Stephanie Cureton:
GVL YMCA and Adaptive Instructor Stephanie Cureton’s passion for dance was sparked at the age of 3 in Fort Knox, KY. After moving back to Greenville, SC she started her training with Barbara English at English Theatre Arts. She graduated from the South Carolina Governor's School for Arts and Humanities in the dance pre-professional program. While there she studied ballet, pointe, and modern under the direction of Llyod Whitmore, Irina Ushakova, and Stanislav Issaev. She then went on to receive her BA in Dance/Psychology from Agnes Scott College. While there she studied Ballet, Martha Graham Modern Technique, Jazz, and Labanotation under Bridget Roosa. Not only did she perform in Studio Dance Theatre, the school's dance company, she also choreographed several pieces for the company. She has choreographed and performed for local projects both in Atlanta and Greenville. Currently she’s the Greenville Site Leader with Carolina Dance Collaborative where she teaches and coordinates CDC’s YMCA, Adaptive, and Summer Camp programming. She also teaches at 3D Center of the Arts and English Theatre Arts as well as is a freelance performer and choreographer. 
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Alyson Dixon:
GVL YMCA, After School, and Adaptive Instructor Originally from Massachusetts, Alyson started dancing ballet at a young age. She studied under the direction of Jessica Wilson at Ballet Workshop for New England and MetroWest Ballet, and supplemented her training at Boston Ballet, Jose Mateo Ballet Theater and Burklyn Ballet Theater. Alyson received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education with K-12 certification from USC in 2013. At USC Alyson performed in Giselle, Celia Rowlson Hall's Cinderella at the Ball, Susan Anderson's Gams Jam, various works by Bill Evan's and many student showcases. In addition she taught and choreographed in local school districts and after-school programs. Upon graduation, Alyson went to study at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London where she received a Postgraduate Diploma in Community Dance. Whilst in London Alyson worked with Corali Dance Company and the Ovalhouse Theatre where she taught and assisted dance classes for disabled adults and children. She also performed in Marina Collard's work Either one way or another. Alyson looks forward to watching the future of dance in Greenville grow through CDC's impact in the community. 
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Myra Gooding:
GVL YMCA Instructor Myra has been dancing since the age of 3, studying ballet, tap, jazz, and pointe. Myra trained at: The Dance Academy, Central Maryland Youth Ballet, Maryland Youth Ballet and The Washington Ballet. She was selected to attend summer dance programs such as: Central Pennsylvania Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet and Joffrey Ballet. Myra began dancing professionally at the age of 18 where she joined Pennsylvania Ballet Academy before moving to NYC to be a soloist with companies that include: Long Island Ballet, Daniel Catanach Ballet, Staten Island Ballet, Joan Miller Dance Company, and Flower Hujur Dance Company. Myra continued her love of dance when she began teaching at her mother's dance school as well as other schools in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and South Carolina. Myra has dance education experience in many different settings including , but not limited to, public schools, churches, and community centers. After settling in Greenville, Myra spent a few years performing at the Peace Center with the International Ballet. She is excited to continue her impact in the lives of students she teaches while working with the Carolina Dance Collaborative. 
Teri Thomas
GVL YMCA & After School Instructor Teri Thomas recently moved to the Greenville area. Before making the move to the Upstate, she taught and choreographed award winning routines at the King Center For The Performing Arts in NJ. Prior to making the decision to teach and stop performing professionally, she was seen on Broadway and in the First National tours of "A Night With Dame Edna" and "Footloose". She also performed in the National Tours of both of those shows. She had the privilege of being one of the world famous Radio City Rockette's and a New York Knick's City Dancer at the world's most famous arena Madison Square Garden. She's danced for many artists and has been seen on MTV. She has performed in live industrials for companies such as Wella, Harley Davidson, Applebee’s, USPS, Fox , NBC, and more. As well as having worked extensively throughout Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, Busch Gardens, Hershey Park and Norwegian.
