The staff members at SCDC value every student and family. We are committed to treating students and families with the highest level of professionalism, respect, and courtesy. The staff members of SCDC encourage you to let us know at anytime if we are not meeting your expectations or providing you with the level of services you desire. SCDC instructors and staff members have Christian beliefs and support comes from the staff through prayer and ministry by guiding students (young and old). We believe that if we train our children in the way they should go, when they are old they will not depart from it.
Our goal is to provide each dancer the opportunity to grow and learn in all disciplines of the performing arts while providing a safe, happy, and nurturing environment with Christian staff members. Our goal is for South Carolina Dance Company to be the BEST DANCE STUDIO IN THE MIDLANDS!
Danyele Gardner – Owner and Artistic Director of South Carolina Dance Company
Danyele Gardner - Owner and Artistic Director of South Carolina Dance Company
Danyele Gardner currently serves as owner, director, instructor, and choreographer of the South Carolina Dance Company. She has directed and produced many spring concerts, pageant productions, theater/church performances, and numerous special events. Recently, Danyele won TOP Choreography accolades from regional dance competitions where her competitive teams were recognized as elite performers. Some of Danyele’s students have been invited to attend Governor’s School of the Arts, New York Programs including Kids Artistic Review, JUMP, and the Rockettes as well as other intensive training sessions.
Her training began with the Calvert/Brodie Schools, SueAnn Derrick, Rhonda Marchant, and Nancy Giles (Columbia, SC). She then furthered her studies traveling the southeast taking classes from master choreographers. Her vocal and acting studies include Molly Hoffman, Emmalee Robbins, Dawn Smith, and Dr. Ann Benson (Columbia College). Her repertoire includes Peter Pan, Grease, Crazy For You, Wizard of Oz, Road to Victory, Nutcracker, A Mid Summer’s Night Dream, and the list goes on. Her most beloved performance is with Christian Artist Dana Russell in her music video “I Believe in Love”. Danyele is trained to teach students in all disciplines of dance, gymnastics, voice, acting, pageantry (including modeling, interview, wardrobe, & make-up). She earned a Dental Hygiene degree from Midlands Technical College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree is Early Childhood Education from Columbia College. Danyele’s passion is for the parents, students, and staff to be a part of the best dance education and facility in the Midlands. She gives all the glory of her creativity to the Lord and desires for God to be honored through “Praising His Name with Dance.” Danyele resides in Lexington with her husband Jonathan Gardner, their 5 year old son Jon David, and their most recent addition, 23 month old Jonah Dylan.
Danyele Gardner is Mrs. South Carolina America 2012, photo courtesy of Matt Silfer of the Sun News, Myrtle Beach SC
Danyele Gardner was recently crowned Mrs. South Carolina America for 2012. She will represent South Carolina in the nationally televised event “Mrs. America Pageant” this Spring. Danyele will travel the palmetto state to represent her title and share her life testimony with various organizations. It is her top priority that this opportunity will help her share her passion for the performing arts, especially dance, with as many children as she can reach.
Email: Danyele@southcarolinadancecompany.com
Nicole Couture – Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Lyrical, Company Assistant
Nicole Marie Couture is currently a Dance Instructor at South Carolina Dance Company from Lexington, South Carolina. She was featured as a principle dancer and partnering specialist abound the Disney “Wonder” Cruise Ship. She has burst onto the dance scene after training and performing at the one of the nation’s top studios, Southern Strutt. You may have seen her winning performance on PAX T.V. where she was a member of the champion group “Sting” on Lisa Canning’s Destination Stardom. She is also a member of E’clatez Dance Company founded by Christopher Robbins and local company Unbound. Nicole has performance experience with that of the instructors she has studied with : Nancy Giles, Frank Hatchet, Joe Tremanine, Joe Lanteri, Dee Caspary, Ray Leeper, Alen sherfeild, Desiree Robbins, Tina Caspary-Cyphert, Radenko Pavlovich, Alton Adams, Ryan Cyphert, Dan Karaty, Nick Bass, Alan Sherfeild, John Crutchman, Christopher Robbins, and Dale Lam.
