MEET THE FACULTY
MARCIE WILLIS
Owner, Ballet Mistress
Marcie Willis began studying dance at the age of three. She has trained extensively in Classical Ballet, Pointe, Pas de Deux, Lyrical/Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, and Tap. She began her training with the Fredericksburg Ballet Centre and performed for many years with the Fredericksburg Ballet Company. Her feature roles with the company include Clara in "The Nutcracker", and the Lilac Fairy in "Sleeping Beauty". Marcie also danced with the Fredericksburg Ballet's performing company, "Allegro".
Marcie is a 2009 graduate of Coastal Carolina University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English. During her time at CCU, she was also very active in the theatre and dance departments.
She was a dancer in the Alabama Theater Christmas Show from 2008-2013. Additionally, Marcie has performed as a dancer for the local production of Dino's TV Variety Show in Myrtle Beach, and has also worked as a competition judge for North Carolina Dance Masters of America,
Marcie is very excited to be in her 15th year with ADFA, and to now be taking on the role of Owner/Director. Passing her love of dance onto the next generation is an absolute dream come true, and she is beyond grateful for the opportunity.
STEPHANIE BONN
Instructor, Special Events Coordinator
Stephanie was born and raised in Mooresville, North Carolina, where she began dancing at the tender age of three. She was very fortunate to study under the direction of Karen Deese at The Academy of Dance and Fine Arts in Mooresville, NC for 15 years. Discovering her passion for performing at an early age, it was no surprise that Stephanie would continue on to pursue dance as a career. Less than a week after graduating from high school, she was in rehearsals for her first cruise ship, the Crown Dynasty. From that point, she began touring the world as a featured dancer on a variety of different cruise lines, including Cunards Queen Elizabeth II, Commodore, American Hawaii Cruises, and Disney Cruise Lines. She later made the big move to New York City where she landed a leading role in an Off-Broadway production of A Thin Line-A Dance Drama. Stephanie also had the unique opportunity to travel to Athens, Greece, where she starred as the lead dancer in the five month tour of The Magic of Musicals. For over a decade, Stephanie entertained audiences nightly at the Carolina Opry in Myrtle Beach. In addition to performing, she also served as Dance Captain and Assistant Choreographer for The Carolina Opry Show, Good Vibrations, and The Carolina Opry Christmas Spectacular. We are so excited to have Stephanie joining our staff again this year and feel fortunate to have someone with her talent and performing experience. Stephanie resides in North Myrtle Beach with her husband, Jacques, and their children Connor, Sophia, and Oliver.
RHONDA LAMBERTH
Instructor
Rhonda Lamberth is originally from Conover, North Carolina. She began dance lessons
at the age of six, and has been trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, clogging and tap,
with tap being her personal favorite. She studied with various instructors all over
North Carolina, including the ADFA in Mooresville, NC during her teens. Growing up,
she competed in numerous local, state and national talent competitions and pageants.
After graduating from high school, she traveled all around the United State, as well as England, Scotland and Wales, with the Paula Scott Elite Dance Company, performing at various events and charity fundraisers. Although she enjoyed performing, teaching dance was her passion. Rhonda attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro as a Dance Education major, and in 1989 she opened the Lamberth Academy of Dance in Newton, North Carolina. During the next 18 years, her students won numerous local, state and national talent competitions. Having always been a beach lover, Rhonda relocated to the Myrtle Beach area in 2006, and now works in the veterinary field. An avid animal lover, Rhonda resides in North Myrtle Beach with her three cats.
LAURA PERRY
Instructor
Laura Perry is a dancer-aerialist originally from Ontario, Canada. She trained in multiple styles of dance at Sondra’s Tri-Dance Company and graduated with honours from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance Dance. In 2009, Laura completed the final examination of the Royal Academy of Dance and attained the coveted Solo Seal Award. She is a member of both the Royal Academy of Dance and the British Association of Teacher’s of Dancing. Laura loves to train aspiring young students and has been teaching for over fifteen years. She has performed onstage in Japan at the Tokyo Theatre Orb in Broadway Christmas Wonderland. She spent seven years as a dancer-aerialist for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, traveling internationally and dancing on some of the world’s largest cruise ships. Most recently Laura performed as an aqua dancer in Oceanaria onboard the Allure of the Seas. Currently, Laura is the dance captain at the Alabama Theatre, where she performs in One and The South’s Grandest Christmas Show.
MARISA ANGELINO
Instructor
Marisa Angelino danced for 20 years before graduating from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She is passionate about children developing their love for dance while building their character. Dancing competitively for 8 years taught her discipline, focus, and the importance of pursuing things we love with our whole hearts. She hopes to instill these values while creating a solid foundation for the young students she teaches.
