Form Object
Trisha Kennedy
Ballet and Modern/Contemporary Dance Faculty
Ms. Trisha was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. Her dance training was primarily with the Cultural Center of the Philippines Dance School (CCPDS), the professional training school of Ballet Philippines. She was a CCPDS scholar for five years which consequently led to an apprenticeship with Ballet Philippines. Ms. Trisha trained in classical ballet with Noordin Jumalon, Perry Sevidal, Gina Katigbak, Victor Ursabia, Cecile Sicangco, Nonoy Froilan and William Morgan. She also trained in Modern ballet with Agnes Locsin. Ms. Trisha has performed with Ballet Philippines in various productions both classical ballet and modern. While with Ballet Philippines, she worked professionally with acclaimed ballet and modern dance artists and choreographers. She began teaching in 1997 with the CCPDS prior to teaching in the United States.
Aside from dance teaching, Ms. Trisha works as an account executive with Qantum Radio. In June 2008, Trisha and her husband Matt, started an insurance business, Kennedy Insurance Associates, LLC, in Myrtle Beach.
Ballet and Modern/Contemporary Dance Faculty
Ms. Trisha was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. Her dance training was primarily with the Cultural Center of the Philippines Dance School (CCPDS), the professional training school of Ballet Philippines. She was a CCPDS scholar for five years which consequently led to an apprenticeship with Ballet Philippines. Ms. Trisha trained in classical ballet with Noordin Jumalon, Perry Sevidal, Gina Katigbak, Victor Ursabia, Cecile Sicangco, Nonoy Froilan and William Morgan. She also trained in Modern ballet with Agnes Locsin. Ms. Trisha has performed with Ballet Philippines in various productions both classical ballet and modern. While with Ballet Philippines, she worked professionally with acclaimed ballet and modern dance artists and choreographers. She began teaching in 1997 with the CCPDS prior to teaching in the United States.
Aside from dance teaching, Ms. Trisha works as an account executive with Qantum Radio. In June 2008, Trisha and her husband Matt, started an insurance business, Kennedy Insurance Associates, LLC, in Myrtle Beach.
Karen Mata
Ballet Faculty and CYBT Ballet Mistress
Ms. Karen was born in the Philippines and migrated to the United States with her family when she was 16 years old. Her mother, Liza, who owned and was director of two dance schools in the Philippines, was her primary ballet teacher. Prior to her move to the United States, she has had the opportunity to perform with the Philippine Ballet Theatre productions of “Swan Lake,” “Don Quixote”, and “Serenade” and “Who Cares” with guest artist Robert Barnett.
She has done all the Royal Academy of Dance Grades and the Intermediate and Advanced 1 Vocational examinations garnering "Distinction" and "Honours" marks as well as a Distinction mark for her Australian Ballet Syllabus Examination. She has competed in the New York City Finals of the Youth America Grand Prix International Student Ballet and Contemporary Competitions from 2003 to 2005. She has attended summer intensives at the Washington Ballet School in Washington D.C., at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, at the Carolina Ballet Theatre in Greenville, SC, and at The Art of Classical Ballet in Pompano Beach, Florida.
In 2005, Ms. Karen began her year-round training with Magaly Suarez and Ibis Montoto at The Art of Classical Ballet and has since performed with the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami productions of “Paquita,” “Majissimo,” “Giselle,” “Swan Lake,” ”La Vivandiere”, “La Bayadere”, ” The Nutcracker,” “Le Corsaire,” “Carmen” from 2006 to the present. She has also performed with the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami at the International Ballet Festival of Miami in 2007 and 2008 and the Gala de las Estrellas de la Danza Mundial in the Dominican Republic.
Ballet Faculty and CYBT Ballet Mistress
Ms. Karen was born in the Philippines and migrated to the United States with her family when she was 16 years old. Her mother, Liza, who owned and was director of two dance schools in the Philippines, was her primary ballet teacher. Prior to her move to the United States, she has had the opportunity to perform with the Philippine Ballet Theatre productions of “Swan Lake,” “Don Quixote”, and “Serenade” and “Who Cares” with guest artist Robert Barnett.
She has done all the Royal Academy of Dance Grades and the Intermediate and Advanced 1 Vocational examinations garnering "Distinction" and "Honours" marks as well as a Distinction mark for her Australian Ballet Syllabus Examination. She has competed in the New York City Finals of the Youth America Grand Prix International Student Ballet and Contemporary Competitions from 2003 to 2005. She has attended summer intensives at the Washington Ballet School in Washington D.C., at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, at the Carolina Ballet Theatre in Greenville, SC, and at The Art of Classical Ballet in Pompano Beach, Florida.
In 2005, Ms. Karen began her year-round training with Magaly Suarez and Ibis Montoto at The Art of Classical Ballet and has since performed with the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami productions of “Paquita,” “Majissimo,” “Giselle,” “Swan Lake,” ”La Vivandiere”, “La Bayadere”, ” The Nutcracker,” “Le Corsaire,” “Carmen” from 2006 to the present. She has also performed with the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami at the International Ballet Festival of Miami in 2007 and 2008 and the Gala de las Estrellas de la Danza Mundial in the Dominican Republic.
