INSPIRED DANCE AND GYMNASTICS PROFESSIONALS
Miss Chylene Player Burdick - owner/lead teacher - A Sumter native and Winthrop University alumni with 20 years dance, gymnastics and cheer teaching experience. Gifted and Talented instructor for School District #17. National titles and choreography awards. Former Rising Star artistic director for seven years. Alice Drive Baptist Church Creative Ministries, Special Needs dance instructor at Public Schools in Florence and Sumter, Owner of Dance Dynamics Darlington. Available for solos, duet/trios and technique work.
Miss Penny Boyes - ballet mistress - is the founder of The Studio with a Godly Perspective. She is a magna cum laude graduate from UNC Greensboro with a bachelor of arts degree in dance. She attended on scholarship in dance and theatre. Her credits are too numerous to mention and her references are stellar. In just one year, we have more than doubled our ballet attendance with Miss Penny at the lead, and have sold out classes. She will make sure that your child receives a dance education that is quality from terminology to performance. We are blessed to have her. Available for solos, duet/trios and technique work.
Miss Ashley Evans - technique/choreographer- Ashley recieved her degree from Winthrop University in Dance Education. As an honor student, she participated in dance theatre and competed with the Winthrop Dance Team. She is a former student with Dale Lam of Columbia City Jazz and toured Austria dancing with this group. She teaches for the Dillon school District in their Middle/High school dance programs, directs their color guard for marching band. She is a technical master and will work hard to ensure every toe points and each knee straightens. We are fortunate to have her with us this year. Available for solos, duet/trios and technique work.
Miss Rebecca Montague - dance, cheer and tumbling- Rebecca is our most recent college graduate with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She brings an extensive dance, cheerleading and gymnastics background to our studio. She competed with the Dreamgirls in 2008, she was a competitive dancer, cheerleader and gymnasts in her youth. We are so happy to have such a knowledgable instructor on staff. She is available for private lessons.
COMMITTED GYMNASTICS PROFESSIONALS
Mariah McKellar - Gymnastics - Mariah traveled to Columbia from Sumter 3-4 times a week to train as a competitive gymnasts in her youth. Now, she works hard to train our budding competitive gymnasts and saving them the same drive. Her 4 year old daughter, Katie, trains with us. Mariah is a RT at Tuomey Medical Center, married to Clint McKellar and an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church.
Assistants to our staff
Mr. Carlos Maple -is the high jumping, dynamic Super star that claims Sumter as his dance home. He is currently working on his business degree at Benedict College and continuing his dance education. He has worked for Columbia City ballet on their Nutcracker tour and recently auditioned for "So you think you can dance". He got his start with the Rising Stars of Sumter and has studied with Miss Chylene for several years. Other instructors that he has been priviledged to work with include Burke Daniel, Ray Leeper and Miss Nicole. He has been blessed to work with many outstanding professionals. Available for solos, duet/trios and technique work.
Gloria Riggs - was the assistant team coach for the Sumter Twisting Aerials at the YMCA. She has coached many regional and national champs. She is a stickler for details and trains each child to achieve her best. She has a daughter Alyssa, who is a former competitive gymnasts and currently cheers at Bates Middle School. She has Bella and Annalyn, who are budding ballerinas. She and her husband, Paul Riggs are PROUD PARENTS of Elizabeth Annaclara born Tuesday, April 21st. Congratulations!
Nikki Foxworth - former instructor at Robert E Lee, Sumter and Darlington - Dance director for PAC Columbia while attending USC in Columbia on academic scholarship. She was an original Rising Star of Sumter, Longtime member of First Baptist Church Sumter. 2 years of teaching experience, SHS Teacher Cadets, Platinum winner at several regional and National dance competitions. She works with the Shandon Baptist youth dance programs leading devotions and teaching praise dance.
Megan Whitaker Strickland - former instructor at Small Talk, Bright Beginnings and Crosswell Children's Home - A Sumter native and Winthrop University alumni who has taught since 2001. Competitive gymnast for YMCA Sumter, competitive cheerleader at Sumter High. Went to London, England with UCA All star cheerleaders. Trained in dance for 15 years. Taught at Chestnut Oaks Middle School. Instructor at Dance Dynamics Darlington
