The Averitt Center for the Arts has announced a new Dance Director.
The Center is now partnering with the Cotton Rose School of Dance with Rebekah Harville Carlisle as the new director.
Rebekah Harville Carlisle, a Statesboro native, has had extensive training and performance experience in dance (ballet, tap, jazz and liturgical). Her training was primarily in the Cecchetti method, with influences from the Royal Academy. Locally, she trained with Shay Thompson Morgan and Pat Kelley Alley. Her musicality was recognized and her career began when she was two years of age. Throughout the years she has studied with many dancers, teachers and choreographers from around the world, such as Suzanne Farrell, David Howard, Karina Brock, Amanda Kerow, John Magnus and many others. Her involvement with world renown companies, some of which include American Ballet Theatre, National Ballet of Canada, Joffrey Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Columbia City Ballet and Youth America Grand Prix have stretched her abilities as a performer, and choreographer. Rebekah’s repertoire includes multiple roles in Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Les Sylphides, Coppelia, Dracula, The Lion King and Statesboro Finest Performing Youth Concerts to name a few. Praise dance (liturgical) has always been an important component of her dance experience encompassing worship during church services to entertaining nursing home residents. The exposure she has experienced with international travel and varied cultures is continuing to provide dance inspiration and personal growth.
In 2011 Mrs. Rebekah was stationed with her husband in Germany. There she taught dance with the Youth Programs provided on base, teaching both American and local German children. She taught ages 2 to 18. Her classes have included ballet, tap, jazz, and modern, as well as a performance team. During her time teaching in Spangdahlem, Mrs. Rebekah choreographed two performances, The Nutcracker for their Christmas recital and Beauty and the Beast for their spring performance.
In 2014 her and her husband then had to say goodbye to Germany and move to Okinawa, Japan. Mrs. Rebekah began teaching with the Youth Programs. She choreographed four productions, Alice in Wonderland, two Christmas programs including The Nutcracker, and Peter Pan. Mrs. Rebekah was also involved with the Okinawan community where she taught ballet classes to local adults, including the dance team for the Okinawa Kings basketball team.
In 2017 Mrs. Rebekah, her husband and their daughter moved back to the United States to Charleston, SC. During their time in SC, Mrs. Rebekah taught at Planet Dance, a local Studio in Summerville.
Mrs. Rebekah strives to nurture her students love for dance. She has a vast experience to share from how to sew pointe shoe ribbons, makeup and hair tips to advising and preparing for auditions. She can make knowledgeable recommendations for Summer Intensives and world-renowned Ballet companies. Her aim is to provide dance basics and terminology, creating a solid foundation that students can build upon and take with them anywhere.
The Center will host a meet and greet with Rebekah on August 7 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at 5 N. Main Street for ages 3-9, and at 41 W. Main Street for ages 10+ (but you are welcome to go see both studios).