FACULTY
Elsie Pollock
Pianist for the RAD Ballet Classes
Ms. Elsie is a native of Georgetown, SC. She began her piano studies at an early age, and pursued both piano and organ in college. She graduated from Furman University with a degree in music theory, and continued her piano and organ studies after graduation, first at Meredith College and then at UNC-Wilmington. She has been featured as a soloist with the Charleston, Wilmington and Greenville symphonies, and has performed a chamber music series in Charleston. After serving more than 30 years as music director at Prince George Winyah Episcopal Church in Georgetown, Ms. Pollock took a position in 2008 as assistant organist and choir director at Holy Cross Faith Memorial Episcopal Church in Litchfield. She also maintains a busy private piano studio.
Pianist for the RAD Ballet Classes
Ms. Elsie is a native of Georgetown, SC. She began her piano studies at an early age, and pursued both piano and organ in college. She graduated from Furman University with a degree in music theory, and continued her piano and organ studies after graduation, first at Meredith College and then at UNC-Wilmington. She has been featured as a soloist with the Charleston, Wilmington and Greenville symphonies, and has performed a chamber music series in Charleston. After serving more than 30 years as music director at Prince George Winyah Episcopal Church in Georgetown, Ms. Pollock took a position in 2008 as assistant organist and choir director at Holy Cross Faith Memorial Episcopal Church in Litchfield. She also maintains a busy private piano studio.
Liza Mata
Artistic Director and Ballet Faculty
Liza received her formal dance training in the Philippines and was director of two dance schools for 27 years prior to moving to the United States with her family in 2002. She is a Certified Teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance, and has participated in teacher training seminars, RAD Teachers’ refresher courses, dance festivals and competitions in the United States, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines. She prepares and enters her students to the annual RAD ballet examinations and ballet competitions such as the Youth America Grand Prix, American Ballet Competition and local competitions, where a good number of her students have won and garnered awards and scholarships.
She was recognized as the Outstanding Choreographer at the Youth America Grand Prix Greenville Regional Competition in 2006. Under her stewardship, Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre, CDC's official performing company, won the Impeccable Customer Experience (ICE) Award as the Best Non-Profit organization presented by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce in 2008. That same year, also under her stewardship, CYBT's second year of staging the full length production of “The Nutcracker” was presented in partnership with the Palace Theatre management.
Liza Mata believes in the value of good quality education in all the arts. In her more than thirty years of dance teaching experience she is producing students who are making careers as dance professionals and enthusiastic dance supporters. Teaching dance and fostering the love of dance to others continues to be the highlight of her teaching career vibrant and accomplished dance schools and youth ballet companies, respectively, thereby enriching our community through the promotion of dance as art form.
Artistic Director and Ballet Faculty
Liza received her formal dance training in the Philippines and was director of two dance schools for 27 years prior to moving to the United States with her family in 2002. She is a Certified Teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance, and has participated in teacher training seminars, RAD Teachers’ refresher courses, dance festivals and competitions in the United States, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines. She prepares and enters her students to the annual RAD ballet examinations and ballet competitions such as the Youth America Grand Prix, American Ballet Competition and local competitions, where a good number of her students have won and garnered awards and scholarships.
She was recognized as the Outstanding Choreographer at the Youth America Grand Prix Greenville Regional Competition in 2006. Under her stewardship, Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre, CDC's official performing company, won the Impeccable Customer Experience (ICE) Award as the Best Non-Profit organization presented by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce in 2008. That same year, also under her stewardship, CYBT's second year of staging the full length production of “The Nutcracker” was presented in partnership with the Palace Theatre management.
Liza Mata believes in the value of good quality education in all the arts. In her more than thirty years of dance teaching experience she is producing students who are making careers as dance professionals and enthusiastic dance supporters. Teaching dance and fostering the love of dance to others continues to be the highlight of her teaching career vibrant and accomplished dance schools and youth ballet companies, respectively, thereby enriching our community through the promotion of dance as art form.
Led by Artistic Director Liza Mata, a line-up of regular faculty members and distinguished guest teachers, each one of whom has a different dance background, bring a
wide range of skills and challenges for CDC students.
Copyright © 2007-2011 Coastal Dance Centre
3554 Old Kings Highway, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
(843) 651-2006
3554 Old Kings Highway, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
(843) 651-2006
Mandy Siefers
Ballet-Tap Combo, Tap - Jazz Combo, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap and Ballet Faculty
Ms. Mandy received her Bachelor of Arts degree, Major in Dance with Emphasis on Technique and Performance, from Columbia College, South Carolina in 1994. She has also trained at The Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, California. After graduation, she pursued a professional dance career which has included performing in Branson, Missouri’s "Magical Mansion" as a dancer and magician’s assistant; as a dancer for road shows in Las Vegas, Nevada; as a dancer and magician’s assistant in NBC Television’s “The World’s Greatest Magic;” and as a dancer for the Las Vegas style Tribute shows at “Legends in Concert.” For the past eleven years, Ms. Mandy has worked as a dance teacher and choreographer for other area dance schools prior to working at Coastal Dance Centre. She has choreographed for the South Carolina Junior Miss Scholarship Program contestants and has also judged at local competitions such as the Dance Masters of America.
