Alumni Spotlight: April Axé Charmaine ’02

Dancing Toward Freedom: The Transformative Journey of April Axé Charmaine (’02)

When April Axé Charmaine first stepped onto the Auraria Campus, she didn’t yet know she was beginning a lifelong dance of creativity, leadership, and transformation. Recruited through MSU Denver’s STAR program, she arrived eager to explore — and quickly discovered that this university would become a place where she could craft her own rhythm.

“I had an incredible journey at MSU,” April recalls. “I took classes in everything I felt passionate about — from Dance to Theatre, Creative Writing, Radio Production, and Multimedia.”

With an abundance of curiosity and energy, April immersed herself in campus life. She co-founded the Stop The Hate club, served as president of the Black Student Alliance where she helped publish Black Sun, and worked as a Peer Educator under the mentorship of MaryLou Van Hooris. Influential professors like Dr. Cookie Hetzel and Renee Ruderman helped her grow as both an artist and writer, encouraging her to take bold steps in her creative journey.

Because MSU Denver didn’t yet offer a dance degree, April carved her own path through the Individualized Degree Program — blending her many interests into a major that reflected her essence: Writing and Performance. “Dr. Maureen Lancaster helped me compile all of my multipotentiality into a degree that honored who I am,” she says. “It was truly life-changing.”

From Denver to the World Stage

After graduating in 2002, April began her career in journalism, writing for the Denver Weekly News and Urban Spectrum. But life had another calling in store. A mentor recognized her talent for dance and invited her to teach an after-school program. “That’s when I fell in love with teaching and dance education,” she says.

Her passion blossomed into a remarkable career — from founding the Renaissance Dancers and a Shakespeare Club at Smith Renaissance School of the Arts, to choreographing over 40 musicals at East High School and beyond.

Eventually, April launched her own business, SOL VIDA, dedicated to dance, creativity, and wellness. What started as a youth dance company grew into a women’s workshop series and, later, a brick-and-mortar dance studio on Colfax and Elm. When the studio chapter closed, April saw it as an opportunity to evolve once again.

In 2017, she followed her intuition — and her heart — buying a one-way ticket to Spain to “unschool” her son and reignite her creative vision. “That trip opened many doors,” she reflects. “It revived SOL VIDA as a nomadic company devoted to leading transformative dance and wellness experiences for social change.”

Her work has since spanned continents — with performances and workshops in Paris, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, New York, and the Bay Area. She founded Fab Lab in East Bay, creating an affirming dance space for Queer, Trans, Black, and Indigenous people of color, and later developed projects like SPACE in Los Angeles and Dirty Dance Camp in New York’s Catskills.

The Embodied Revolution

Today, April serves as the Founder and Artistic Director of SOL VIDA — leading global workshops, immersions, and retreats that weave together dance, somatics, creative writing, theatre, and the healing arts. “The most interesting part of my work is watching the transformation that happens from the beginning of an experience to the end,” she says. “I get to use all of my tools to help people get free in their bodies, minds, and lives.”

Her flagship program, The Embodied Revolution, brings together artists, leaders, and creatives for holistic leadership and wellness development. The program has appeared in cities across the U.S. and Latin America, including Denver, Berkeley, Santa Cruz, Mexico City, and Crestone.

April is now working on a brand documentary tracing her artistic journey, as well as books about unschooling and The Embodied Revolution. Through all of it, her devotion to nature, creativity, and community continues to guide her.

Rooted in MSU Denver

“I use my degree every single day,” April says. “The combination of dance, theatre arts, creative writing, and alternative healing prepared me to do exactly what I do now.”

She remains connected to MSU Denver through past service on the Alumni Association Board of Directors and by attending events that celebrate the power of the Roadrunner spirit.

Her advice to current and future Roadrunners reflects the philosophy that has guided her life:

“DO YOU. Follow your heart, your intuition, and take all the classes that interest you. Get involved, connect with people different from you, and be grateful for the opportunity to learn on a city campus. It’s a special experience—so soak it up.”

To learn more about April’s transformative work and upcoming projects, visit www.solvidaworldwide.com.