City Center Dance Instructors consist of highly trained, experienced competitive dancers as well as professionals from many backgrounds of the dance community. City Center Dance is proud to present our esteemed and acclimated staff.

Our Student instructors have many years of experience at Clogging Connection at City Center Dance. They are members of one or more of our elite dance teams, including the four-time CCA National Champion Southern Belles. These young ladies volunteer their time working with our young students to share what they've learned not only about dance, but about camaraderie, teamwork, integrity, and dedication. They are a prime example of why we are so very proud of "our girls", and are each leaders in their schools and in their communities.

 

 

Kelli Harvey began her dancing career with the City Center Dance as a young girl in 1996. Kelli “grew up” with Clogging Connection, and danced her way all the way up to the Southern Belles Senior Team. She had the honor of helping the team to capture the title of 2005 Clogging Champions of America. In 2005, Kelli was awarded Best All Around dancer for the 2004-2005 Clogging Connection dance program. Throughout her competitive career, Kelli also competed in solos and duos. Kelli has won numerous Overall Grand Champion titles in both categories. Kelli stepped away from dance for a few years, but has recently returned to play a vital role as an instructor in our recreational and amateur competitive clogging programs.

Kelli is currently a sophomore in college, works full time in retail as well as serving as a wedding coordinator and event manager, and is fast renewing her love of dance and following her true passion. Kelli has also stepped up to serve as our Studio Assistant this year. We are excited to have her on board as she brings many talents to the table!

Jessica Charmoli has been a student of the City Center Dance since the age of five.  She began her competitive dance career at age 6, and began traveling with the City Center Dance All Star Teams at age seven.  Jessica is currently a member of the Southern Belles Senior Team where she has helped her team win numerous national titles, specifically the 2005 and 2008 Clogging Champions of America title.  In addition to team competition, Jessica is extremely accomplished at the solo level, as well as in duo categories.  Jessica, and her duo partner of seven years, Piper Brownlee, held the National Duo Champion title in their age category for many years.  Jessica also excels in Irish Step Dance and Hip-Hop.

Jessica continues her commitment to clogging throughout the summer months by participating in the Elite Star and All Star programs.  In the summer months of 2006-2009, along with several other City Center Dance students, Jessica spent as many as six weeks in Branson, Missouri delighting audiences at Silver Dollar City Theme Park.  Jessica shines on the stage, as she is a natural entertainer.  In fact, she was awarded the City Center Dance’s 2005 Entertainer of the Year.  In 2008, Jessica enjoyed the opportunity to compete with her teammates on NBC’s America’s Got Talent television show. In April 2008, Jessica also traveled to Norway to perform at a televised Norwegian Red Cross benefit. Jessica is excited to share her talents and enthusiasm for the stage with other dance students as she enters her fourth year as a part of the City Center Dance’s team of instructors.

Barclay Crane has been dancing with City Center Dance since she was seven years old. Barclay began her competitive career in 2001 as one of the founding members of our CC Express Competition Team. Barclay, along with several of her current teammates, has been instrumental in helping the City Center Dance to promote CC Express in our local community, as well as in making a name for the team in the clogging community.

Barclay is now a part of the Southern Belles, who won the title of 2008& 2009 Clogging Champions of America Junior National Champion Team. For the past eight summers, Barclay has enjoyed the opportunity to perform at Silver Dollar City with the Elite Star Team. Throughout the course of her dancing career at City Center Dance, Barclay has become an accomplished performer in the art of Irish Step Dance and Hip-Hop, as well as in clogging.

Jessica Gates has been clogging since the age of six. Jessica is an accomplished dancer in the art forms of clogging, hip-hop, and Irish Step. Jessica began her career in competitive clogging in 2001 as one of the founding members of our CC Express Competition Teams. Jessica is currently a member of the Southern Belles, the 2008 & 2009 CCA Clogging Champions of America Junior Team. Over the course of her dance career, Jessica has performed at venues ranging from Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, NV; to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN and Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO.

Jessica along with three other teammates competed in the 2008 Brookwood High School Talent Show, and walked away with the Grand Prize! Jessica served as an Apprentice Instructor in 2007-2008, a Lead Instructor for 2008-2009, and was named Instructor of the Year in 2008-2009. Jessica looks forward to returning as a lead instructor in 2009-2010.

Olivia Reynolds has been dancing with City Center Dance since the age of six. During her years at City Center Dance, Olivia has been a member of the All Star/Elite Star Teams, Clog Squad and has participated in Competition clogging for the past six years. Olivia is proud to be a member of the 2008 & 2009 Clogging Champions of America Junior Team. She will continue to compete this year as part of Southern Belles. During 2006-2009 she had the honor of performing with the City Center Dance Elite Stars team, which included traveling to Branson, Missouri to perform at Silver Dollar City theme park. Olivia also enjoys her involvement with the Irish Step Dance and Hip-Hop programs offered by City Center Dance, and is excited to add ballet to her dance card this fall.

Olivia returns as a recreational clogging instructor this year is looking forward to a wonderful and rewarding year.