SAVANNAH RION
Instructor; Director of Musical Theatre
Savannah is a Myrtle Beach native. She began dancing at the age of 4 and trained in genres of ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and musical theatre. She danced competitively for 14 years and spent her last 3 years at ADFA under the direction of
Karen Deese. During high school, Savannah fell in love with theatre. She recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from Coastal Carolina University with a BA in Theatre and a Music minor. Savannah has performed as a dancer in musicals at Theatre of the Republic including Catch Me If You Can, Elf the Musical, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. She was also cast in the role of Rebecca in It Should’ve Been You and Gloria in Boeing, Boeing. Savannah is the choreographer for Coastal Youth Theatre. She has choreographed Aladdin Jr, Madagascar Jr, Willy Wonka Jr and is currently directing/choreographing Wizard of Oz Jr. Savannah is excited to be back at ADFA to share her love of teaching!
KRISTINA CLEMMONS
Instructor
Kristina began dance lessons at the age of three where she went on to train in ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, musical theatre and hip hop. She was a competitive dancer beginning at age 6 and continuing throughout her teen years. She was an assistant instructor during her high school years, and went on to begin teaching at local studios during the first two years of college at Coastal Carolina University. Kristina then opened a dance studio in North Carolina in 2006 where she trained students in recreational and competitive dance. After the birth of her son Bentley in 2011, Kristina stepped away from the studio but continued to teach solo lessons to a small group of students. With a daughter, Kinsley, who is following in her footsteps as a competitive dancer Kristina is excited to be back pursuing her passion of dance and helping to inspire students at ADFA.
LINDSAY LINK
Instructor; Private Music Lessons
Ms. Lindsay Link holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the University of Kansas. She has worked with elementary through high school-aged students in voice, theatre, dance, piano, guitar and ukulele in the Kansas City, Indianapolis, and Grande Strand areas. As a performer, director, choreographer, and costume designer, she has worked on countless shows such as West Side Story, The Music Man, Shrek, A Christmas Story,
Little Shop of Horrors, and most recently, High School Musical: On Stage! Ms. Link enjoys teaching at the Academy of Dance and Fine Arts and is entering her 13th year in private music lessons. She is currently the Director of Chorus and Musical Theatre at North Myrtle Beach High School. As an educator for the past 11 years, she's built an established program in Horry County. In her spare time, she enjoys singing karaoke, going for long walks with her boyfriend Sam, traveling any chance she gets, and playing with her cat: Kitty Puppy. Her goal is to inspire students to have the confidence to succeed in their chosen future careers, and to have a lifelong passion for the arts!
TOM HOLLOWAY
Instructor
Tom began coaching gymnastics 38 years ago, and has had the opportunity to coach from preschool – college age athletes. He has coached at the high school level, the club level, and 6 years at the collegiate level. Tom has had an athlete that was the Junior Olympic National Champion on floor exercise and an athlete that is in the "Hall of Fame" at Central Michigan University, as well as numerous state and regional champions. In the prime of his coaching career, God had another plan. He called Tom out of full-time coaching into full-time ministry. He have been in vocational ministry for 19 years now.
He is the lead pastor at Faith Church in Little River, but has never lost his passion for coaching. He is looking forward to working with the athletes at ADFA. He says, “I can promise you that I will give them my best and will push them to achieve all that they are able to achieve.” Tom has been blessed to be married to the love of his life, Kim, for
29 years now. They have 3 wonderful children, Taylor (who is married to Nathan),
Christian (who graduated from Clemson this year), and Jackson who will be a sophomore at NMB this year.
KIM HOLLOWAY
Instructor
Kim graduated from Central Michigan University where she competed gymnastics for four years. They were the first team to win the MAC Championships and went on to do so the next three years! She broke the balance beam record and took second place on floor at the MAC Championships her senior year. Kim has been coaching alongside her husband, Tom, ever since. She is now a kindergarten teacher at Ocean Drive Elementary and enjoys coaching on the side. She is looking forward to working with the athletes at ADFA and spreading the knowledge and love that she has for the sport of gymnastics to these athletes as they combine dance with gymnastics.
CHRISTINA O'CONNOR
Instructor
CHRISTINA O'CONNOR-Christina grew up in Worcester MA, where she studied dance at the Charlotte Klein Dance Studio for 13 years. She was blessed to start performing professionally straight out of high school. She began her career at Fiesta Texas (now Six Flags over Texas) in San Antonio TX. From there she spent 20 years dancing in a variety of venues including Opryland U.S.A, The General Jackson Showboat in Nashville TN, Alabama Theatre Myrtle Beach SC, Carolina Opry Myrtle Beach SC, Celebrity Cruise lines (Inaugural Cast of the MV Mercury), and several industrials spanning the globe. She has worked with such artists as Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, and Tony award winner Billy Porter. Her training is in all aspects of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, with her favorite being adage.