Faculty
“Each dance instructor is selected carefully, both for technical skills and their ability to work with children. Our staff consists of trained professionals with extensive backgrounds in all our areas of concentration. All of our teachers have at least 5 years of teaching experience - some as many as 25 to 40 years. They also have a rapport with students and a desire to help them reach their full potential.”
-Andrea Freed-Levenson
Andrea Freed-Levenson, School Director, has been dancing all her life. A well-known dancer and choreographer, she majored in dance at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, where she served on the dance department faculty after graduation. She has studied and performed extensively in New York. She has also served as choreographer with summer stock as well as summer faculty at the University of Southern California. Andrea was selected as one of the outstanding Young Women in America. She has taught all ages of students, youth and adults in a wide variety of dance arts including tap, ballet, gymnastics, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and ballroom. Andrea is also a Licensed Zumba Instructor. She was chosen to be on the prestigious "Artist in Residence Roster" sponsored by the South Carolina Arts Commission. This enables her to teach dance residences in the public schools of South Carolina. Currently she is on the faculty of USC-Sumter, Head of the Dance Program at Thomas Sumter Academy, Artistic Director of the Sumter Civic Dance Company and owner of the Freed School of Performing Arts.
Erin Levenson Harms
graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Dance Performance and Choreography and a masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.
In the Dance Department Erin followed contemporary dance track where she performed the works of Martha Graham, including Sketches from the Chronicles. She studies in New York where she frequently visits to take classes at the Broadway Dance Center and the Martha Graham School. As a member of the Sumter Civic Dance Company, which is on the “Artist and Residence Roster” she is able to teach dance in South Carolina Public Schools. Currently she is a teacher at the Freed School, and an active member of the Sumter Civic Dance Company. As a principal member of the Sumter Civic Dance Company, which is on the “Artist and Residence Roster” she is able to teach dance in South Carolina public schools. Erin is USA GYMNASTICS safety certified.
Andrea Barras Govier
graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration. She frequently trains in New York and is a member of the Sumter Civic Dance Company and has performed all over the US.
Currently she is a teacher at the
Freed School, on staff in the dance department atThomas Sumter Academy and an active member of the Sumter Civic Dance Company. As a principal member of the Sumter Civic Dance Company, which is on the “Artist and Residence Roster” she is able to teach dance in South Carolina public schools. Andrea is USA GYMNASTICS safety certified.
Tia Robinson graduation from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She is a former member of the Sumter Civic Dance Company and is still dancing as a teacher for many of our preschool dance and gymnastics classes. Ms. Tia is a preschool teacher at Ruby J Headstart.
Tia is USA GYMNASTICS safety certified.
Toni McCray is a Sumter Civic Dance Company alumni who has returned to teach our Hip Hop classes. She spent several years in college, teaching and performing in Alabama. Toni received honors in International Dance Acclaim for two consecutive years.She is currently attending Morris College. As a member of the Sumter Civic Dance Company, which is on the “Artist and Residence Roster” she is able to teach dance in South Carolina Public Schools. Currently she is a teacher at the Freed School, and an active member of the Sumter Civic Dance Company. As a principal member of the Sumter Civic Dance Company, which is on the “Artist and Residence Roster” she is able to teach dance in South Carolina public schools.
Studio Manager: Sondra Tidwell