Center Stage Performing Company began in 1989 under the direction of Michele Lee. The company currently consists of 40 dancers ranging in age from 6-18. The dancers must audition for this elite company and are required to attend specific Performing Company classes and rehearsals. They attend numerous conventions, master classes, and competitions throughout the year. Working with the Center Stage staff and guest choreographers, these dancers are extremely talented, receiving many top awards at the local and national level.
For company members only please log in above for the weekly rehearsal schedule,and competition information. If you are interested in joining the Center Stage Performing Company please contact the studio.
Students From Local Ballet Studio On the Road to Professional Careers
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Zoe Roberts, Shannon Sollars-White, Emma Tilson, Miles Sollars-White
Center Stage Dance Studio has been in the Asheville area for 30 years. The school’s director, Michele Lee, has developed a ballet program where students on a professional track can have up to eight ballet and pointe classes a week as well as classes in modern, lyrical, hip hop and jazz. Most of the ballet is taught by award winning choreographer and Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance Artistic Director Heather Maloy, and the students are receiving training that has fostered unheard of results in such a small community.
In the past two years alone, seven Center Stage students have been accepted into the world-renowned University of NC School of the Arts high school dance program in Winston-Salem. Zoe Roberts and siblings Miles and Shannon Sollars-White are just beginning their first term at the school. 15 year old Emma Tilson is beginning her second year in the highest level for her age and received the Dean’s Award for Excellence last year. Alyson Grant and Emma Lalor were also accepted for the high school dance program, but have chosen to continue their training at Center Stage.
Kelsey Lee went to UNCSA for her senior year last year and upon graduation was accepted and is attending the Ailey school in New York City as a fellowship student, a highly competitive program that attracts some of the world’s strongest young dancers. Devon Kelly chose to stay at Center Stage for all of her high school years and is now in her second year at Florida State, one of the nation’s most respected undergraduate dance programs.
Center Stage dancers are dedicated and pursue their training over the summer. Current Center Stage students attended highly competitive summer intensive programs at American Ballet Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet, San Francisco Conservatory, Joffrey Ballet, and South Carolina Conservatory among others.
Exciting new developments at the studio this year include the addition of a new modern teacher, Leslie Myers.
Myers, a former dancer with the Martha Graham Ensemble, Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre and Pearl Lang Dance Theatre
has taught at such prestigious dance conservatories as the Martha Graham School, the Ailey School, Barnard College
and Suny Purchase.
Heather Maloy is now working with the school’s faculty to create a pre-professional company that will be comprised
of Center Stage students. "The Junior Muses of Terpsicorps" will perform new works and ballets from the repertoire of
Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance and have the opportunity to work and perform with guest dancers
from the acclaimed professional company.
Congratulations to our dancers who were invited to perform at
NCSA's 2008 Festival