Ballet-Tap Combo, Tap - Jazz Combo, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap and Ballet Faculty
Ms. Mandy received her Bachelor of Arts degree, Major in Dance with Emphasis on Technique and Performance, from Columbia College, South Carolina in 1994. She has also trained at The Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, California. After graduation, she pursued a professional dance career which has included performing in Branson, Missouri’s "Magical Mansion" as a dancer and magician’s assistant; as a dancer for road shows in Las Vegas, Nevada; as a dancer and magician’s assistant in NBC Television’s “The World’s Greatest Magic;” and as a dancer for the Las Vegas style Tribute shows at “Legends in Concert.” For the past eleven years, Ms. Mandy has worked as a dance teacher and choreographer for other area dance schools prior to working at Coastal Dance Centre. She has choreographed for the South Carolina Junior Miss Scholarship Program contestants and has also judged at local competitions such as the Dance Masters of America.
Christie Karavan
Tap Faculty
Christie Karavan is a dancer, teacher, director and choreographer. Ms. Karavan is certified by the Dance Masters of America and the Cecchetti Council of America. Her most recent productions include choreographer for “Sweet Charity” and “Forever Plaid” for Coastal Carolina University. Ms. Karavan continues her tap training through The Chicago Human Rhythm Project, The N. C. Rhythm Tap Festival and classes in NYC.
Tap Faculty
Christie Karavan is a dancer, teacher, director and choreographer. Ms. Karavan is certified by the Dance Masters of America and the Cecchetti Council of America. Her most recent productions include choreographer for “Sweet Charity” and “Forever Plaid” for Coastal Carolina University. Ms. Karavan continues her tap training through The Chicago Human Rhythm Project, The N. C. Rhythm Tap Festival and classes in NYC.
A dance experience unlike any other you will find in the Grand Strand area.
Studying at Coastal Dance Centre is more than just an activity.
Regardless of where you are in training, we will take you to new levels of excellence!
Studying at Coastal Dance Centre is more than just an activity.
Regardless of where you are in training, we will take you to new levels of excellence!
Jill Brady
Ballet-Tap Combo, Jazz, Hip Hop and Tap Faculty
Ms. Jill joined the Coastal Dance Centre faculty roster during the 2011 – 2012 dance year. Ms. Jill comes to us from the Phoenix, Arizona area where she ran her own dance studio for over eight years. Before moving to Arizona, Ms. Jill had lived in Charlton, Massachusetts where she studied ballet, jazz, tap, and modern dance since the age of 3. Ms. Jill attended the Walnut Hill School for the Arts for high school. For several summers since she was ten, she had also studied with ballerina Marina Svetlova and also took summer classes at the School of Washington Ballet. Ms. Jill attended the University of Arizona where she studied ballet, modern and psychology.
Ballet-Tap Combo, Jazz, Hip Hop and Tap Faculty
Ms. Jill joined the Coastal Dance Centre faculty roster during the 2011 – 2012 dance year. Ms. Jill comes to us from the Phoenix, Arizona area where she ran her own dance studio for over eight years. Before moving to Arizona, Ms. Jill had lived in Charlton, Massachusetts where she studied ballet, jazz, tap, and modern dance since the age of 3. Ms. Jill attended the Walnut Hill School for the Arts for high school. For several summers since she was ten, she had also studied with ballerina Marina Svetlova and also took summer classes at the School of Washington Ballet. Ms. Jill attended the University of Arizona where she studied ballet, modern and psychology.
3554 Old Kings Highway
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
843.651.2006
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
843.651.2006
Lindsey Bell
Ballet Faculty
Ms. Lindsey received her formal ballet training at ballet tech® of ohio. She was under the instruction of Claudia Rudolph Barrett, former ballet mistress of the Cinicinnati Ballet, Jane Burkhalter, member of George Balenchine’s original company, and Alexei Kremnev and Anna Reznik of the Moscow Bolshoi Ballet Academy.
Ms. Lindsey graduated from Florida State University in Tallahassee with her PhD in Statistics. Currently, she teaches at Coastal Carolina University aside from teaching ballet at Coastal Dance Centre.
Ballet Faculty
Ms. Lindsey received her formal ballet training at ballet tech® of ohio. She was under the instruction of Claudia Rudolph Barrett, former ballet mistress of the Cinicinnati Ballet, Jane Burkhalter, member of George Balenchine’s original company, and Alexei Kremnev and Anna Reznik of the Moscow Bolshoi Ballet Academy.
Ms. Lindsey graduated from Florida State University in Tallahassee with her PhD in Statistics. Currently, she teaches at Coastal Carolina University aside from teaching ballet at Coastal Dance Centre.