. Her teacher, Yanina Cwyinska, was Russian trained and had survived the concentration camp Auschwitz. She taught Miss Rachel the importance of discipline and hard work from an early age. Next, Miss Rachel was awarded a scholarship to come train with Richard Cammack, former director of San Francisco Ballet School, and Zola Dishong at Contra Costa Ballet School. There she benefitted from not only their training, but classes from Michael Smuin, Alaine Haubert, and Suki Schorer.
In high school, Miss Rachel moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where she was able to dance with University of Utah and Ballet West. She was able to have a soloist role in the last ballet that William Christensen, “Mr. C.,” ever choreographed. Miss Rachel was awarded the William F. Christensen Scholarship to the University of Utah. She was also invited to participate in an exchange student program with a ballet school in Berlin, Germany. Miss Rachel appreciates all the amazing teachers and choreographers that she was able to experience and learn from.