Established in 1993, Dance Umbrella strives to support dance education, provide performance opportunities, and enrich cultural arts awareness and appreciation in Coos and Curry Counties. Our pre-professional company, Ballet Pacific, is audition-based and averages 8 to 15 contracted non-compensated dancers from local dance schools. DUSCO fundraises each year to provide scholarship money for dancers to attend summer intensive programs outside the local area and to bring master teachers to our area.

We annually sponsor Eugene Ballet Company’s “The Nutcracker” which brings a professional ballet to our area while giving young local dancers the opportunity to perform on stage with professionals. In 2012, an additional Ballet Pacific performance was added in the form of a Gala which included guest performing companies, Eugene Youth Ballet and Portland Youth Ballet. It has since become an annual event. In 2013, DUSCO implemented our first educational outreach program, which has become a yearly offering.

Mission

Dance Umbrella for South Coast Oregon (DUSCO) is dedicated to the art of dance. We promote dance education through workshops, scholarships, and performances. We support dance as a performing art through our pre-professional company, Ballet Pacific.

Board Members

  • Kim Leberti, president
  • Michelle Nicolaus, vice president
  • Alex Zenzuni, secretary
  • Lisa Porter, treasurer
  • Becki Petenbrink
  • Pam Chaney
  • Audra Geving
  • Elizabeth Peterson
  • Joyel Moore
  • Alison Bingham
  • Christine Rader, artistic director
  • Maria Alison Rosman, co-artistic director

Christine Rader, Artistic Director

Christine Rader began her early dance training at Jacqueline’s School of Ballet at age 9 and joined the Utah Youth Ballet (Now Utah Metropolitan Ballet II) in Lindon, Utah at age 13. She then studied with Willam F. Christensen for 5 years at the Christensen Academy in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mrs. Rader was a guest artist with the Utah Opera Company, dancing in Die Fledermaus and Aida. Christine attended the Pacific Northwest Ballet Summer Intensive Program with a scholarship for two consecutive years. Mrs. Rader was awarded the 4 year Willam F. Christensen Scholarship for the University of Utah, Department of Ballet, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. Christine danced with Ballet West for 3 seasons, 1984-1986, where she performed in ballets such as:  Vespri, La Sylphide, Western Symphony, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Abdullah, and Swan Lake. While in Salt Lake City, Mrs. Rader was an instructor at The Ballet Centre in 1990, and later, continued her education of ballet at Ruth Page Center for the Performing Arts in Chicago, Illinois. In the summer of 2017 and 19 she continued her training, by attending the Ballet Teacher’s Workshop at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and has recently been certified in teaching Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT). Christine has been an instructor for Pacific School of Dance since 2006, teaching ballet technique, pointe, variations, pas de deux, and PBT. She took over as Artistic Director of the school in 2013. In 2010 she was named co-artistic director of Ballet Pacific/Dance Umbrella for South Coast Oregon, and was promoted to Artistic Director in 2013.

Connie Hogge, Founding Artistic Director

Connie Hogge trained with Ballet Master Robert Irwin from 1960-1970. She performed principle roles in both classic and original ballets. Connie went on to study and perform ballet, modern dance, folk dance, and pre-classic dance as part of the University of Oregon Dance Department. Connie has continued training with classes and teaching seminars throughout the United States including the Zena Rommett Floor Barre Technique™ Certification 2008. Connie has been an instructor of classical ballet and pointe since 1972. She was Dance Program Director for Crossroads Creative and Performing Arts Center from 1973-1986, Program Director for Pacific Dance Spectrum 1991-1995, Program/Curriculum Director for Pacific School of Dance 1995-current. Connie has Choreographed several one act ballets and has worked as choreographer for musical theater. Connie was Artistic Director and Choreographer for Dance Umbrella Repertory Company from 1993-2009 and Co-Artistic Director of Ballet Pacific from 2009-2013.