Christine Heckel is a dance educator, curriculum specialist, and movement professional with over two decades of experience teaching youth and adult dancers, developing pedagogically sound training programs, and mentoring teachers across disciplines.

Christine began her formal ballet and jazz training in Tucson, Arizona, studying with Linda Walker, Carolyn Wallace, and Gary Mackenzie at the Academy of Ballet. She performed with Tucson Regional Ballet in productions such as The Southwest Nutcracker and La Boutique Fantasque. She continued her training into adulthood with Jennifer Neuser and Kellan Meko at Ballet Rincon, where she also choreographed Elements, a contemporary ballet for four dancers..

After relocating to Maryland, Christine studied the Vaganova method and character dance with Oscar Hawkins and Devin Krahling, both graduates of Kirov Academy DC. She trained in ballet pedagogy with Jayne Stefani-Keating, further shaping her approach to curriculum design and age-appropriate instruction.

From 2009 to 2011, Christine served as co-founder and Ballet Mistress of The Studio Cooperative, a nonprofit dance school where she developed a complete Vaganova-based curriculum for Pre-Ballet through adult dancers. She taught intermediate and advanced ballet, pointe, men’s technique, pas de deux, stretch, and Pilates-based conditioning classes for both youth and adult students, and served on the organization’s board of directors.

Christine is also a fully certified STOTT PILATES® Instructor and Lead Instructor Trainer for Merrithew®, specializing in STOTT PILATES®, Fascial Movement, and ZEN*GA®. She presents courses and workshops nationally and internationally, training teachers in anatomy, biomechanics, class design, cueing, and movement theory.

Her own continuing education has included intensive summer study with respected teachers such as Heidi Winton-Stahle, Christopher Hird, Pedro Szalay, Daniel Catanach, Danile Geisy, Randall Marks, Kathy Sawyer, and Scott Putman. Her studies across disciplines—including Pilates, aerial arts, and circus—inform her cross-training and injury-prevention approach.

Christine also holds certifications as an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, NPCP Pilates Teacher, Elemental Body Alignment System teacher (Levels 1 & 2), and TRX Trainer. She has completed aerial yoga and hoop training (Bernasconi Technique and Paper Doll Militia Level 1) and multiple allyship and diversity trainings with Service Never Sleeps and Chrissy King.

Christine’s teaching blends technical rigor with body-awareness and inclusivity. Whether she’s guiding young dancers or working with adult movers her work blends classical discipline with creative exploration, offering dancers the technical foundation, physical resilience, and artistic voice to thrive—both onstage and off.