Email: nicole@southcarolinadancecompany.com
Ashley Howell – Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, and Company Assistant
Ashley began her dance training at the age of 3 at ShaMar Dance Studios where she was a part of the Etc. Dance Company for 5 years. At the age of 10, Ashley was accepted into Columbia City Ballet II and began training under William Starrett and Mariclare Miranda at the Columbia Conservatory of Dance. At the age of 15, she was invited to join the Columbia City Ballet as a trainee and performed roles in ballets such as Thursday’s Child in Beauty and the Beast, Candy Cane in The Nutcracker, and the Irish Doll in Coppelia. In addition to her ballet studies, Ashley began training at the South Carolina Performing Arts Center for jazz and tap and became a Senior member of Company One. Over the years, she has trained with world-renowned choreographers and teachers such as Jason Parsons, Mia Michaels, Joe Lanteri, Chris Dupre, Chris Robinson, Joey Tarwater, Sharon Dante, Stanislav Issaev, Cynthia Harvey, and David Howard. Ashley currently is a profes- sional dancer with the Columbia City Ballet.
Email: ashley@southcarolinadancecompany.com
Claire Rose Norris – Daily Operations, Preschool, Lyrical
Claire entered the world of dance as an eager, energetic 5-year-old student at the well- respected Crosby’s School of Dance in Aiken, SC. By age 11, Claire was invited to join the Aiken Civic Ballet Company as an apprentice (ACBC) where three years later she earned a position as a full member of the ACBC, under the direction of Carl Crosby. A committed dance student, Claire developed skills in tap, ballet, Pointe, jazz, hip hop, and musical theater. As Claire developed her dance skills, she was invited to perform as a guest dancer with the Augusta Civic Ballet in several productions of the classic, The Nutcracker. Claire continued her dance study throughout work on her bachelor’s degree at Winthrop University where she graduated with a degree in Mass Communications in 2001. Following graduation, Claire spent a year working at Walt Disney World in Or- lando where she learned the Disney way of using aspects of performance as life skills as well as the value of excellent interpersonal customer service skills. Claire and her hus- band, Clay, are the proud parents of a baby girl who made her debut during the first month of the South Carolina Dance Company’s 2011-2012 season. Congratulations Claire and Clay!
Email: claire@southcarolinadancecompany.com
Sara Woltz – Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical and Preschool
Sara began dancing at the age of 3 at Burns Dance Studio in Aiken, South Carolina. She has studied ballet, pointe, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, and modern. At the age of 12 Sara began competing at nationals competitions including Hollywood Vibe, L.A. Dance Magic, West Coast Dance Explosion, Showstoppers, and South Carolina Dance Association to name a few as well as taking master classes at numerous conventions. Sara has won accolades for solos and team dances as well as receiving many scholarships. Some of her favorite choreographers she has taken from are Tanya Ante, Sara Jo Fazio, Shane Sparks, and Mia Michaels. Recently, Sara toured with Sara Jo Fazio as a master class assistant for Dance Olympus and was a backup dancer for Lauren Hartley. Presently, Sara attends the University of South Carolina and is majoring in dance.
Email: Sara@southcarolinadancecompany.com
Hanah Smith – Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Lyrical, Company Assistant
Hanah began dancing at the age of 3. She has studied ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, hip hop, tap, and tumbling. She has been involved with dance competitions for 10 years. She has studied under Danyele Gardner, Debi Stringfield, Hilarie Covington, Rhonda Marchant, Kerrie-Ann Sparks, and many more local instructors. Her national studies include Traci Stanfield, Mike Minery, Mandy Moore, Dee Caspery, and Ray Leeper to name a few. Hanah has won many awards at dance competitions including first place overall at Dance Platinum, Applause, and Star Talent productions. She was named most powerful dancer and highest scoring dance of the day at recent dance competi- tions in 2009. She has won invitations to attend workshops in New York City and is a featured dance company member with the South Carolina Dance Company. Hanah’s repertoire includes A Nutcracker Fantasy, Amazing Grace, Jewels, Seasons, and Chopianna to name a few. Hanah will be a company assistant for the South Carolina Dance Company while teaching choreography and master classes.
