Rio Ottolino was born in 2001. At 13 years old, after eleven years of dance instruction and four years of dance competition experience, while maintaining her position on the high-honor roll as a sophomore in high school, Rio became the owner, sole coach, and choreographer of Goin' Solo Dance Company.

 

Rio began dancing at three years old with "L.T.W. Studio of Dance" in Marengo, Illinois. For eight years, Rio remained under the instruction of Miss Tammy Herring. At 11 years old, Rio was awarded a National Championship at her first dance competition for her participation in a Hip-Hop group dance with L.T.W. When her coach moved to Florida, Rio began seeking further instruction.

 

In 2013, Rio joined "Dance Force Studio" in Huntley, IL to continue in competitive dance. Karen, the director of Dance Force assigned Kelli Myhre-Bahwell (choreographer and competition judge) as Rio's choreographer, and Rio was added to the Dance Force competition team as a lyrical soloist. Because of Rio's intense technique training during private lessons with Kelli, Rio was able to win many awards throughout the 2014 dance competition season.  

 

During the summer of 2014 Rio began choreographing on her own as a lyrical soloist. Rio was honored to be invited to perform her solo for a local Brownie troop. It was during this coaching session that Rio found her love for coaching. Rio was able to teach this group a full dance in just one class and the Brownies were able to perform for their parents that night, earning them their dance badges.

 

Rio began competing on her own and entered a few dance competitions as an independent before opening her "Goin' Solo Dance Company" studio in January of 2015.  By February of 2015, at only 14 years old, Rio was awarded a National Championship on her own choreography.

 

During the summer of 2015, Rio led her first Summer Dance Workshop for 17 local children and held a recital at the end of the 6-week instructional course. The following summer, her Workshop student count increased to 50. Rio held her 3rd annual Workshop during the summer of 2017. after her junior year of high school. Rio intends to run another workshop during the summer of 2018. It was through her 2015 workshop in which the "Goin' Solo Junior Select Elite Competition team" was formed.

 

By October of 2015, Rio entered her competition team in the Starz Worldwide Dance Competition and took home a 1st Place win. Since that time, Rio has taken her competition team to multiple competitions, has been awarded top honors in each venue, and now has an award-winning competition team.

 

In December of 2015, in her high school, Rio was honored to be asked to lead a dance unit where she was able to coach three sophomore gym classes and teach them a complete dance in only two days.

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During her competition season of 2017 at 15 years old, Rio entered her self-choreographed solo entitled, "Happy" where she received her third National Championship. At 16 years old, she competed in the open division with her solo entitled, "Sound of Silence" which gave her a fourth National Championship title. 

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Rio has worked with local Brownies and Girl Scout troops earning them their dance badges and volunteered to perform for local events and nursing homes, spreading her passion for dance throughout her community.

 

During 2018 Rio enjoyed reading, singing, coaching, and hanging out with her teammates, but mostly she could be found in her studio where she choreographed and trained. Rio was a teacher's aid in her senior year, training her competition team for 34 weeks out of her school year, and managed the varsity football team at her high school while maintaining her place on both the high-honor roll and the National Honor Society. Rio also choreographed for the varsity high school cheerleader's team. 

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Goin' Solo Dance Company team classes and Summer Dance Workshops came to a close in May of 2018 in preparation for Rio's attendance at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. Rio double-majored in English and Sociology, held a place in Phi-Eta Sigma (the honor's sorority), was on Dean's List every semester, and graduated Suma Cum Laude. Rio completed a four-year degree in only three years.

 

Currently, Rio is working on her Master's Degree in Criminal Justice at Western Illinois University where she is completing a two-year program in one year. 

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Rio is looking forward to attaining a law degree but hopes to re-open a dance studio in the future as well. 

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Rio is also currently giving private instruction to both child and adult students in her free time as she works at a local law firm in between studying for her Master's Degree. 

 

You can view Rio's accomplishments, photos, and videos along with Rio's winning solo videos below!