Amy began her love of dance at the Greenville Fine Arts Center and continued that love for performing arts at the Governor's School For the Arts. After graduating from high school, Amy attended Columbia College where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance.
While attending Columbia College, Amy had the opportunity to work with many professional dance companies including: Shapiro and Smith, Sally Hess, Urban Bush Women, Creach and Koester, Blondell Cummings, Dan Wagoner, and many more.
After graduation, Amy moved to New York City where she danced and toured professionally for 5 years. While in New York, Amy studied dance with Christine Wright. She also attended classes at Broadway Dance Center and Dancespace.
Amy has also choreographed and performed in many local Greenville performances, including the Miss South Carolina Pageant, the little theatre, and other popular theater and arts performances.
Amy currently owns and operates the Let's Dance studio in Mauldin, South Carolina.
Amy has danced since she was five years old. At age eleven, Amy decided to focus on classical ballet under the instruction of Hennadii Bespechnyi and Vlada Kysselova.
Amy continues to dance and perform with International Ballet. She has been featured in roles such as Gulnara from Le Corsaire, The Dew Drop Fairy and Snow Soloist from The Nutcracker and many more.
Amy has participated in an International Ballet Exchange Program twice, which has allowed her to study in the Ukrainian Academy of Dance and perform in the National Opera House in Kiev, Ukraine.
Amy has also studied Contemporary, jazz, character, historical, and Baroque Dance over the years.
Hennadii Bespechnyi received his professional training at the Riga State College of Choreography, Latvia, under Professor Juris Kapralis. Hennadii also holds a Master's Degree as a choreographer, coach and ballet master from the Ukranian Academy of Dance, and International Slavic University.
Hennadii has toured extensively as Principal Dancer with Ballet Classique de Paris (France); Kiev Theater of Classical Ballet (Ukraine); and International Ballet De Ochi (Japan).
Hennadii is currently the Artistic Director of the International Ballet and has choreographed and staged Francesca da Rimini and Swan Lake, ACT III in May of 2004, and The Nutcracker in Dec, 2004.
Hennadii and Vlada recently worked together on a new Greenville premiere, Shostakovich's Lady and the Hooligan, which was performed in April 2005 at the Gunter Theater.
Nick burns began his dance career at the age of 5, mimicking legendary Michael Jackson and James Brown. Nick performed at numerous talent shows & events locally and out of state, such as the beautiful Jamboree, Greenville's Got Talent, and myFM Blockbuster Dance competition.
Nick begin to make a transition from "street" to "professional" at the age of 15, assembling dance crews and hitting underground circuits. He evolved his style into "street" Hip-Hop, while creating a series of successful workshops. Nick's videos on Youtube and World Star Hip-Hop allowed his work to go viral and be seen across the country.
Nick eventually began teaching in studios and started choreographing pieces for dance teams. His studio and recent work includes: the 2010 Alpha Kappa and ETO Cotillion, which presents over 200 dancers at the Bi-Lo center in Greenville. Nick was also one of the top finalist at "So you think you can dance" Atlanta auditions. Nick also developed a Hip-Hop dance craze called MindBending.
Nick travels across the country promoting dance and helping under-privileged dancers from rural areas. Nick currently resides in Greenville.
Vlada Kysselova received her training at the Kiev State College of Choreography, Ukraine. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Kiev State Linguistic University and a Master's Degree with Honors as a choreographer, coach and ballet master from the Ukrainian Academy of Dance, International Slavic University.
Vlada toured extensively as a soloist with National Theater of Opera and Ballet, Kiev (Ukraine) and as principal dancer with Kiev Theater of Classical Ballet and Ballet Classique de Paris (France).
Since May of 2004 she has been choreographing and staging productions with Hennadii for International Ballet performances of Francesca da Rimini, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Lady and the Hooligan, Giselle and Chamber Ballets. Vlada's students have received awards in International Ballet Competitions and a first place in the regional Youth America Grand Prix in 2008.
