Faculty

Sarah Flatt began dancing at the age of 4 at Rena’s Dance Unlimited. Throughout the next 14 years, she trained with Rena and her faculty, went to the Cecchetti Council of America Summer Seminars, attended local workshops taught by Cecchetti Council of America examiners and certified teachers, completed her Elementary (Grade V) Cecchetti exam, danced with Doris Dieu’s Chamber Ballet during its last season, and danced with Rena’s Mouvement Dance Theatre during its first three seasons.

After high school, Sarah went on to dance at The University of Iowa. She studied with Linda Crist, Alan Sener, Armando Duarte, and Charlotte Adams while earning a minor in dance. She also took master classes with Twyla Tharp, David Berkey, and others. While in school, Sarah worked backstage for a large theater that hosted many national touring companies. In this role, she learned about lighting design and stage management. She also came home every summer to help with Rena’s recitals, first working backstage, then running lights for three years, and eventually taking over as stage manager in 2004.

Sarah began teaching during the summer workshops at Rena’s in 1999 and immediately fell in love with teaching. She also taught at The University of Iowa’s Dance Forum, a community outreach dance program. 

Sarah returned to the St. Louis area in 2004 and began teaching at Rena’s more regularly. Two years later she began taking her Cecchetti Teacher’s exams and completed her Advanced (Grade VII) exam in 2016. Sarah attends local Cecchetti workshops twice per year and regularly attends the annual Cecchetti Council of America’s Teacher Seminar in Michigan.

Sarah’s favorite part of working for the studio is seeing her students feel proud of themselves for something they have worked hard to achieve. This can come in small moments during class, after a Cecchetti exam, or – her favorite – when they exit the stage at the recital knowing they did their best and feeling proud to have performed for their family. 

Sarah lives in Edwardsville with her husband and two daughters.