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 joined CCJ for 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 and Mason, but is very excited to be back teaching dance through magic and creativity.
Bonnie Boiter-Jolley
Ballet
A Columbia, SC native, Bonnie Boiter-Jolley is a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts and the Honors College at the University of South Carolina. Bonnie has performed with Wideman Davis Dance, Spectrum Dance Theatre and Columbia City Ballet and is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Columbia Repertory Dance Company. Bonnie is an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of South Carolina and has been on the CCJ Faculty since 2011.
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.
Anna Scyphers
Recreational Programs
Anna trained under Ilka Doubek at Litchfield Dance Arts Academy and through the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) program. With over twenty years of teaching experience in both Florida and South Carolina, she brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, and dedication to her students. Her greatest joy as an instructor is witnessing her dancers’ growth and fostering a meaningful connection to music and movement.
Ramone Thomas
Tap
Ramone is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, with 20 years of experience in the performing arts and entertainment industry. He has been regionally and nationally recognized for his outstanding talent and unique stage presence and now works professionally within the entertainment industry, setting choreography for live events, instructing at dance conventions and intensives, and directing/producing film projects.
Roxanne Livingston Rich
Tap
Ms. Roxanne grew up dancing in Columbia under the direction of Cari Kirkland. She is a graduate of Furman University, where she helped develop and participated in The Furman Dance Company. Roxanne is a Project Manager at Gregory Electric Co., active in her church, choreographs for local community and high school theater productions, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Auston, and their sons, Foster and Nathanael.