Leea Rude
Dance
Leea Rae Rude is currently 8 years old and a second grader at Covenant Day School. A seventh-generation native Charlottean, she lives in Ballantyne with her parents, Jenna and Jake Rude, and her little sister, Remi.
Leea has fallen in love with both the art and athleticism of dance, while also enjoying art, cooking, singing, playing piano, building LEGOs, trading Pokémon cards, riding her bike, and spending time with her family and friends.
She has trained in most styles of dance since the age of two and is entering her third competitive season. Highlights of her dance career so far include three first-overall wins and earning the Premier Title of Petite Miss Dance America during this most recent regional season. At the 2026 Revolution National Championship, she placed second overall and was named 1st Runner-Up for the Premier Title of Petite Miss Dance America. Most recently, Leea was selected as a National Honored Dancer on full scholarship at National Dance Honors in Orlando this summer.
Leea is so excited to take the stage in support of Charlotte Center for the Arts, helping create future opportunities for generations to come while continuing her family’s legacy and relentless commitment to the visual and performing arts.
Socials:
ABOUT CHARLOTTE CENTER FOR THE ARTS:
Charlotte Center for the Arts (CCA) is working to address a critical gap in South Charlotte’s cultural infrastructure. This area is one of the fastest-growing parts of the region and is continuing to expand rapidly—yet it lacks dedicated arts facilities, forcing residents and artists to travel long distances or go without cultural experiences. City and County studies have identified the urgent need for accessible, affordable arts spaces outside Uptown. Community feedback reinforces this, citing limited rehearsal, performance, and exhibition venues as a barrier to participation.
We are responding by activating underutilized spaces to meet immediate needs for creative programming and affordable venues, and then opening a Community Arts Hub to provide a more permanent solution. Long term, we are advancing plans for a 100,000 sq. ft. flagship campus that will serve as a cultural destination and provide performance halls, studios, galleries, and gathering spaces—ensuring South Charlotte has the cultural infrastructure necessary to match its growth and deliver equitable access to the arts for all residents: artists, students, and patrons.