Annex Dance Company is committed to promoting dance in its home location of Charleston, SC, as well as around the globe. Through performance, collaboration, outreach/education, Annex Dance Company continues to evolve with each project. Under the artistic direction of Kristin Alexander, the company strives to be an internationally recognized classical modern dance company with an edge. Annex Dance Company is committed to arts advocacy. The company promotes the arts through collaborative projects with artists of different mediums and provides opportunities for dancers of all levels, students through professionals.
Located in the heart of Hilton Head Island, the award winning regional Arts Center of Coastal Carolina is a remarkable showcase for professional performing and visual arts, as well as cultural festivals and educational outreach. It is a year-round Equity theatre that produces musicals, comedies and dramas. In addition they also present visiting performers, musicians, vocalists, artists, dance companies, humorists and more. The venue consists of a 349-seat main stage house as well as a smaller block box studio, art gallery, and education spaces.
We are all creatives; it is a unique gift that makes us human. While Kristin enjoys creating her own works of art in the performance and fine arts realm, she is passionate about to helping others reach their own creative potential and experience the arts for themselves. She has been a dance professional for over 13 years, performing across the south and mid-west along with teaching in Lexington and Columbia at the Center for Dance Education, then directing and developing a dance program for the YMCA of Greenville’s 3 locations in the Upstate of South Carolina. Kristin specializes in ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern and tap techniques. In addition to dance, she has also been working in the area of fine craft for the last 6 years. She opened a studio in 2015 in Travelers Rest South Carolina, the TR Makers Co, where students of all ages can be inspired by and also learn the techniques of various fine crafts. She specializes in sewing, block carving and printmaking, pattern making, set and costume design.
The Carolina Dance Collaborative is a mobile dance outreach company committed to providing quality dance education in the Upstate of South Carolina. The team of dance educators at CDC works with all ages and abilities across the Upstate delivering dance curriculum. Current programs include elementary, middle and high school residencies, one day workshops, after-school programming and recreational programming. All curriculum is custom designed to fit the needs of the students and enhance their learning experience. Students explore ballet, modern, jazz, african, hip hop, creative movement or choreography depending on the context of the class and who it is for. In the school setting these identifiable styles of dance are combined with current academic standards and character building to provide a student centered curriculum.
The Sumter Civic Dance Company provides Dance education through residencies, demonstrations, and performances. All performances are age appropriate and some pieces tell a moral story. Their residencies are grade specific teaching dance corresponding to what the students are learning in school. For instance: 3rd graders are studying SC History. Therefore, they teach The Charleston and the Shag, the SC official state dance.
For 25 years Mimi has been the Artistic Director for Ann Brodie’s Carolina Ballet and the Director of Faculty at AB Center For Dance Education in Columbia, SC. They are a civic pre professional classical ballet company and school where students are introduced to and taught daily classes while having performance opportunities to further and enrich their journey in the Arts to become young performing artists and broaden the base of arts supports for the future. Before retiring she had the opportunity to perform as a professional classical ballet dancer through the Southeast and Canada with SCBT and Ballet Michigan for 15 years. Bringing experience and passion to daily classes, rehearsals and performances each season integrates dance as educational outreach through out our community and ensures current involvement in the world of dance today. She is a certified teacher in the American Ballet Theatre Teachers Curriculum and is proud to be a working artist in South Carolina.
Southeastern Professional School of the Arts (SPSA) is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that provides a professional and disciplined study of high-quality dance to low- to moderate-income families and at-risk youth in the State of South Carolina. Established in 2009, SPSA works in partnership with the Southeastern School of Ballet to offer after-school introduction programs, multiple levels and styles of dance training, workshops, seminars and annual performances. All programs are structured around 6 fundamental goals: 1) Develop an appreciation of the Arts; 2) Develop self-expression; 3) Improve self-esteem and self-respect; 4) Establish work ethic; 5) Develop awareness of physical well–being; and 6) Develop sensitivity and empathy. SPSA services are offered FREE to all participants through corporate and individual funding.
The Power Company Collaborative (aka PoCoCo) is a group of dance artists committed to creative engagement and exchanges with all people. Choreographer, Martha Brim founded The Power Company in 2000 to “embrace the idea of power for all people” using dance as a means in practice and performance. Under Brim’s leadership PoCoCo has received numerous honors, awards and grants to assist in creation recognizing the importance of the work for the past 18 years. PoCoCo’s teaching is deeply informed by somatic practices, believing that all bodies dance. Drawing from expertise in movement studies emphasizing physical perception and experience, PoCoCo teaches a broad-spectrum population, from students of all ages, artists across disciplines, incarcerated youth, teachers, to senior adults. Every class is guided by the purpose of cultivating each individual’s power. Audiences appreciate and expect PoCoCo’s non-traditional approach to dance making and performance. Transforming public spaces such as art galleries, abandoned shops, gardens, parks, and bridges into performances spaces, we challenge conventional aesthetics. PoCoCo’s large-scale performance installations collaborating with artists and organizations include: “The Home Project” (2016) Artfields commission; Occupation/Reconstruction” (2015) Historic Columbia Foundation and OneColumbia commission; “My Walk with Kanye” (2013) featured installation in Charleston; and “Pieceworks” (2008) commissioned by 701CCA.
