Gadsden Community School of the Arts - Dance Program

As the artistic director of the Downtown Dance Conservatory, Linze Rickles McRae uses her foundations in classical ballet training and research as the focus of her curriculum. With an enrollment of more than 250 dedicated students training on a weekly basis, the Conservatory’s influence also spans throughout the surrounding community with programs such as Community Workshop Series, Downtown Dance Artists Ensemble, “Dancing with a Heart of Giving” annual charity effort, dance history projects, and other various outreach programs and exhibitions. Along with its excellent foundations of training, students enrolled are exposed to a variety of techniques and an over all knowledge of dance history. Each year, the studio hosts local and international master teachers for workshops and supplemental classes. As part of the Gadsden Community School for the Arts, the Conservatory is also able to provide more than $20,000 in need based scholarships to students.

Studying across the country, Linze became an apprentice for many years under Ms. Dee Dee Leda, former artistic director of the Fairfax County Virginia Ballet. Leda’s German origins led to opportunities of studying with the likes of the Berlin Opera and George Balanchine himself. Linze has also studied and worked with names such as Monica Barnett Smith, Julie Oliver, Kim Wolfe, Jerry Rose, Carolyn Carratini, Fiona Elwood and others. She held short residencies in the Los Angeles and New York areas to further her skills in dance and the performing arts. After teaching and performing freelance for many years, she founded the Downtown Dance Conservatory in small location located in the downtown area. One year later, the Conservatory expanded and united with the Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts to become the largest classical ballet focused studio in the area. McRae has been honored by the National Federation of Music in Dance and the Professional Dance Teachers Association, as well as being commissioned to choreograph productions for Jacksonville State University, various private studios and conventions, Miss Alabama preliminaries, and the Gadsden Community School for the Arts.

Linze is a member of the Alabama Dance Council, The Royal Academy of Dance, and The National Dance Educators Association. She has also been appointed as the choreographer and director of movement for the Artists Without Borders Project. Created in 2004, this project consists of the collaboration of the top visual and performing arts groups of the Gadsden area, including original works with the Etowah Youth Orchestras each year.

In January 2008, Linze began study with the Royal Academy of Dance’s prestigious Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies as part of their worldwide teacher training program. The RAD is the world’s largest training and teaching organization, and is known for its consistent technique and syllabus work spanning from creative movement and primary levels to pre-professional studies. She uses her ongoing research into the roots of traditional classical ballet and other forms of dance to give students a more clear understanding of technique and freedom of movement.