Professor of Dance, Director of USC Dance Company

Susan Anderson began her career in Monterey, California and credits her teacher, Madame Olga Ziceva from Russia’s Kirov Ballet, with her ballet training. She continued her dance studies at the San Francisco Ballet as a scholarship student. She received her MFA from the University of California at Irvine under the legendary choreographer Eugene Loring. Her professional dance career was with Ballet Celeste of San Francisco, Los Angeles Dance Theatre and Moving South. Professor Anderson is the founding director of the USC Dance Company, USC Dance Conservatory and South Carolina Summer Dance Conservatory, which hosts international students and world renowned faculty and choreographers. 

Under her directorship the dance program implemented the Bachelor of Arts in Dance. The B.A. degree track in Performance/Choreography, which began in 2004, offers concentrations in ballet or contemporary dance. In 2006, the dance program began the B.A. degree in Dance Education, a K-12 Teacher Certification program in partnership with the College of Education. The dance program has more than 60 course offerings and approximately 3,000 enrolled students.

Some of Anderson’s professional artistic works include the creation of 105 ballets such as "Scheherazade," "Ondine," "Taming of the Shrew," "Plant Dance with artist Blue Sky," "The Firebird," "Phantom of the Night," "Crown Jewels," "Sylvia," "Carnival of the Animals," "Pleasures of Paris," "Don Quixote," and "The Young Man and Death." She has choreographed and taught master classes for Gus Giordano Dance Company in Chicago, the University of California, University of Buffalo and University of Georgia. Her dancers have gone on to perform with Core Dance in Atlanta, Murray State, Knoxville Dance Theatre, Loyola University, Inco Ballet in Colombia, South America and Stadtische Opera in Gera, Germany.

In 2009, Anderson was named the Michael J. Mungo Distinguished Professor of the Year and Governor’s Professor of the Year. In 2011, she was named SC Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation.

Distinguished Artist in Residence; Instructor of Ballet, Dance USC; School Director of Curriculum, USC Dance Conservatory; Soloist, NYC Ballet

Stacey Calvert was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina and began her ballet training at the Calvert-Brodie School of Dance, studying with her mother and godmother. In 1980, Calvert entered the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet, and remained there for three years. She joined New York City Ballet’s corps de ballet in 1983. In 1992, Calvert joined William Forsythe’s Frankfurt Ballet. She returned to New York City Ballet in the winter of 1993. Ms. Calvert was promoted to the rank of soloist in 1994.

With the NYC Ballet, she has danced numerous featured roles including George Balanchine’s Apollo, Ballo della Regina, The Four Temperaments, The Nutcracker (Hot Chocolate), Stars and Stripes, Symphony in C, Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2, Western Symphony, and Who Cares?, as well as Jerome Robbins’ The Four Seasons (Winter) and Interplay. In addition, she has been featured in Peter Martins’ Ash and Barber Violin Concerto as well as William Forsythe’s Herman Schmerman. During the inaugural season of NYCB’s Diamond Project in 1992, Calvert originated a principal role in John Alleyne’s Bet Ann’s Dance. During the company’s 1994 Diamond Project, she originated principal roles in Lynne Taylor-Corbett’s Chiaroscuro, John Alleyne’s The New Blondes, Trey McIntyre’s Steel and Rain, and Kevin O’Day’s Viola Alone...(with One Exception). For The Diamond Project in 1997, Calvert originated principal roles in O’Day’s Open Strings and Angelin Preljocaj’s La Stravaganza. In addition, she originated principal roles in Mr. O’Day’s Huoah, Dvorak Bagatelles and Badchonim. Calvert has danced in Europe with a touring group, and has traveled extensively in the United States and abroad with the New York City Ballet.

Since 2006, she has presented, for the University of South Carolina, Ballet Stars of New York, a concert featuring principal dancers from the NYC Ballet Company such as Wendy Whelan, Albert Evans, Nilas Martins, Tom Gold, Nikolaj Hubbe, Yvonne Borree, Sara Mearns, Jared Angle, Tyler Angle, Charles Askegard, Amar Ramasar and others, performing alongside the USC Dance Company. Past concerts have included performances of signature Balanchine works such as "Apollo," "Agon," "Tarantella," "Stars and Stripes," "Western Symphony," "Allegro Brillante," "Walpurgisnacht" and "Who Cares?," as well as Jerome Robbins' "In The Night," William Forsythe's "Herman Schmerman (Pas De Deux)" and Lila York's "Celts." The gala evening has become an annual event for the USC Board of Dance.

