Rachel Bobbitt Celebrates Seven Seasons Dancing for Columbus Modern Dance Company

By Laura Puscas, Co-founder and Artistic Director of CoMo Dance

Rachel Bobbitt is a company dancer for the Columbus Modern Dance Company and is currently producing CoMo’s summer performance Hops! Dance Inspired by Land Grant Beers on Aug. 15 at Angela Fortin Studio. Rachel joins director Laura Puscas to answer some questions about life as a part-time professional modern dancer.

Laura: When did you start dancing in life and how did you find the CoMo Dance Company?
Rachel: My early training was in Cleveland where I studied classical ballet for 11 years. At OSU, I took classes in modern, ballet and hip hop. In 2012, I met you (Laura) at class at BalletMet. Laura invited me to join CoMo, and I became a founding member. In recent seasons, I’ve taken on a senior role as a company rehearsal director.

Laura: What types of performances have you been a part of with the Columbus Modern Dance Company?
Rachel: CoMo is a local dance company that performs all around the city. We have a fun, energetic style and a collaborative spirit. We like to create immersive shows that engage the audience and community. For example, last fall we created a show where each dance piece was inspired by a work of public art from Dublin Art Council’s “Art in Public Places” project. Some dances were performed on stage with a photo of the art projected, others were videoed on site with the artwork, and for one we were able to bring the sculpture to the stage.

Laura: As a part-time professional dance artist, how do you balance rehearsal and everyday life?
Rachel: I currently work for Cutler Real Estate and enjoy spending time with my husband and our fluffy dog, Dylan. CoMo rehearsals are held late in the evening at Dublin Dance Center, who generously donates rehearsal space. We have opportunities for company class + residency weekends with regional/national guest artists. In my downtime, I enjoy cross-training at Aerotique, where I am learning silks.

Laura: What’s the best thing about the Columbus art scene right now?
Rachel: I’m excited by all the fantastic movement artists creating work in our community, such as CoMo’s Hops! collaborators – Hixon Dance, SeaBus Dance Company, Carlyn Pitterle and photographer Angela Fortin.

Laura: What are you looking forward to for CoMo’s upcoming productions?
Rachel: I’m thrilled to be producing an entire show where each piece is specifically inspired by a local beer (the tasting notes, aroma, experience of drinking it, etc). Each audience member will have a tasting flight, drinking the beer that corresponds to the dance that they are watching.

Rachel will be dancing in Hops! Dance Inspired by Land Grant Beers on Thursday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. at Angela Fortin Studio. Find tickets here. You can also catch Rachel at CoMo’s fall performance, Season Finale at Abbey Theater, and annual Mother’s Day Tea in the Topiary Garden.