Owner & Artistic Director
Melanie Benson
Alvin Ailey · Broadway Dance Center · NYC stage & film
Melanie is thrilled to share her lifelong passion for dance with every student at Artistic Edge. Her career began in New York City, where she spent over a decade as a professional dancer, actor, singer, teacher, and choreographer. She trained at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and Broadway Dance Center, later joining the BDC faculty. Many of her award-winning students have gone on to Broadway and the Radio City Rockettes. After relocating to Greenville in 2004 she taught locally, choreographed for the Greenville Symphony and International Ballet Academy, and now travels as a national competition judge. Stage credits include Guys and Dolls, Pippin, and Lincoln Center; film and television include Catch Me If You Can, School of Rock, Law & Order: SVU, and Sex and the City.
JazzCompanyChoreography
Company Co-Director · Ballet Program Director
Madison Kellough
ABT · Ukrainian Academy of Dance · IBA soloist
Madison studied jazz, tap, and ballet with Columbia City Ballet before training and performing with International Ballet as corps and soloist — Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Dracula, Don Quixote, La Sylphide, and Coppelia. She danced lead roles for Greenville Symphony productions including Holiday at Peace and A Soldier’s Tale, and continued her education with American Ballet Theatre in New York and the Ukrainian Academy of Dance in Kyiv. As Ballet Program Director she choreographs and directs Nutcracker Sweets each November.
BalletPointeNutcracker
Company Co-Director · Instructor
Kate Hall Brown
Anderson University · award-winning choreography
Kate came to dance after gymnastics and found her home in contemporary. She earned recognition and scholarships on the competition circuit, served as a student teacher, and graduated from Anderson University with a degree in marketing. Her choreography has been recognized at competitions, and she returns to AEDC to mentor the next generation of company dancers.
ContemporaryJazzCompany
Instructor
Michelle Malone
USC · Tapology · Upstate theatre choreography
Michelle began training at 9 at Gotta Dance Studios in Seville, Ohio, danced competitively across the U.S., and performed with Tour de Force Entertainment in Italy. After moving to South Carolina she continued at Greenville Ballet and with the Greenville Spinners dance team. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of South Carolina and later studied at Tapology with Diane Walker, Jason Samuels Smith, and Derrick Grant. She has choreographed tap for Singing in the Rain and Mary Poppins at Spartanburg Little Theatre.
TapTheatre
Front Office Manager
Kathy Hall
The voice on the other end of 864-631-2156
Miss Kathy keeps the studio running — registration, placement questions, tuition, and the thousand small things that make a dance family feel known. She is at the front desk Monday through Thursday from 3:00 to 7:30pm. If you miss her, leave a voicemail or email dance@artisticedgedance.com and she will happily get back to you.
FamiliesRegistration
Instructor
Ariel Brown
Classical ballet · Virginia companies
Ariel specializes in classical ballet, with experience studying and performing with local ballet companies in Virginia, and has taught at several area studios. She recently relocated to the Upstate with her husband and four children and brings enthusiasm, creativity, and deep ballet knowledge to our youngest dancers and adult barre.
BalletPreschool
Instructor
Kiley Campbell
AEDC Elite Senior alumna · USC Upstate
Kiley’s dance journey began at Artistic Edge. She was a standout member of the Elite Senior Company for several years and is now studying at USC Upstate. She brings a dancer’s-eye understanding of this studio’s technique and culture to every class she teaches.
JazzCompany technique
Instructor
Josie Moore
SC Governor’s School · Ailey · Hubbard Street · UNCSA
Josie is from Newberry, South Carolina. She trained at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities and attended summer programs at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. She earned a degree in Contemporary Dance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, performing works including Robert Battle’s Battle Field and MASS.
ContemporaryModern
Instructor
Sally Isaac
Center of Dance Arts, NJ · inclusive classrooms
Sally is a versatile instructor with experience in modern, jazz, ballet, tap, Broadway styles, and composition. Before moving to South Carolina in 2024 she taught at the Center of Dance Arts in Morganville, NJ, working with students ages 3 to 18 and adults with special needs, and assisting competition team training.
JazzModernAdult
Instructor
Holly Lee
Spirit of America · Broadway Dance Center · studio parent
Holly began training at 3 at The Dance Dept in Irmo and later performed with Spirit of America in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. After a decade as a choreographer and instructor — and study at Broadway Dance Center and The Dance Teachers Summit — she moved to Greenville with her daughter Paislee, an AEDC Company member. She returned to teaching with the dual perspective of artist and dance parent.
JazzAcroPreschool
Instructor
Peyton Jolley
AEDC alumna · nationally awarded company dancer
Peyton is a proud AEDC graduate who spent four years as an award-winning member of the competitive company, earning high-score and judges’ awards for artistry and precision. She trains in jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and ballet, and is an emerging choreographer known for musicality and dynamic movement.
Hip HopJazzCompany
Instructor
Maya Carmenates
AEDC alumna · Furman Dance Team
Maya grew up at Artistic Edge as a nationally recognized elite competitive dancer. She is now a student at Furman University and a member of the Furman Dance Team. Artistic Edge has always been a home away from home — she is glad to pass that feeling on.
JazzHip Hop
Instructor
Rebecca Constantine
Classroom technique and recital prep
Rebecca teaches technique and combo classes at Artistic Edge, bringing a calm, exacting eye to placement and a warm presence in the lobby. Families know her for clear corrections and the way she remembers every dancer’s name by week two.
BalletCombo
