Why I Built Relevé Connect

Throughout my career — as a dancer, performer, teacher, choreographer, studio owner, mentor, and mother — I have lived this industry from many sides. At my core, through all of it, I am a student first.

I have stood inside the arena, and I have stood outside it, watching decisions be made about us, without us. That duality — belonging and being left out within the same lifetime — is a great part of why I built this.

I have seen extraordinary talent go unnoticed because the right connection was never made.

I have seen teachers change the trajectory of a young dancer's life with a single word of encouragement.

I have seen studio owners carry entire communities on their shoulders while feeling isolated themselves.

I have seen families sacrifice time, energy, and resources to support a dream they believed in, sometimes unrealized.

And I have seen what happens when one person reaches back their hand and helps another rise.

That belief — the idea that we rise together — became the foundation of Relevé Connect.

There is a line — James Clear's, though I have made it my own — that I hold close: we don't rise to the level of our goals; we fall to the level of our standards. The dance world has never been short on work ethic, talent, humility, creativity, intention, spirit, persistence, passion, resilience, heart, ferocity, courage. What the industry lacked was a system — a standard built to serve, honor, and protect it. Relevé Connect is that system.

Relevé Connect is an ecosystem — a place where educators, studio owners, choreographers, dancers, wellness professionals, institutions, and families can participate in the shared work of elevating the field.

The word relevé means “to rise.” For dancers, it is one of the first movements we learn. For me, it represents something larger: what happens when experience is shared, opportunities are opened, and one person helps another take the next step forward.

I believe deeply in the philosophy of “each one, teach one.” The dance world has given me extraordinary mentors, opportunities, friendships, and lessons. Relevé Connect is my way of giving back — to create a space where knowledge, opportunity, and support can be shared more intentionally across our community.

At its core, Relevé Connect is being built so people know they are seen, represented, protected, and valued.

I wish that for every dancer. Every educator. Every studio owner. Every family. The same way I wish that for myself.

The value was always there. What is changing is that we are finally willing to name it, claim it, and build the infrastructure to protect it.

Because the future of our industry will not be built by any one person. It will be built together. And together, we rise.

— Kathleen McAree, Founder, Relevé Connect