Artistic Directors Melissa Hale Coyle and Lisa Leone
Melissa Hale Coyle grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma where she received her early training from Roman Jasinski and Moscelyne Larkin. She studied as a scholarship student for two summers at American Ballet Theatre with Leon Danelion and Patricia Wilde. After graduating from high school, she joined American Ballet Theatre as a company member for three years. Ms. Hale later joined Cincinnati Ballet Company where she performed in principal roles and Tulsa Ballet Theatre where she was a principal dancer for six years. For the past 19 years, Ms. Hale has lived in Charlotte, North Carolina where she is on the faculty and Artistic Director of the Ballet Program at Sullivan Dance Centre, part-time faculty member at UNCC and teaches company classes at North Carolina Dance Theatre. For many years, Ms. Hale has been on the faculty at the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She has been a guest choreographer for the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra, Carolina Voices, Atlanta Dance Theatre, The Dance Collective, Ballet San Antonio, Civic Ballet of Chicago, South Carolina’s Governors Summer School and Orange County Performing Arts High School. In 2001, The North Carolina School of the Arts awarded Ms. Hale “Best Dance Teacher of North Carolina”.
Lisa Leone began her training in Tacoma, WA under Jan Collum. After dancing the role of Cinderella in Washington, the choreographer, Tom Pazik, director of Atlanta Ballet II, invited her to study in Atlanta. She later danced with the Atlanta Ballet and the Ballet Rotaru, touring Romania and performing at the George Enescu Festival in Bucharest. For three years Ms. Leone danced as a soloist with the Oregon Ballet Theatre. After relocating to NC she performed as a guest artist with area companies and was a member of the Moving Poets Theatre of Dance. She is a member of the faculty of the Sullivan Dance Centre, and lives in Marshville, NC with her husband, sculptor Stephen Smith.
Senior Company Members
Carly is in her 7th Season at CCBC. Carly is a member of the Photography Club, French Club, Voices Activated Club, is on the Prowl Newspaper Staff as well as being a Girl Scout. She has attended the Rock School of Dance for Dance Education Summer Intensive and last summer attend Lines Summer Intensive Program. Also she was a 2007/08 Sullivan Dance Centre Studio Scholarship recipient. Favorite Quote: “Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted”-John Lennon
Kelly is in her 7th Season at CCBC. She has received two honorable mention awards in art and the NHAS Emerging Artist Award. She has attended the Rock School for Dance Education on scholarship, American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive in Detroit and last summer attended Lines Summer Intensive Program. When she is not dancing, her passion is creative writing/poetry and painting. Favorite Quote: “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”Gandalf (Lord of the Rings)
Sinclair is in her 2nd Season at CCBC. Sinclair is a member of the Ambassador Club, Students Against Drunk Driving Club, Honors Society, Photography Club and the Diversity Club. Sinclair has attended Boston Ballet and Austin Ballet’s summer intensive programs. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and going shopping. Favorite Quote: “If you imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream, you can become it.” William Arthur Ward
Natalie is in her 5th Season at CCBC. She is 1st chair in East Meck’s Symphony Orchestra, Vice President of East Meck’s Young Artists Association and Orchestra Club, French Club, Creative Writing Club, 3rd Chair cello in 2006 Western Regional Orchestra, on the Honor Roll and National Honor Society. When not dancing, she enjoys playing her cello, reading, writing and hanging out with her friends. Last summer Natalie attended Boston Ballet Summer Intensive. Favorite Quote: “ Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.”
Alison is in her 4th Season at CCBC. She is a member of the Culinary Club at school. She enjoys photography, hanging out with friends and shopping. Alison has attended the Rock School for Dance Education and last summer attended American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive in Austin, Texas. Favorite quote: “You’re a little scary sometimes, you know that? Brilliant… but scary.
