Meghan is a Charleston, South Carolina native. She grew up training and competing in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Tap. Meghan found her love for teaching while attending the College of Charleston where she graduated with a BA in Arts Management and Dance Minor. Meghan has led multiple competition teams to Regional and
Meghan is a Charleston, South Carolina native. She grew up training and competing in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Tap. Meghan found her love for teaching while attending the College of Charleston where she graduated with a BA in Arts Management and Dance Minor. Meghan has led multiple competition teams to Regional and National victories winning high score, overall, entertainment, and choreography awards. Her students have won titles, such as, Mister Dance of America and several of her students have gone on to dance at Clemson University, Winthrop University, the University of South Carolina, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Disney. She is nationally certified by Dance Masters of America in Ballet, Jazz, and Modern and enjoys traveling to share her love of dance with others. Meghan is also the owner and director of Ignite Dance Competition.
Nancy received her training from the Myrtle Beach School of Performing Arts, where she was trained and examined in the Cecchetti Method of Ballet. She was a member of the Strand Ballet Theatre and Karavan Moving Company. She has been a member of Dance Masters of America and the Southern Council of Dance Masters since 1999. She is curren
Nancy received her training from the Myrtle Beach School of Performing Arts, where she was trained and examined in the Cecchetti Method of Ballet. She was a member of the Strand Ballet Theatre and Karavan Moving Company. She has been a member of Dance Masters of America and the Southern Council of Dance Masters since 1999. She is currently the past president of Chapter 44 and director for the Solo title competition. Nancy has also been a member of the Cecchetti Council of America since 1993 and is the current registrar of the South Coastal Committee. Her students have won numerous awards at regional and national competitions, and some have gone on to continue their dance profession teaching, judging, and performing throughout the country. She is the proud teacher of Petite Miss Dance of SCDM 2009, Mr Dance of America 2013, Mr Dance of America 2016, and Petite Miss Dance of SCDM 2017.
Brenna has been involved in dance for over 30 years. She began dancing at the age of four and fell in love with the art. She started her training at Bonnie’s School of Dance, where she later moved to a “DMA studio”. She then began broadening her training by taking master classes and workshops. After feeling comfortable enough with her kn
Brenna has been involved in dance for over 30 years. She began dancing at the age of four and fell in love with the art. She started her training at Bonnie’s School of Dance, where she later moved to a “DMA studio”. She then began broadening her training by taking master classes and workshops. After feeling comfortable enough with her knowledge of Dance, She became Co-Owner of Planet Dance Center of the Arts in Summerville, SC and has devoted the last 16 years to teaching at the studio. Brenna is often asked to judge various competitions, and is a member of The Cecchetti Council of America and Dance Masters of America. She has been a member of Dance Masters of America for fifteen years and is honored to be elected as a National Area Director at this past National convention. She is also the proud teacher of Petite Miss Dance of SCDM 2009, Mr Dance of America 2013, Mr Dance of America 2016, and Petite Miss Dance of SCDM 2017.
Janine Kaiser grew up in Sumter where she began dancing at the Freed School of Performing Arts at the age of 2 1/2. She became part of the Freed Spirit Dance Company for 3 years before graduating high school. At Freed’s she studied ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, modern, and tap under Andrea Freed Levenson. She then attended Coker Col
Janine Kaiser grew up in Sumter where she began dancing at the Freed School of Performing Arts at the age of 2 1/2. She became part of the Freed Spirit Dance Company for 3 years before graduating high school. At Freed’s she studied ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, modern, and tap under Andrea Freed Levenson. She then attended Coker College where she obtained a Degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in Ceramics and a minor in dance. She was also a part of the Coker College Dance Team, took a study abroad session in Europe for dance, and has had the opportunity to dance in pieces set by the Amy Marshall Dance Company and The Wanda Project. During her years at Coker she taught at the Brenda Cranford’s School of Dance, where she taught tap, ballet, and jazz to all ages. At Brenda’s she got introduced to hip-hop and has since included it with her other favorites, modern and jazz.