Christie began her dance training with Frankie Sherman and immediately developed a love and passion for the arts. Her early years of training also included classes with Pat Jackson, Felicia Scherz and Laurie McAlister. Later, she spent time in New York City taking classes from nationally acclaimed instructors at Steps, Peridance and Broadway Dance Center. She also continued her dance eduation by attending many dance conventions, workshops and masterclasses.
Christie owned and operated two studios in the upstate for 14 years and produced, in addition to yearly recitals, the productions of The Nutcracker, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Willy Wonka and original productions of The Enchanted Toy Shop and Storm the Stage.
Christie's students have won local and state pageant titles, won numerous awards at regional and national competitions, the 2010 Performer of the Year at Celebration Talent, performed on cruise ships, was chosen as featured performers in the Miss SC pageant, attend the SC Governor's School for the Arts, as well as the Greenville Fine Arts Center, and AARMES. Her students are on dance teams at many local high schools and at College of Charleston, University of Georgia, Clemson, Lander and USC.
Most recently Christie worked with the Lander University Dance Team, was a judge for the National American Miss Pageant, and choreographed productions of A Christmas Carol and Westside Story for the theater ensemble FIRE.
Christie has been married 17 years and has two children.
Ashley Martin received her training at the Fine Arts Center and the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities. She attended Clemson University as an education major, where she was a member of the Central Dance and Concert Committee and vice president of the Clemson Dancers. She has studied in New York at Broadway Dance Center and was a featured performer with David Dorfman Dance. She has taught at numerous schools in South Carolina, and has been the executive director of Let's Dance in Greenville.
Ashley performed with Ballet Spartanburg in West Side Story, and Greenville Little Theatre in A Chorus Line. Performances with International Ballet include La Slyphide, Lady and the Hooligan, Walpurgis Night, Don Quixote, A Soldier's Tale, Paquita y mas, Coppelia, and Nutcracker.
Gordon Owens was born and raised in Washington, DC where he attended Children's Theater courses at The Arena Stage and Howard University.
Gordon continued his studies in drama, dance and voice at the North Carolina School of the Arts.
After college, he moved to NYC and received a full scholarship at Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. Two months later he joined the National Touring Company of the Broadway musical A Chorus Line. Gordon also performed on Broadway in Dreamgirls, A Chorus Line, Starlight Express, and Miss Saigon.
After touring for 4 years and on Broadway for 8 years, Gordon moved to Los Angeles and successfully pursued a career as an actor in Television and Film. His long list of credits include Will & Grace, Dance With Me, Turbulence, and Space Cowboys.
Gordon has taught master classes in Acting and Jazz Dance all over the country, and now resides in Greenville.
From Travelers Rest, South Carolina, Elena began dancing at the age of 2 at Louise's House of Dance under the instruction of her mother, Louise Harris. By age 12, she auditioned for South Carolina Ballet's Nutcracker for the first time under artistic directors Hennadii Bespechnyi and Vlada Kysselova. Since then, she has danced roles such as Chinese, Waltz of the Flowers, and Snowflakes in The Nutcracker, and has performed in Giselle, Don Quixote, Francesca de Rimini, The Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Hooligan, and Paquita, just to name a few.
The last few years, Elena has continued her dance education at International Ballet Academy in Greer under the instruction of Hennadii Bespechnyi and Vlada Kysselova. Although ballet has always been an integral part of her dance education, Elena also enjoys dancing and teaching tap, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary dance. Currently she attends North Greenville University as a psychology major.
She and her husband, Greg now reside in Greer.
Amy Woodruff has been dancing since her childhood years. While in high school, she performed in "The Nutcracker." She was featured in roles such as, Russian, Chinese, Snow and Dew Drop Fairy.
Amy has studied and passed her Royal Academy of Dance exam which is an extensive and rigorous study of ballet terminlogy and the execution of ballet steps. Amy went on to attend college at Keene State College in Keene, NH. She studied modern dance and health and fitness.
Amy performed regularly throughout her four years at Keene State College. Amy received a Bachelor of Science in Health and Fitness and a Minor in Nutrition. Amy has been instructing students of all ages, teaching ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance at Let's Dance. She has also been choreographing for two competition teams for the past two years.
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