Rhythm…funk…innovation…excitement: that’s the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble (NCYTE). One of the best youth tap ensembles in the world, NCYTE features 40 dancers, ages 8 to 18, who hail from throughout North Carolina. Don’t let the word “youth” fool you. These dancers tear up the floor with poise, passion and professionalism. NCYTE honors the traditions of this unique American form while infusing it with youthful energy, contemporary music, and innovative dances from some of the world’s most talented choreographers. Their educational concerts and demos teach percussive dance styles from around the world and throughout history. Founded by JUBA award winning artistic director Gene Medler in 1983, NCYTE entertains audiences with cutting-edge contemporary choreography along with traditional rhythm tap. NCYTE has toured throughout the U.S. and the world, with performances in Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Germany and Mexico. The company has toured or collaborated with the Greensboro Symphony, Michelle Dorrance, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Mallarme Chamber Players, and the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra, among others.
Gail Glover Faust is a 40 plus year veteran of the dance arts and education. She owned her own dance studio in NJ and SC teaching ages 2 – 65, for 25 years. As an arts commission artist since 2005 she has worked statewide and has taught dance nationally and internationally. She teaches a variety of dance including African dance, Harlem Renaissance, Motown, Ballet, Tap, and many other techniques. Gail shares with students the cultural, economic, social and historical value of dance and how dance was integrated and was a catalyst for change during the time period. She loves to share her passion and expertise through dance education with all ages. Her interactive professional development workshops serve to stimulate teachers imagination and encourage them to use movement in the classroom. Gail continues to seek out and present a curriculum that engages and educates.
With rave reviews in New York City (Cabaret Scenes Magazine) and hailed as “one of the most celebrated teams” in the Lowcountry (Lowcountry Today), Charleston, SC sisters Gracie & Lacy captivate audiences with their “smooth-as-butter harmonies” (Viera Voice), power-house vocals, intricate tap dancing, and drop-dead-gorgeous costumes!They are best known for their preservation of The Great American Songbook and United States history of the 1920s-1960s.Gracie & Lacy’s unique backstory inspires students that no matter their age or their resources, they can pursue their passion.At the ages of eight and ten, Gracie & Lacy strung a bed sheet curtain on a garden hose across their garage, and thus, “Broadway On The Driveway” was born.Soon off the driveway, the company grew to include a full orchestra, technical team, and casts of up to 90 performers.The annual productions reached thousands of patrons each year, packing the house at local performing arts centers in St. Louis, MO.Gracie & Lacy expanded Broadway on the Driveway’s reach to include performing arts classes in theatre, vocal performance, and dance, serving hundreds of students over the course of 15 years.In addition, their programs have been featured in both public and private schools, universities, libraries, and museums.They host the annual “Great American Songbook Star Search” each year during Piccolo Spoleto Festival to recognize outstanding youth.With infectious humor and wit, Gracie & Lacy relate well to students of all ages and abilities.They emphasize the importance of character and teamwork, and connect students with areas where they can shine, building confidence and leadership skills.They make learning music, public speaking, dance, and history fun, through interactive games, stories, songs, and a trunk full of costumes, props, and more!Gracie & Lacy work with teachers to enhance objectives set forth by the South Carolina Teaching Standards in History / Social Studies, Music, and Theatre, and Dance.They specialize in the history of World War II, Prohibition Era, Charleston, SC History, Songwriting, Choreography, Dance and Music of The Great American Songbook.
Angela Gallo, Professor of Dance -Coker College, Artistic Director of Sapphire Moon Dance Company. Performance highlights: White Wave Dance Festival, Dancenow Downtown Festival, Dance Theatre Workshop in NYC, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, the Fringe Festival of Independent Dance Artists in Canada, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Alabama Dance Festival, Charlotte Dance Festival, Dimensions Dance Festival, and others. She danced with AmDAT: Dance Art Technology (NY), Eisenhower Dance Ensemble (MI), the Power Company (SC) and worked with Ballet Preljocaj (France) and Anou Skan (France). Guest choreographer for Columbia Classical Ballet, Vibrations Dance Company, Power Company.
Angela is often a sought-after guest artist. Instructor at Joffrey Ballet Summer Program, Peridance Center, Hartford Ballet School and guest instructor at Spelman College.
Angela was awarded the SC Dance Associations Advocacy and Honor Awards, grants from the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties, South Arts, Kyle Foundation, Black Creek Arts Council and was runner up for the SC Arts Commission’s Fellowship in Dance in 2007.
Angela received MFA in Dance from University of Michigan and BFA from Central Connecticut State University.
Angela is interested in the intersection of life and art- how can we bring cultural change and awareness through our artistic vision.