Celebrating 26 Years Of Excellence In Pre-Professional Performance Training


Artistic Directors Melissa Hale Coyle and Lisa Leone

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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
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

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ALISON has been member of CCBC for 6 years. She is Vice President of the Photography Club and a member of the Drama Club at school. Alison is also a member of AT&T's Youth Project team to promote not texting while driving. She has attended Rock School for Dance Education Summer Intensive, American Ballet Theatre's Summer intensive and the North Carolina School of the Arts Summer Intensive. Alison enjoys biking with her sister, reading and watching Harry Potter and unwinding from the week with my friend. Favorite Quote: “The dancer’s body is simply the luminous manifestation of the soul.”- Isadora Duncan









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ELAINE has been a member of CCBC for 6 years. She is a member of the French Club at school and is on the Honor Roll. She has attended American Ballet Theatre’s Young Dancer’s Workshop in New York City and American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive in Tulscaloosa, Alabama. Elaine enjoys spending time with friends when she is not dancing. Favorite Quote: “Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.” –John Lennon











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ELIZABETH is in her 5th season at CCBC. She recently earned her Girl Scout Silver Award through her volunteer work at a bilingual preschool.Last summer she spent three weeks in Raleigh at the Carolina Ballet Summer Intensive. She loves drawing, creating stuff and, most of all, hanging out with her ballet buds! Favorite Quote: “There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them.”- Vicki Baum.











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ALEXANDRA has been a member of CCBC for 5 years.  In 2009, she won a National Award of Excellence in dance choreography for the PTA Reflections contest as well as first place in the “Keep Charlotte Beautiful” recycled materials sculpture contest.  Last summer, she attended the ABT Summer Intensive program in Tuscaloosa, AL, and was a participant of CMS Spectrum of the Arts camp as a visual arts major for three years.  Alexandra is also is a member of Spanish club, Women’s Chamber Choir, and on the honor roll.  When she is not dancing, Alexandra enjoys hanging out with her friends, yoga, and shopping. Favorite quote: “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








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MARGARET has been a CCBC member for 4 years. Margaret is a member of the Key Club, Young Democrats Club and also sings in the Advanced Women's Choir at school. She has attendend programs at the University of South Carolina Summer Dance Conservatory, American Ballet Theatre's Intensive in Austin Texas and this past year studied at University of North Carolina School of the Arts Summer session. She enjoys singing, music, spending time at the beach and being with family and friends. Favorite Quote: "Be youself and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind" - Dr. Seuss








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SARAH is in her 5th year with the CCBC. Also for the past 4 years, she has been a member of the Sullivan Youth Ensemble and this year is also a member of the Modern Ensemble where they compete regional and national dance competitions. She attends Union Academy High School where she participates on their JV Cheerleading team, plays saxophone in their band and is an active member in their Spanish Club, Fellowship Christian Athletics Club and Junior Civitan Club.  She is also a National Junior Honors Society member. In her free time she likes to hang out with family and friends, to do various sports and to read. Favorite quotes is "The only real valuable thing is intuition" by Albert Einstein.







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MARY BETH is in her 5th year with CCBC and attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Ballet Intensive over the summer.  Mary Beth is a member of DECA, A.F.E Club (Advocates for Education) and plays the double bass in the school concert orchestra.  In her spare time, Mary Beth enjoys baking, reading and hanging out with friends and family.  Favorite quote: "The beauty of art is that there are no rules." - Mia Michaels










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ISABELLE has been a CCBC member for three years. She is a member of the French Club, Key Club and Friends Club at her high school. She has attended the American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive in Alabama and Austin. When not dancing, Isabelle enjoys stretching/practicing dance, Pilates, riding her bike, hanging out with friends and participating in school activities. Favorite Quote: “ Even if you weren’t born with a genentically perfect body, you can take something like a hand, where everyone has the same capabilities, and you can make it speak. You can make it speak in many different ways. “ –Sarah Lamb









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ALLIE is in her 2nd season with CCBC. She is a member of Gavel Club for public speaking and the Drama Team. She is an assistant Sunday school teacher, member of the Outreach Team and Operation Timothy mentoring program at church. Allie enjoys helping others through community service and missions projects.  She also likes to sew, read, draw and spend time with her friends.  Favorite quote: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord." Colossians 3:23. 












Senior Apprentice Member
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EMMA is in her 2nd year with CCBC.  Emma is a member of Gavel Club for public speaking, she is a mentor and Sergeant at Arms. She is a member of the Drama Team, and enjoys the ministry of assisting and meeting visitors at church. Emma likes to get involved with service projects to help those in need throughout our community. She enjoys writing, sewing, and hanging out with her friends.  Favorite quote: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."  Colossians 3:12. 












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