Elaine is in her 4th Season at CCBC. She is a member of the French Club and National Junior Honor Society. When she is not dancing, she enjoys playing softball and hanging out with her friends. Last summer she attended ABT’s summer intensive in Tulscaloosa, Alabama. Favorite quote: “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality”-John Lennon
Elizabeth is in her 3rd Season at CCBC. She is a Girl Scout, a member of the Trinity Episcopal Volleyball team and an acolyte at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church. She enjoys volleyball, sewing, drawing and making jewelry. Favorite quote: “You’ve gotta’ dance like there’s nobody watching, love like you’ll never be hurt. Sing like there’s nobody listening, and live like it’s heaven on earth.” -William W. Purkey
Meghan was a member of CCBC for four years and after three years is returning to dance with the CCBC this season. She is on the Honor Roll, a member of Beta Club, a Worship Leader & Vocalist with the Praise Team, and a volunteer with Operation Christmas Child. Meghan has been a Sullivan Dance Centre Scholarship Recipient (2007), Sullivan Dance Centre Dance of the Year (2006-2007), Regional Youth Ambassador (2008) and LA Dance Magic Scholarship Recipient (2009). She also has been a member for the last four years with Sullivan Dance Ensemble. When she is not dancing, she enjoys photography.
Senior Apprentice and Apprentice Members
Alexandra is in her 3rd Season at CCBC. She has been a participant of CMC Spectrum of the Arts Camp as a visual arts major. Her extracurricular time is spent at dance but she also enjoys drawing, shopping and hanging out with friends. Favorite Quote: “Rollin!” –Miss Lisa
Margaret is in her 2nd Season at CCBC. She sings in the Freshmen Women’s Choir at school, is a member of the Key club, Young Democrats and The National Honor Society. She enjoys playing soccer, listening to music, spending time with friends/family and spending time at the beach. This past summer, Margaret studied at South Carolina’s Summer Dance Conservatory at University of South Carolina. Favorite quote: “Don’t count the days, make the days count.”- Mohamed Ali
Sarah is in her 3rd Season at CCBC. She is a member of Beta Club, Chess Club, 1st Chair in Honors Band(clarinet), Jazz Band(Alto Saxophone), All-State Band, All-District Band, Pep Band and is also learning Chinese. Sarah likes to do science projects, experiments, love to play and fix computers, cook, play all type of sports and hanging out with her friends. Also Sarah has been a member for the last two years with Sullivan Dance Troupe. Favorite quote: “Imagination is more important than knowledge”-Albert Einstein
Mary Beth is in her 3rd Season at CCBC. She serves as Public Relations Officer for the National Junior Honors Society, is 1st Chair Bass in the orchestra and is a member of Committed Young Christians. Last summer, Mary Beth participated as a dance major in CMS’s Spectrum of the Arts. In her spare time, she loves to shop and enjoys hanging out with her sisters, mom, dad and friends. Favorite quote: “Life’s not about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.”
Lindsay is in her 2nd Season at CCBC. She is an honors student, a Presidential Academic Excellence Award Recipient, National Junior Honor Society Member, a Duke T.I.P. Member, National Academic League Member and a Providence Plantation Swim Team Member. Lindsay likes reading, computers, arts/crafts, bicycling, swimming and hanging out with her family and friends. Favorite quote: “ Only a life lived for others is a life worth while.” –Albert Einstein
Isabelle is in her 1st Season at CCBC. At school she is an honor roll student, a member of National Junior Society and was in Honors Dance last year. She also has performed in the school’s musical. When not dancing, she enjoys shopping, hanging out with friends/family and practicing dance some more. Isabelle’s hobbies other than dance are acting and singing(when forced). Favorite quote: “ I don’t want people who want to dance, I want people who have to dance.”- George Balanchine
Jacquelyn is in her 1st Season at CCBC. She is on the IB Student Council, a member of Advanced Women’s Choir and volunteers for Playing for Others. She enjoys playing the piano, singing, acting, reading, laughing and being with friends. Favorite Quote: “it is not our abilities that show who we truly are, it is our choices.”
Sarah is in her 2nd Season at CCBC. She is in the Photography Club at school and has received two Scholastic Gold Key Awards. Sarah enjoys hanging out with friends, painting and her youth group at church. Favorite quote: "The past is the past, the future is a mystery and right now is a gift. That's why it's called the present."-Anonymous