Caroline Peters is not only is an accomplished dancer, but also an honor student in Brookwood’s Gifted Student Studies Program. Caroline has been with City Center Dance since she was six years old. She has nine years experience in clogging, seven of which place her within the competitive clogging and Irish programs. Caroline’s traveling opportunities began in Clemson, SC and have taken her all across the south eastern U.S., and even as far as Branson, Missouri. Since 2005, Caroline has enjoyed entertaining audiences in Branson, Missouri at Silver Dollar City's Kid Fest. Caroline is proud to be a member of the 2008 & 2009 Clogging Champions of America, our Southern Belles Junior Team (formerly CC Express Junior Team). Caroline holds many Outstanding Achievement Awards from the City Center Dance in both clogging and Irish Step Dancing.

Caroline is a dancer of many talents and looks forward to the opportunity to share her talents with new students this year.

Savannah Sessions excels in her academics as well as in her dance.  Savannah has been dancing with the City Center Dance since the age of seven. Savannah is among an elite group of remaining dancers at the City Center Dance, the founding members of our CC Express Competition Teams. Savannah was invited to join CC Express in 2001 when she was only 8 years old. Since then, she has also participated in Irish Step Dancing, Hip Hop and both the All-Star and Elite Star teams. Savannah is honored to be a part of one of the most decorated dance troupes in clogging history, the 2008& 2009 Clogging Champions of America Junior Team, our very own Southern Belles (formerly CC Express Junior Team). Savannah has eight years worth of incredible memories centered on her traveling experiences with clogging. She has enjoyed countless weekend events to compete and perform throughout the U.S. as well as eight consecutive summer dance trips to perform at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri.

Savannah was awarded City Center Dance's 2008 Entertainer of the Year Award. Savannah is looking forward to serving as an instructor and is excited to share her enthusiasm for dance.

Caroline Watson began dancing with City Center Dance at age six. She excels in competitive clogging, Irish Step Dance and Hip Hop Dance. Throughout her years of dance, Caroline has participated in the City Center Dance’s Clog Squad program, All Star and Elite Star Teams, and is currently a member of the 2008 & 2009 Clogging Champions of America Junior Team, our very own Southern Belles (formerly CC Express Junior Team). Over the past four summers, Caroline has enjoyed entertaining an array of audiences at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. During her dancing career with City Center Dance, Caroline has been awarded several Outstanding Achievement Awards in dance. Caroline’s excellence in academics places her at the top of her class and in gifted program at her school. Her exception organizational skills have provided her the opportunity to serve as instructor in our clogging program this year.

Caroline is excited about the opportunity to mentor young dancers this year.

Mercedes Bleth has been dancing since she was three years old. She began by studying ballet, tap and jazz. In 2001, she joined The Drake School of Irish Dance and worked her way up the ranks of competitive Irish Dance achieving the top level, Open Champion, in 2005. She has qualified multiple times for the Irish Dance North American Championships and the Irish Dance World Championships. She was also a member of the award winning Southern Region Champion Figure Choreography team 2004-2009. They were featured on the cover of Feis America Magazine and auditioned for the 2009 “America’s Got Talent” television show. She has travelled throughout the U.S. and internationally to compete and perform. In January of this year, she had the honor of dancing with Riverdance lead dancers for Eileen Ivers’ “Beyond the Bog Road” Concert in Knoxville, TN and is the 2009 Henry County Talent Showcase winner and scholarship recipient. Desiring to expand her dance horizons, Mercedes joined City Center Dance in 2009. She has been teaching dance since she was twelve, and is happy to be able to continue to share her love of Irish dance.

In addition to dance, Mercedes is also a competitive swimmer and trains several mornings a week during the school year and daily during the summer season, fitting in as many swim meets as her dance and school schedule will allow.

Jessamy Bleth is our lead Irish instructor, and is an incredibly accomplished dancer and instructor. Jessamy began dancing with the Karl Drake School of Irish Dance 2001 when she was 17 years old. She has also trained at the prestigious Paris School of Performing Arts. Under the direction of Karl Drake and his assistant, Ashlee Williamson, she quickly rose to the highest standard of dancing, Open Champion. She has competed at the regional, national, and international levels. She is a three-time World Championship qualifier and is currently ranked 4th in the Southern Region. Jessamy officially retired from competitive dancing at age 24 in March 2009 after representing the Southern Region at the World Championships in Philadelphia.

In 2007 Jessamy took a break from competition to tour the UK, France, and Germany with Canadian-based dance company, The Magic of Ireland. She has been the featured performer at many events and festivals including the annual International Poultry Exposition (2004-2006), featured dancer at the Hiwassee Arts Fair in Hiwassee, Georgia (2005), and a featured dancer at the Liberty University Multi-Cultural Awareness Event (2002). She was a featured solo dancer for the Liberty University Marching Band’s “Riverdance” show and performed during football games, special events, and was the featured half-time exhibition at the Giants Stadium in New York--for a crowd of 70,000.

Jessamy’s professional performance opportunities have allowed her the privilege of sharing the stage with lead Riverdancer Padraig Moyles and world-renowned fiddle player Eileen Ivers at the premier of her show, Beyond the Bog Road. She has since performed in numerous productions along side other renowned Irish performs such as Caitlin Allen (January 2009) and was a Chorus dancer for The Magic of Ireland (Three tours from February to December 2007).

Now Jessamy looks forward to earning her TCRG (Irish dance teaching exam) so that she can pass on her love for Irish dancing. She is thrilled to be working with the talented students at City Center Dance!