Administrative Director, USC Dance Conservatory

Susan Hancock was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina and began her ballet training at the Calvert-Brodie School of Dance. In 1989, Susan entered the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet, and studied there for three consecutive summers.  In 1992, she was invited to stay for the winter term, but instead decided upon The University of North Carolina School of the Arts, then known as North Carolina School of the Arts.  From there Ms. Hancock went on to join The Los Angeles Classical Ballet in 1994. Susan performed roles in ballets such as The Nutcracker (Mirlitons) Coppelia (Swanhilda’s friend), A Midsummer Nights Dream (Helena, Hermia) and Paquita (principal role). In 1998, Ms. Hancock joined Francisco Martinez Dance Theater while continuing to dance with Los Angeles Classical Ballet. During her time in L.A., Susan was a featured dancer on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, as well as the VH1 comedy hour featuring Wendy the Snapple Lady.  After her time in L.A. was over, Susan moved back home to study at the University of South Carolina under the direction of Dr. Susan Anderson and Stacey Calvert. While dancing with the USC ballet company she danced numerous featured roles including George Balanchine’s Apollo, Western Symphony, Who Cares?, Walpurgisnaught, Allegro Brilliant, Mozartiana and Serenade. Susan performed featured roles alongside members of The New York City Ballet. Those included Dark Angel from Serenade and Polycythemia from Apollo.  She was also a principle dancer in Alan Hineline's production of Glennies, as well as Martha Graham's Sketches from Chronicle. Ms. Hancock was featured in SCETV’s documentary following the re-staging of Sketches from Chronicle. While at USC, Susan represented the dance company at the American College Dance Festival and Spoleto Festival, and received the Director's Award for Outstanding Artistic Merit and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance Performance and Choreography.

USCDC Instructor; USC Dance Major

Lauren Bobo grew up in small town Woodstock, Georgia. Her love of dance started when she attended an intensive with Atlanta Ballet the summer of 2009. Her Freshman year of high school, Lauren began her dance training in the Atlanta Ballet Center for Dance Education and, later joined Georgia Metropolitan Dance Theater. She has trained at Orlando Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Georgia Ballet, Complexions Dance, Joffrey Ballet, and New Dialect. Lauren has also had the opportunity to take master classes with Bryan Arias, Maurya Kerr, Paul Taylor Company, Alvin Ailey Company, and Kathryn Long. Currently, Lauren is finishing her degrees in Biology & Dance Performance and Choreography at the University of South Carolina where she has discovered her love of choreography and the kinesthetic nature of the body.  This will be Lauren’s 4th year teaching with South Carolina Dance Conservatory and is excited to see her students blossom! In her free time, Lauren enjoys hiking, biking, reading, and cooking.

USCDC Instructor, Levels 2-6 Ballet Technique and Pointe; Columbia City Ballet

Bonnie Boiter-Jolley was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina and attended high school on full scholarship at the North Carolina School of the Arts where she studied under Melissa Hayden, Christine Spizzo, Kee Juan Han and Warren Connover. She spent summers studying at the American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Alonzo King Lines Ballet and the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Bonnie graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Honors College at the University of South Carolina with degrees in dance performance and choreography and political science where she studied under former New York City Ballet Soloist Stacey Calvert. She performed principal roles in numerous productions including Balanchine's "Serenade," "Who Cares?," and "Valse Fantasie." She has been lucky enough to perform in Italy, the Czech Republic, and at the summer stage series in New York. After graduating Bonnie danced with Wideman Davis Dance and Donald Byrd's Spectrum Dance Theatre in Seattle, Washington. Bonnie is the Director of Ballet at Columbia City Jazz School under Dale Lam and is also a soloist with the Columbia City Ballet where she is currently in her sixth season. She is excited to begin her second year teaching at the University of South Carolina's Dance Conservatory.

