Faculty

Amanda Wingard attended the School of the Arts in Charleston, SC for middle and high school, where she majored in dance. She then studied dance education at the University of South Carolina and worked with master teachers from across the region and nation. After graduating from USC in 2013, Amanda directed the dance program at Alston Middle School in Summerville, SC for three years. Subsequently, she taught the 7th grade dance students at SOA. Amanda has loved being a part of the Ballet Academy of Charleston family for the past several years.

Amanda Evans is a ballet dancer from Copper Canyon, Texas. She began her early training at The Ballet Conservatory in Lewisville, Texas, where she danced with Lakecities Ballet Theatre. She also danced with Oklahoma Festival Ballet and Contemporary Dance Oklahoma while pursuing her BFA in Ballet Performance at The University of Oklahoma. For 7 years Amanda danced with Palmetto City Ballet.

Martin began his training in Canton, Michigan primarily focusing on the Cecchetti Ballet syllabus. He went on to study Musical Theatre Performance at Western Michigan University, and most recently Dance Performance at Grand Valley State University. Martin has had the opportunity to work with and perform works created by Lizzie MacKenzie Pontarelli, Eddy Ocampo, Brian McSween, Calin Radulescu, Erica Fischback, Autumn Eckman, Becca Lemme, and Amy O'Neil. He has performed with the Grand Rapids Opera Company, Ballet Fleming, Brandywine Ballet, and Dance Del Bello, Arch Contemporary Ballet, Columbia City Ballet and Alabama Ballet. Martin is currently dancing with Palmetto City Ballet.

Kendra Giles-Rogers just moved to Charleston from Birmingham, AL. There, she spent 4 years as a company dancer with Sanspointe Dance Company and Gradient Dance Theatre, as well as a Teacher at Mt. Laurel Ballet, The Dance Foundation, and UAB ArtPlay. She also choreographed and performed as a guest artist for Magic City Performing Arts, a non-profit ballet organization that produced full-length classical ballets such as The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Don Quixote. Kendra just completed her second year as a photographer for Legacy Dance Championships. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Alabama Honors College in 2020, under the direction of Cornelius Carter and Lawerence Jackson. While at UA she participated in many capacities within the dance program, most notably performing with Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre, Yonder Contemporary Dance Company, and choreographing and performing with Dance Alabama!. Kendra has performed internationally at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2018), and with staibdance in Sant’Agata, Italy (2023). Kendra began dancing at the age of 3 at Ravel Dance Studio in Reston VA, under the direction of Janet Hall. To supplement her training, Kendra had the privilege of attending intensives with Joffrey Ballet (NY), Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Gus Giordano, and Sanspointe Dance Company; as well as working as the Assistant Head Counselor at the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive, Tuscaloosa Campus.

Emily Koppenhofer started ballet at the age of thirteen at the Ballet Academy of Charleston. Since 2016, she has enjoyed being a part of numerous performances with BAC’s Junior Company. In addition to dancing, she enjoys spending her time drawing or baking. She is excited to inspire children to express themselves through dance.

Sarah Farr has been dancing with Ballet Academy of Charleston since 2016, and loves to be at the studio. She is a member of the Junior Company and participates in every annual spring performance. Sarah has been babysitting for years, so she has lots of experience with children. She can’t wait to teach Creative Movement and Pre ballet!

Lisa Strauss studied dance at the Robert Ivey Ballet in Charleston, working her way up through the Junior Company to Principal Dancer. She twice attended the S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts summer program in dance and returned as a faculty assistant. Lisa graduated from Tulane University magna cum laude with a B.A. in history and dance and received the Minnette L. Starts Award for Excellence in Dance. While in college, she performed with the Newcomb Dance Company and participated in the American College Dance Association Festival. She has studied with many notable artists including Suki Schorer, Edward Villella, Twyla Tharp and Bella Lewitzky. After retiring from the practice of law, Lisa is again studying and teaching ballet and has participated in multiple sessions of the Artemotion Dance Intensive for Adults.