Growing up in SC, she became proficient in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, and Modern Dance. Beginning with a stage performance at the age of 6 in The Broadway Nutcracker at the Manhattan Center in NYC, Tiffany's diverse dance styles have led her to many stages across the United States, Canada, China, and Japan. A few performan
Growing up in SC, she became proficient in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, and Modern Dance. Beginning with a stage performance at the age of 6 in The Broadway Nutcracker at the Manhattan Center in NYC, Tiffany's diverse dance styles have led her to many stages across the United States, Canada, China, and Japan. A few performance credits include Broadway Christmas Wonderland, Twist & Shout, Rock Around the Clock, Dancing Queen, The Nutcracker, Piccolo Spoleto Afternoon Interlude in Charleston, and Broadway Finale at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Tiffany also performs as an assistant illusionist and her TV credits include ABC’s Nashville,CBS’s Reckless, and Lifetime’s Army Wives.
Brittany Priester is from Charleston, South Carolina. She started dancing at the age of three and has competed at the state, regional, and national levels in dance competitions with Planet Dance Center for the Arts. Her dance training includes jazz, acro, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, modern, ballet, and tap. Her favorite style of danc
Brittany Priester is from Charleston, South Carolina. She started dancing at the age of three and has competed at the state, regional, and national levels in dance competitions with Planet Dance Center for the Arts. Her dance training includes jazz, acro, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, modern, ballet, and tap. Her favorite style of dance is hip-hop, and her first ever hip-hop class was taught by Twitch. She has performed on Carnival Cruise Lines, in Charleston Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker, and Christmas at Northwood. In 2018, she served as the President of the Junior Southern Council of Dance Masters Chapter 44 after serving in 2017 as the Vice President of the organization. Currently, she is the Program Chairman of the local scholarship program Distinguished Young Women of Berkeley County, and she owns her own business, Brittany Priester Graphic Design. She is a Senior at Charleston Southern University where she is the Captain of the Buc Angels Dance Team. She will graduate in the Fall with Honors and a double major in Business Entrepreneurship and Graphic Design.
Gingham Hoover is originally from Florence, SC. She has been teaching cheerleading, acrobatics and tumbling for over 25 years. As a cheerleader at Francis Marion University, Gingham worked with Action Cheer and Tumble teaching classes and summer camps. She was also a member of the NRH dance team, the SC Fire-ants. In 2000, she started he
Gingham Hoover is originally from Florence, SC. She has been teaching cheerleading, acrobatics and tumbling for over 25 years. As a cheerleader at Francis Marion University, Gingham worked with Action Cheer and Tumble teaching classes and summer camps. She was also a member of the NRH dance team, the SC Fire-ants. In 2000, she started her own company, Ms. Gingham’s Tumbling, before moving to the Charleston area in 2010. She has worked with Dance Studios, martial arts students, double Dutch teams and All-Star competitive cheerleaders to help them strengthen their acrobatic skills and reach their tumbling goals. Many of her students have gone on to cheer for teams including the NFL’s Carolina Panthers Topcats, Coastal Carolina University, USC Gamecocks, College of Charleston and Charleston Southern University. In addition to teaching acrobatics and tumbling, Gingham is a Biology teacher at Hanahan High School. She is excited to be returning to Planet Dance this year as an acrobatics instructor.
Ashley Clarke first fell in love with dance at age 9 when she began her training in Jazz dance at Dalton Ballet in Massachusetts. She quickly expanded her repertoire to include ballet, modern, hip hop, tap, lyrical and pointe and often performed lead roles in local performances as Peter Pan, the Little Mermaid and Lion King. As an adult s
Ashley Clarke first fell in love with dance at age 9 when she began her training in Jazz dance at Dalton Ballet in Massachusetts. She quickly expanded her repertoire to include ballet, modern, hip hop, tap, lyrical and pointe and often performed lead roles in local performances as Peter Pan, the Little Mermaid and Lion King. As an adult she grew a great love for teaching dance and has 12 years experience teaching dance professionally in Massachusetts, New York and South Carolina. She takes as many opportunities to expand her own dance ability by taking classes and at times, performing at local events. Ashley’s favorite thing about teaching dance is making deep connections with her students and watching them fall in love (and stay in love) with expressive movement. She strives for a safe, welcoming environment and clear, detailed class instruction. She lives in Ladson with her husband Daniel, two sons Rowen and Theo and dog Hudson. Besides dance she also loves fitness, art and music.
