Rio Tasia Guillaume grew up in Chicago, receiving her early dance training on scholarship from Larry Long and faculty at the Ruth Page Foundation before receiving her secondary education from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. In New York City, Ms. Guillaume performed in venues such as the New York City Center and Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater. She also held Soloist and Company Manager positions for Kazuko Hirabayashi Dance Theatre and choreographed for Christian Cultural Center Dance Ministry, premiering work on ABC Television Network. Ms. Rio spent a decade teaching at American Youth Dance Theater. There she coached students into earning acceptance from the School of American Ballet and LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, among others. At AYDT, Rio also achieved ABT® Certified, Affiliate, and Fellow Teacher Statuses having successfully presented her classes for annual ABT® Affiliate Examinations. Since then, Ms. Guillaume has returned to Chicago to direct her own local training program, Ballet with Ms. Rio. “My greatest joy in the dance world is to discover valuable lessons gained through dance training, connecting them to normal everyday life, and impart that wisdom to the next generation of dancers. I am thrilled to return to my NYC home at AYDT this summer!” For more information, please visit www.ballewithmsrio.com.