Instructor, USCDC; USC Dance Major

Chloe Evans, originally from Westport, CT, began her training with the Ballet Etudes Company studying with Christina Fagundes, Sasha Dmochowski, Denise Lewis, and Karin Ellis (all of American Ballet Theatre), and Charles Askegard, Jennifer Tinsley, and Arch Higgins of New York City Ballet.  Chloe attended the American Ballet Theatre summer intensive in New York for four years.  She also trained at the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet and Kaatsbaan International Dance Center. Currently a Dance major at USC, Chloe has performed in several George Balanchine ballets staged by Stacey Calvert, including principal and soloist roles in Serenade and Swan Lake. Chloe has also collaborated with contemporary choreographers Arturo Fernandez and Bryan Arias. Most recently, Chloe attended the International Ballet Stage in Barcelona, Spain, where she studied under Xiomara Reyes and Elias Garcia.

Instructor, USCDC; Columbia City Ballet

Abby was born and raised in Charlotte, NC, and began her formal training at the School of the North Carolina Dance Theatre, now Charlotte Ballet Academy. There she studied under teachers Patricia McBride, Jean Pierre Bonnefoux, Mark Diamond, and Kathryn Moriarty.  At age 17, Abby became an apprentice with the North Carolina Dance Theatre, now Charlotte Ballet.  In her years with the North Carolina Dance Theatre Abby was given the opportunity to perform in many works with the professional company, including George Balanchine's The Four Temperaments, A Midsummer's Nights Dream, and Divertimento No.15, and Salvatore Aiello's The Nutcracker.  After attending the Pacific Northwest Ballet School summer program on a South East Regional Ballet Association (SERBA) scholarship, Abby was awarded full scholarship to study in the Professional Division of Pacific Northwest Ballet School.  Under the Direction of Peter Boal, she performed in Pacific Northwest Ballet's productions of The Sleeping Beauty, and Kent Stowell's The Nutcracker. Abby went on to dance for Atlanta Ballet as a fellowship dancer, and later received a company position at The Georgia Ballet.  Abby spent eight years at The Georgia Ballet, where she  performed many soloist and principal roles.  Favorites include leading roles in Balanchine works-Valse Fantasie, Who Care's, and Serenade, Dew Drop in Iris Hensley's The Nutcracker, and corps de ballet in Janusz Mazon's American Dreamer. While with the Georgia Ballet Abby developed a passion for teaching, and had the pleasure of training students at The Georgia Ballet School, Ballet Institute of Atlanta, and Academy of Ballet in Norcross, GA.  Abby is currently in her second season as a company member with the Columbia City Ballet, and looks forward to performing many new roles with the company.

Instructor, USCDC; USC Dance Major

Elaine Miller grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and began her training with Melissa Hale Coyle, Lisa Leone, and Melaine Sullivan-Coyle at Sullivan Dance Centre. She danced with the pre-professional Charlotte City Ballet Company for nine years, performing roles such as Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty. She is currently a Dance and Economics major at the University of South Carolina, where she has performed in several works by George Balanchine staged by Stacey Calvert, including principal roles in Serenade and La Source, as well as other classical ballets including Sylvia and The Firebird. She has also performed in numerous contemporary works by choreographers such as Tanya Wideman-Davis, Arturo Fernandez, and Susan Anderson. To supplement her training, Elaine spent her summers studying with Ballet Austin, American Ballet Theatre, the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and Orlando Ballet, where she performed in excerpts from A Chorus Line and as a Willi in Giselle.

Instructor, USCDC; USC Dance Major

Lydia Sanders was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina.  She began her serious ballet training at the USC Dance Conservatory, under the guidance of Susan Anderson and Stacey Calvert.  She continued formally training at Southeastern School of Ballet, studying under Hillary Krieger-Toth and Gabor Toth and at International Ballet Academy under Vlada Kysselova, Irina Ushakova, and Victoria Yanchuck.  Lydia has attended summer programs with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Charlotte Ballet.  She is currently a Dance major and Psychology minor at The University of South Carolina, where she has performed in several works by George Balanchine, including soloist roles in Raymonda and Who Cares. Lydia Sanders also danced the title role of the Firebird in Susan Anderson’s production of The Firebird.  She is excited to join the Conservatory faculty for the upcoming year!