Ashley is from Summerville, South Carolina. She grew up competing and training at Planet Dance in all styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, acro, modern, contemporary, and hip-hop. With Planet Dance she competed and won at the state, regional, and national levels. Her favorite style of dance is jazz and acro. Outside of competition
Ashley is from Summerville, South Carolina. She grew up competing and training at Planet Dance in all styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, acro, modern, contemporary, and hip-hop. With Planet Dance she competed and won at the state, regional, and national levels. Her favorite style of dance is jazz and acro. Outside of competitions, she has performed on a Carnival Cruise ship, in Christmas at Northwoods, and in the Charleston Ballets’ The Nutcracker. She is currently a member of the Buc Angels Dance Team at Charleston Southern University. Her favorite part about being on a dance team at both Planet Dance and in college is the friendships, growth, and education she has received. She is so excited to come full circle and give back to Planet Dance. She plans on graduating in May of 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Biology with a Minor in Spanish. Outside of the dance community she coaches gymnastics at the Goose Creek Recreation Center and holds a local Miss South Carolina title where she advocates for mental health awareness for athletes of all ages and levels.
Daequan Hardeman, is a Charleston native and a graduate of Goose Creek High
School. Hardeman continues to dedicate his life to dance and dance training wanting to bring the best techniques and latest trends to his students. He is known for his Hip Hop and Urban styles but he is also well diverse in his knowledge
of multiple genres of dance.
Daequan Hardeman, is a Charleston native and a graduate of Goose Creek High
School. Hardeman continues to dedicate his life to dance and dance training wanting to bring the best techniques and latest trends to his students. He is known for his Hip Hop and Urban styles but he is also well diverse in his knowledge
of multiple genres of dance. Throughout the years, training opportunities opened up and he soon found himself choreographing and dancing in multiple commercials, shows, and performances. Hip Hop became more than a passion and grew to be a specialty of his with multiple award-winning choreography awards and achievements at local and national competitions. Daequan is excited to be back on staff at Planet Dance!
Janice Oliver was born in Spartanburg, SC. She graduated from Spartanburg High School in 1981 and eventually moved to Charleston, SC in 1985. She worked retail for several years then was a veterinary technician at Patrick Veterinary Clinic for 13 years. Janice has two children, Kristen and Kodi. She has been a team mom for softball and da
Janice Oliver was born in Spartanburg, SC. She graduated from Spartanburg High School in 1981 and eventually moved to Charleston, SC in 1985. She worked retail for several years then was a veterinary technician at Patrick Veterinary Clinic for 13 years. Janice has two children, Kristen and Kodi. She has been a team mom for softball and dance over the years. Janice graduated from Charleston Southern University in 2008 with a teaching certificate. She has worked in Berkeley County School District for 23 years and is currently teaching preschool at College Park Elementary in Berkeley County.
Caroline Berger was born in Sacramento, CA, but grew up in Columbia, SC. Her passion for the arts started at a young age in the dance world (tap and jazz) and later moved into music and theatre. She graduated from Charleston Southern University in 2014 with a BS in Early Childhood Education and has worked in Berkeley County School Distric
Caroline Berger was born in Sacramento, CA, but grew up in Columbia, SC. Her passion for the arts started at a young age in the dance world (tap and jazz) and later moved into music and theatre. She graduated from Charleston Southern University in 2014 with a BS in Early Childhood Education and has worked in Berkeley County School District for 10 years. She is currently teaching preschool at College Park Elementary in Berkeley County. When she's not at school, you can find Caroline spending time with family and friends. She loves all things country music, Mexican food, and the Clemson Tigers! Catch her cheering at a Stingrays hockey game or Riverdogs baseball game, too!
Planet Dance was founded in July 2003 by Nancy Alvey and Kari Watford. It started with approximately 20 students. Since opening in 2003, Planet Dance has taught hundreds of students. Our students have won State and national titles, attended top universities, were selected for college dance programs, others have gone on to dance professionally, and many have become instructors!
Current owners, Nancy Alvey, Brenna Judy, and Meghan Burgess continue to bring dance education to the Summerville area. With now over 140 students, the studio is expanding every year. We are proud of our students and all of their accomplishments and we are honored to have been a part in helping them reach their personal career goals.
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