The CCJ Conservatory Faculty
CCJ Conservatory features a diverse faculty, each with years of experience in their specific field of dance. We are proud of the nationally recognized expertise that each of our instructors bring into their classes.
Dale Lam
CCJ Conservatory Artistic Director
Dale was named "Top Private Studio/Conservatory Teacher" by Dance Teacher magazine, and was also appointed as an ambassador to the The Dance Teacher Summit in 2015! Formally a professor of dance at USC in Columbia, S.C., Dale has taught internationally at the Kiradjiev Cultural Center in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Danz Studio in Costa Rica, and the Singapore Dance Association at Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore.
Amanda Shih
Recreational Programs
Amanda Shih is joining the 2024-2025 CCJ Conservatory dance season as the Recreational Director. Prior to joining the CCJ Conservatory family, Amanda was the co-owner of Dance inFusion Georgia in Cumming, Georgia. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in Speech Communication and a minor in Dance. Amanda grew up dancing at Dancentre South in Woodstock, GA and enjoyed training in the summer at the Charleston Ballet Summer Intensive. Amanda has enjoyed staying home and raising her two kids, Kinley (10) and Mason (2), but is very excited to be back teaching dance through magic and creativity.
Bonnie Boiter-Jolley
Ballet
Bonnie Boiter-Jolley has been on the CCJ Faculty since 2011. She began her ballet training at the Columbia Conservatory of Dance before going on to be a scholarship student at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Bonnie graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Honors College at the University of South Carolina with degrees in Dance Performance and Choreography. In 2011, Bonnie joined the Columbia City Ballet and was promoted to Principal 3 years later.
Abby McDowell
Ballet
After attended the Professional Division of Pacific Northwest Ballet School and went on to dance for the Atlanta Ballet. She later received a company position at The Georgia Ballet where she performed many soloist and principal roles. Abby is currently a soloist with the Columbia City Ballet, where she enjoys performing roles such as The Snow Queen and Arabian Coffee in his production of The Nutcracker.
Ariel Mack
Jazz and Contemporary
Ariel is a South Carolina native who began dancing with Miss Libby’s School of Dance and Gymnastics in Sumter. Ariel attended Oklahoma City University as an Entertainment Business major and had the opportunity to work with Oklahoma City University’s American Spirit Dance Company. Ariel is currently Artistic Director of the Rising Stars of Sumter as well as the choreographer for the Sumter High School Show Choir and Sumter High School Dance Team.
Lauren Herring
Pre-Company Director
Lauren Herring is a CCJ Conservatory alumni and currently, a student at the University of South Carolina. She is a Cardiovascular Technology major. She received her dance training under the direction of Dale Lam at CCJ Conservatory. She has attended many programs such as Ballet+, Francisco Gella’s Pre-Professional Dancer Institute, Flux Factor, CCJ Summer Intensive, etc. She was a member of Spring Hill High School Dance Team and Furman Dance Team. She is currently a member of Carolina Club Dance.
Lucy Leonard
Jazz, Acro, Rehearsal Assistant
Lucy is a Dance Education Major and the Dance Team Coach for the Raiders at Lakeside Middle School. She has has trained with the Washington Ballet, Hubbard Street, and the American Ballet Theatre, and has a long list of teaching credentials. We very excited to have Lucy join the faculty at CCJ Conservatory.
Maggie Darden
Dance Team, Rehearsal Assistant
Maggie has a BA in Dance Education from the University of South Carolina and is the Dance Team Coach for Spring Hill High School. Before attending USC she graduated from the SC Governor's School For The Arts And Humanities. She is a member of the National Dance Education Organization, and a former Top 12 Recipient at Youth America Grand Prix.
Katie Jones
Acro
Katie has competed in gymnastics throughout the East Coast and internationally. She competed for gyms in Boston, MA; Columbia, SC; and Tucker, GA as a Level 10. Coach Katie also competed nationally for the USGA, AAU, and USAIGC programs. She was a member of the University of Georgia gymnastics team in 1995. Katie is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in education and an accredited Level 10 gymnastics judge with over twenty-five years of coaching experience. She is USAG safety certified, Safesport certified, and has completed various other technically and safety certifications that are instrumental in teaching acro. Coach Katie is married to Rick Jones, and they have two daughters, Karsen and Ryann, both dancers and a son, Thomas.