MEET THE DIRECTOR! Angela Baker, Studio Owner/Director, Certified Instructor in Tap & Ballet (DanceMasters of America), Tap & Ballet Master (DMA, SC Dance Association), Distinguished Teacher (StarSystems Talent Competition), Outstanding Studio (Hall of Fame Talent Competition) Angie Baker founded DanceCarolina in May 2005. Home of the nationally recognized StarStruck Competition Company and locally sought-after StarLite Performance Company, Dance Carolina has expanded its studios three times in its ten seasons, and continues to enjoy rapid growth with many classes filling to capacity each season. “Miss Angie” began training at age 3 in Orlando, FL, and continued at Sha-Mar Dance Studios in Irmo, SC from age 5-17, where she was an award-winning soloist for the Etc. Competition Team. She attended master classes, summer enrichment programs, and national competitions throughout her studies. As a youth, she was selected for the USC Dance Consortium & the Duke TIP program for dance excellence. Angie continued her training with Robert Ivey, department head of the dance program at the College of Charleston, where she earned a B.A. in Arts Management & a dance minor in 1998. She performed with the Robert Ivey Ballet, the CofC Cougarettes dance team, and the College Dance Ensemble throughout college. She interned with First Night Charleston & Spoleto Festival USA, where she was hired as Merchandising Coordinator & Marketing Assistant, and served as a liaison for guest dancers. She continued teaching for several studios in the Columbia & Charleston areas, and was retained for master classes & choreography by the likes of Wando High School (“Anything Goes”), Cardinal Newman High School (competitive cheerleading), and DanceMasters of America (Ballet Master), as well as offering master classes and choreography to many regional dance studios. She was a featured performer and dance lead in the world premiere of Charleston Stage Company’s “Gershwin at Folly.” Most recently, she taught as a tap master for the SC Dancing Festival. Her work has been featured multiple times at Spoleto Festival USA and Piccolo Spoleto Festival (Charleston, SC). She attends master classes & conventions several times a year to maintain her continuing education, and received full scholarship to attend the Dance Teacher Summit 2012 & 2014 in New York City to further her studies in studio management and dance studies, where she studied with Denise Wall, Judi Rice, David Howard, Luigi, Debbi Dee, Judy Ann Bassing, Gregg Russell, and other contemporary legends of dance. With her years of experience and success, she is now devising the “Twinkle Toes – Stars of Tomorrow” syllabus of classwork for ages 2-4, and bringing DanceCarolina’s PreK programs into the community at local preschools. She also enjoys the success of her annual “Daddy Dance,” when studio fathers voluntarily attend rehearsals and take the stage with their daughters – last season’s performance boasted almost 80 performers! Miss Angie maintains an “open door” policy of communication with her staff, dancers, parents, and the community. Please contact Miss Angie at angie@dancecarolina.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 12:43:54 +0000