About Us
Established in 2014, Southern Sapphires Dance Company aims to provide superior dance education through the use of well-trained staff in a positive and safe environment. We strive to offer a dance experience that is suited to the individual needs of each child. Beyond teaching dance, we believe in instilling life long lessons of commitment, discipline, respect, and teamwork . . . all while having a great time!
We offer classes in Ballet, Lyrical, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Clogging, Acrobatics, Pom, Pointe, Performance, and Competition. We offer dance instruction for students ages 3 and up, with classes in both recreational and competitive levels. Our competition teams compete at regional and national level competitions across the state.
Our facility is equipped with Marley flooring, three dance studios, two comfortable waiting areas, and much more. Stop by our studio to discover all we have to offer!
Ava Lyne is the owner and lead teacher of Southern Sapphires Dance Company. She started dancing at the age of 3 and continued throughout her high school career at a competitive level, winning numerous awards. She went on to join the Bailey Mountain Clogging Team and the Mars Hill Dance Team while in college at Mars Hill University. While on the Bailey Mountain Clogging Team, they won 4 National Championships, and Ava Lyne had the opportunity to travel to Spain and Germany to perform. During the same time, she represented the USA at International Folk Festivals.
After graduation, Ava Lyne moved back home to Fairmont, NC, and started teaching classes at Carolina Performing Arts Company in Lumberton, NC. In 2014, she had the opportunity to buy Carolina Performing Arts Company and changed the name to Southern Sapphires Dance Company. Ava is now living her dream of owning her own studio. She was named Dance Teacher of the Year in 2017 and 2021, and her studio was named Studio of the Year in 2019. She has judged numerous dance competitions and taught at dance conventions over the last four years. She enjoys being a 3rd grade teacher with the Public Schools of Robeson County.
Teachers
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Jamie Kessinger
Jamie Kessinger lives in Lumberton with her husband, Stephen, and daughter, Linley. Since the age of 3, she has always had a love for dance, and danced competitively from elementary through high school, winning various awards. While in college she danced for the UNCP dance team, frequently choreographing performances. Jamie is looking forward to sharing her experience and knowledge in dance with the students of Southern Sapphires Dance Company.
Teaches Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop
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Kaylee Chavis
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Suzanne Hodge
Suzanne Hodge lives in St. Pauls with her husband, Daniel, and their daughter, Peyton. From ages 5-18, she danced at Karen Gibson School of Dance, taking ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and pointe. She has a degree in Accounting from NC State where she was a member of the Wolfpack Clogging Team for five years, then went on to earned her MBA from Campbell University. Suzanne has helped to coach teams with Robeson County Dancing with the Stars for three seasons, and is looking forward to teaching and sharing her passion of dance at Southern Sapphires Dance Studio.
Teaches 3 & 4 year old Combo Classes, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Acrobatics, Pom, Clogging
Ella
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Rachel Jacobs
Rachel Jacobs started dancing at age four with Karen Gibson School of Dance taking tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, and lyrical and also clogged competitively with Triple Toe Cloggers. During that time, she clogged at Disney World twice, was a captain and hoe down caller, and choreographed multiple routines for different dance styles. She is getting her masters degree in Counseling at The University of North Carolina of Pembroke. She is the guidance counselor at Ed v Baldwin Elementary School. Rachel is looking forward to sharing her knowledge and passion for dance with the students of Southern Sapphires Dance Company.
Teaches Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Clogging
Sofia McLamb
Kaylee Chavis is a member of the East Carolina Dance Team. Kaylee Chavis' love for dance began at the age of three, when she has began training in many different dance styles, including tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, and clogging. She has competed with Southern Sapphires Dance Company since 2015, and earned dance convention scholarships, top placements, and judge’s awards. She was named “Over-All Miss Ultimate Starz Dance” during the 2021-2022 National Ultimate Starz Dance competition. While Kaylee is in college now continuing her dance career she continues to share her knowledge and passion for dance with students at Southern Sapphires Dance Company, with her choreography.
Natalee Britt
Natalee Britt goes to Robeson Community College. Natalee Britt had danced since she was 3 years old and she was apart of the Southern Sapphires Dance Company Competition Teams for 10 years. She teaches a variety of different classes at SSDC as well as an instructor of our competition teams. She is excited about having the opportunity to work with children through dance.
Ella has been involved with dance since she was three years old. In 2014, she began dancing
with Southern Sapphires and has been dancing competitively for six years. She is trained in
many aspects of dance including, jazz lyrical, clogging, hip hop, ballet, and tumbling. Performing
is Ella’s passion and for this reason she enjoys dancing on stage. Ella is looking froward to
having a great year with students at Southern Sapphires Dance Company.
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Jailyn Newberry
Jailyn Newberry will be attending East Carolina University. She had danced since she was 5 years olds and was apart of Southern Sapphires Dance Company Competition Teams for 8 years. She will be trying out for the East Carolina Club Dance Team in the Fall. She loves helping others discover their passion for dance.
Sofia McLamb attends UNCP. Sofia McLamb started dancing at the
age of 2 and danced for over 12 years now. Sofia’s favorite styles of dance include
clogging, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop. Sofia teaches a variety of classes at SSDC as well as an instructor of the competition teams. Sofia is looking forward to teaching and seeing what this
year’s dance season brings at Southern Sapphires Dance Company.
Emmaleigh Higgins
Emmaleigh Higgins started dancing at the age of 4 years old. She has taken tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, clogging, and hip hop. Emmaleigh competes with Southern Sapphires Senior Competition Team she and her team have won numerous awards. Emmaleigh looks forward to sharing her love of dance to students at Southern Sapphires Dance Company.
Beth Pitmann
Beth competes on the Senior Competition Team at SSDC and looks forward to assisting and helping out in various of dance classes.
Chloey Synder
Chloey competes on the Senior Competition Team at SSDC and looks forward to assisting and helping out in various of dance classes.
SOUTHERN SAPPHIRES DANCE COMPANY
3495 Fayetteville Rd. Lumberton NC 28358
910-734-3089
Email: ava.lewis26@yahoo.com