One Studio, One Team, One Heartbeat

Owner, CEO Centre Stompers Director I began my dance journey with the Centre of Performing Arts at the young age of 3. I took dance classes in various dance styles, before finding my love for clogging. I had the opportunity to be a competitive dancer through middle and high school. I began teaching at the studio in 2006 and currently teach recreational classes as well as direct our Centre Stompers competitive clogging team. Becoming an owner of COPA was truly a dream come true. My desire is to continue to build a dance program that supports high-quality dance instruction as well as foster our students’ mental and emotional skills outside of the dance studio. I work full time serving as an Integrated Academic and Behavior Systems (IABS) Regional Consultant for the Department of Public Instruction. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Master of Education in Special Education from Elon University.

Owner, CFO Instructor Lauren is a 2002 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in Economics and Political Science. She opened To The Pointe Dance & Arts Academy in Hillsborough in July 2003. Beginning her dance training at the age of five and dancing competitively at eleven, she has studied all forms of dance with an emphasis on Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Modern. In addition to studying at various dance studios, Lauren spent a summer at the highly selective North Carolina Governor’s School intensively studying dance. She also continues to take classes on the convention circuit to keep up with the new styles. Some of her favorite master class teachers include: Dave Scott, Tabitha & Napoleon D’Umo, and Joey Dowling. While a student at UNC, Lauren danced with Carolina Style Dance Company. During her tenure with Carolina Style, she founded the Ballet Company, served as the company’s Special Publicity Chair, Treasurer for two years, Ballet Director, and President. Under her direction, Carolina Style had its most successful year to date including the Company’s first performance at UNC’s largest performance venue, Memorial Hall. After graduation, Lauren took a job as a Branch Manager at First Union but continued to take dance classes and worked with the dance team at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Mrs. Lauren is the mom to three beautiful kids! Her 11 year old daughter Blair loves to dance and be on stage. Her 8 year old identical twin boys, Braxton and Barrett (Bear), also love to dance, but not for an audience!

Studio Program Director, Instructor I started dancing at the age of 5 and always loved performing. I learned early on that my true passion was teaching dance. I was born and raised in northern Virginia and trained in many styles of dance including tap, jazz, ballet/pointe, and lyrical. I danced competitively from elementary through high school and took many master classes for tap. When I was 15, I started assisting and apprenticing in many different classes. I learned from some of the best (in my opinion) and have been teaching ever since. I attended Elon University, where I continued taking dance classes every semester and earned degrees in Special and Elementary Education. I currently teach Special Education in Alamance county. I have been working at COPA for over 10 years, and enjoy teaching students of all ages and abilities. I currently co-direct COPA’s Ballet Workshop program and work with the competition teams choreographing and teaching technique classes for tap and ballet. I love working with the younger dancers, including creative movement and beginner classes for tap and ballet. Last year, I began teaching dance classes for students with disabilities, which has always been a dream of mine. I believe that everyone can dance, as long as they have heart and passion. Dance is a huge part of my life and most of my spare time, you can find me making props, listening to music, attending competitions/conventions, cheering on my students, or dancing around in my kitchen at home.

Ballet Workshop Director Dance has always been a part of my life, and I am proud to be a part of the Copa staff. I have experience in many areas of dance, but ballet has been my love for as long as I can remember. I danced with the professional company, The Richmond Ballet, in Richmond VA. for eleven years, and received my Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education with a minor in Business Administration from Meredith College. After that, I taught dance and theatre arts at Plymouth High School in Washington County before deciding to teach on a studio level. I have taught in many studios including managing one in High Point for 5 years, and have started many performing groups including a musical theatre ensemble, a liturgical group and many ballet companies, as well as the ballet workshop group currently at Copa. Also, I have judged several regional dance competitions as well as had girls compete in different styles of dance over the years. Although I have taught for over 30 years, Copa is by far my favorite place I have ever taught. I am excited for what is to come and look forward to teaching many more students here in the future.