Email: Hannah@southcarolinadancecompany.com
Austin Smith – PreSchool, Jazz
Austin has been dancing for eleven years. She has studied ballet, tap, pointe, lyrical, jazz, and hip hop. She has attended Stepping Out and Pointe of Grace, and is currently training at South Carolina Dance Company. Austin has been a member of SCDC for six years, and has received many awards for her solos, duets, and team dances. She was also given the Lovely Lines award (2008), and the Beauti- ful Battement award (2009). She also won an invitation to attend a Kids Artistic Review workshop in NYC. She enjoys designing dance costumes and creating the arts and crafts program for South Carolina Dance Company. Austin will be graduating Lexington High School in 2012 and plans to attend UM Art School and major in 3-d animation. She is happy to be teaching and assisting at South Carolina Dance Company.
Email: austin@southcarolinadancecompany.com
Selena Taylor – clogging
Selena is a graduate from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre. She is also a Certified Theatre Teacher. Selena began dancing and singing at the age of 3. She has studied Clogging, Jazz, Lyrical and Hip-Hop under Denise Gaines, Rhonda Marchant, Danyele Gardner and other teachers/professors. She was involved in Competitive Dance at a very young age. Selena has studied voice under Lexington Choral Society’s Di- rector Hal McIntosh and Kimberly Byrd. In 2004 Selena won Top Choreographer and Teacher Award at the Star Systems Dance Competition and in 2005 her clogging team were State Champs at the State Championship Dance Competition in Myrtle Beach. Besides Selena’s vocal and dance talents, she also loves the Theatre. She has performed many pro- ductions including Oliver, Guys and Dolls, Beverly Hillbillies, and Fame. Selena believes that children should be offered the best opportunity to succeed in the arts and be taught from a Christian standpoint. She always tells her students “They can do anything through Christ who strengthens them.” Philippians 4:13 She owes all her talent to the Lord Jesus Christ! Selena resides in Lexington, SC with her husband Kevin Taylor and their 2 kitties Mr. T. and Star.
Amanda Breedlove – Ballet
Born and raised in Columbia, SC and a graduate of Spring Valley High School, Amanda began studying Ballet at the age of four with the Columbia Conservatory of Dance. She has trained under Mariclare Miranda, William Starrett, Serge Lavioe, Kerrie-Anne Dunn Sparks, Ashley Howell and Kimberly Langley. She danced on stage with the Columbia City Ballet beginning at the age of five, became a member of CCBII, the junior com- pany, at the age of seven and continued until she became a full company member at age 17. While with Columbia City Ballet she has performed in numerous Ballet productions since 1997 totaling over 60 rolls. Amanda began competing with Columbia Conserva- tory Dance Company when she was 12, first in Ballet then in Jazz, Lyrical, Contempo- rary and Musical Theatre winning numerous Platinum awards. Amanda has attended summer programs at the Boston Ballet and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre where she had the privilege of taking classes with Li-Chou Cheng, David Howard, Gelsey Kirkland, Dennis Marshall, Laura Young among many others. Amanda continues to take daily ballet and strengthening classes and teaches dance to underprivileged students at a local church in her spare time. She will be going into her third season as a professional dancer with the Columbia City Ballet and plans to attend the University of South Caro- lina in the future majoring in Dance and Sports Medicine.
SCDC Teaching Assistants
Elizabeth Graham
Candace Phillips
SCDC Office Staff
Lisa Smith – Email: lisa@southcarolinadancecompany.com
Claire Norris
Peggy Phillips
Debbie Buchman
Michelle Cheatham