Spark Artist

Rachel Slater is an internationally recognized interdisciplinary artist specializing in dance, film, and storytelling. Based in Portland, OR, she maintains a strong connection to New Orleans, where she is the director of Dance Film at BODYART’s International Dance Festival NOLA. She is also the co-Artistic Director of Muddy Feet Contemporary Dance alongside Suzanne Chi. A graduate of the former University of the Arts with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography, Rachel has performed locally with Minh Tran & Company, Franco Nieto, Tracey Durbin, and Carla Mann, among many others. She is an alumna and former faculty member of the Jefferson Dancers, and a deeply committed mentor of young dancers.

Rachel’s work has reached global audiences through three award-winning dance films produced with Muddy Feet Contemporary Dance, which have been screened in 16 countries and at 45 festivals worldwide. Her current artistic research is delving into themes of grief, loss, and renewal, based on her recent life circumstances: caregiving for her mother during her terminal illness, and stewarding their family home after a tree strike during a catastrophic storm.

At the heart of Rachel’s practice is a belief in artmaking as a radical, humanist act—one that can foster empathy, build community, and amplify shared experiences, when at its best.