History

The Hilton Head Dance School opened in May 1985 with 17 students. Currently the Dance School has over 300 students ages 3 years – 18 years. Karena Brock was a Principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre from 1963 – 1978 and partnered with Rudolph Nureyev and Mikail Baryshnikov during her years there. Karena, and her husband John Carlyle, are the Artistic Directors for the Hilton Head Dance Theatre. It is with their passion and creativity that the Dance Theatre’s productions have grown into near professional quality shows.

The students of the Hilton Head Dance School are truly blessed to have the opportunity to study under Karena and John and are developing a lifelong appreciation of dance whether they continue with a dance career or not. Currently there are several students majoring in dance in college, one that has returned to teach at the HH Dance School and one student dancing professionally with the Israel Ballet.

The Dance Theatre is the only local dance organization that performs classical ballets with professional guest artists at a venue like the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, and without this organization many local children would never have the privilege of experiencing dance, particularly ballet, in their lives. The closest ballet companies are in Charleston, SC (2 hours away) and Columbia, SC (2 1/2 hours away).