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Loren Clark:
GVL YMCA and After School Instructor Charity Jon "Loren" Clark began her journey in the arts at the age of three here in her hometown of South Carolina. Loren's many years of dance experience involve tap, jazz, ballet, modern, contemporary and hip-hop. She has trained under master teachers who include Suzanne and Allen McCalla at Greenville Little Theatre, Kimberly Ferreira, Karlee Ferreia at Upstate Carolina Dance, Betsy Bisson and Traysie Amick at South Carolina Children's Theatre, Cristi Williams founder of Shading the Limelight and Jan Smith Studios in Atlanta. Loren's involvement in the performing arts reaches beyond dance into her love for musical theatre where she played numerous roles in The Hobbit, Irving Berlin's Anne Get Your Gun, Jesus Christ Superstar, All Shook Up, The Nutcracker, Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella and Oklahoma! Loren plans to continue her education in the performing arts, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and/or Theatre. Loren is passionate about giving opportunities of dance education to all ages and is excited to teach and inspire her students through Carolina Dance Collaborative. 
Regina Gilstrap
GVL YMCA Instructor At the young age of two a love of dance was sparked in Regina Gilstrap, this spark quickly turned to passion. Regina loves to share her passion for dance with others. She is a natural teacher with over 19 years of teaching experience. She has taught master classes and seminars all over the southeast. She is a member of Dance Master’s of America & holds a certification in tap. Some of Regina’s choreography has been featured on television and also radio marketing; other choreography credits include Disney's Aladdin Jr., The Addams Family, and Sisters of Swing. She has served as an audition consultant for Centre Stage in Greenville, SC. Currently, Regina is the Administrative Director for Project Dance's Greenville event. She is excited to teach dance in a wide range of sites through Carolina Dance Collaborative and looks forward to changing lives through her impact of dance. |
Alexa Soosaar
Raleigh YMCA Instructor Alexa Soosaar started her dancing career at the age of two in her hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. She trained at Center Stage Performing Company for 15 years and competed in numerous competitions around the country. Throughout her time at Center Stage she attended multiple workshops, intensives, and summer programs under professional dancers from around the country. She continued her passion of dance into college where she joined the University of North Carolina Wilmington's Dance Company and became the Co-President. Through this experience, she was able to direct and choreograph for over one hundred dancers, as well as organize multiple showcases. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Special Education, Adaptive Curriculum and went on to teach 3rd-5th graders with moderate to severe disabilities for 3 years. Her two greatest passions in life are advocating and working with individuals with disabilities and dancing! She is excited to be able to share her appreciation of dance with an amazing organization like CDC and bring dance opportunities to the Triangle area of North Carolina! |
Suzi Landis
Raleigh YMCA Instructor |
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Allie Haney
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Paige Maxwell
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Allie has been dancing since she was 6 years old and always knew dance was where she belonged. Shortly after she started dancing her family received news that her little brother was on the Autism spectrum. This is what sparked her interest in special education. Allie then began assisting special ed students at her dance studio and grew to find a passion for working with these students. When she turned 18, Allie received her Rhythm Work Integrative Dance Instructor certification and started a class designed for students on the autism spectrum; to better serve their needs and give them her full attention and support. As she searched for more ways to use her skills with this population, she came across an ABA clinic, Project Hope Foundation, which serves individuals with ASD. Allie started working for Project Hope and has worked with clients ages 4-17 on different levels of the spectrum for 3 years now as a Senior Therapist. This is the start of her dance journey with adaptive programming but she can not wait to learn how to better serve this community through the power of dance.
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From Charlotte, NC Paige received a Bachelors of Arts, Magna Cum Laude, in Contemporary Dance Performance and Choreography and minor in Psychology from the University of South Carolina. She attended USC on dance scholarship, where she studied contemporary, ballet, improvisation, dance history and choreography techniques under the direction of her professors, Susan Anderson, Tanya Wideman, Thaddeus Davis, Stacey Calvert and Kyra Strasberg. Paige also had the privilege of working with guest artists such as Hannah Lagerway, Celia Rowlson-Hall, Helen Pickett, and Twyla Tharp. Paige’s senior semester was spent as an apprentice with Wideman-Davis Dance, the University’s company in residency.
Upon graduation, Paige became a freelance dance artist and moved to Orlando, Florida working with Red Right Return, PRT of Orlando, and Theatre Downtown that allowed her to perform in the 2013 and 2015 Orlando FRINGE Festivals as well as debuted her choreography at FRINGE 2016. Paige has also worked with choreographer Caitlin McCormack in a variety of projects. Paige is also a 200-hr RYT Certified Yoga Instructor, received her Grant Writing Certificate, and was an Educator at the Orlando Science Center. Additionally, she received her Masters in Exceptional Student Education in May 2017. She has hopes to combine her love of movement and working with children with disabilities in an educational, artistic and therapeutic environment. |
Megan Hannon
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Virginia Murphy
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