MEET Our Staff

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Founder, Director, and coach Brittney, a native of Memphis, TN, discovered her passion for Pom and competitive dance during high school as a member of the National Championship-winning Christian Brothers High School Pom Squad. She further honed her skills as a member, Captain, and choreographer of the Mississippi State University Pom Squad from 1999-2002, which deepened her love for the sport. Brittney began her career in dance coaching while still in high school and has continued to thrive as a competitive dance coach ever since. As a head coach, she led her teams to state championship titles in Mississippi, Tennessee, and South Carolina, along with achieving top placements at UDA and DTU National Championships. In 2015, after relocating to Charleston, she founded the Crusaderettes Dance Team at Christ Our King-Stella Maris School. Over the past 10 seasons, Brittney has successfully guided her Charleston dance team to multiple State and Regional titles and five National Championship titles. Now, as the founder of Charleston Elite Dance, Brittney is dedicated to introducing young dancers to Pom and competitive dance team as a sport, as well as preparing more experienced athletes to compete at the collegiate level. Her passion and expertise in dance coaching continue to shape the next generation of elite dancers.

Pom/Technique/All-Star Coach Claire, originally from Nashville, TN, attended Brentwood Academy and became a member of the 10x nationally & 9x state acclaimed Brentwood Dance Team. Additionally, she is an alum of the prestigious, top-ranked DC Dance Factory. Among hundreds of talented peers, Claire was selected for the Tennessee Dance Team from 2018-2022, during which the team earned two national championship titles in D1A Pom and D1A Gameday. In 2024, Claire relocated to Charleston, where she aims to support the local Charleston dance team by helping individuals of all ages master Pom techniques and the technical skills that prepare them for collegiate dance. Claire also works in marketing for Nash Grey, where she enjoys interacting with customers worldwide and discovering the latest trends in the fashion industry. As a passionate dance coach, Claire is eager to instill confidence and strength in dancers, guiding both young children and adults through their dance journeys and life challenges. She continuously researches new exercises and drills, providing her students with the physical abilities needed to excel both on and off the dance floor, reinforcing her role as one of the dedicated competitive dance coaches in her community.

Pom/Technique/All-Star Coach Madi is a dancer deeply rooted in Jazz and Pom styles. Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, she trained at the Vision Dance Center, a 15-time World Championship-winning program that sharpened her skills and ignited her passion for dance. This rigorous training laid the groundwork for her next adventure at the University of Tennessee, where she became a valued member of the prestigious dance team, contributing to two national championships. Madi understands the importance of community engagement and, as part of the dance team, she actively helped organize events and mentor aspiring dancers hoping to someday join a Charleston dance team. Currently, Madi balances her role as a CTICU nurse at MUSC with her new passion for dance coaching. She is dedicated to inspiring students through her instruction, aiming to leave a lasting impact not only as a competitive dance coach but also as a mentor who fosters confidence and personal growth.

Ballet Amelia is a company dancer with the Palmetto City Ballet and part of the vibrant Charleston dance team. Amelia's passion for ballet began at the tender age of two, and she has since become a classically trained ballerina from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her training includes esteemed institutions such as Milwaukee Ballet (2019-2021), Nashville Ballet (2021-2022), and Charlotte Ballet (2022-2024). She has experienced a variety of ballet styles, learning from Cuban, French, Russian, English, and Ukrainian instructors. To refine her skills, she has attended summer programs at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Houston Ballet, and Charlotte Ballet. With a deep love for teaching, Amelia enjoys sharing her knowledge of dance with younger generations while collaborating with competitive dance coaches to inspire future dancers through effective dance coaching.

Kaitlyn is a 2025 graduate of the College of Charleston, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a minor in Business Administration. She currently serves as the Marketing Coordinator for The Godfrey Method, a leading organization in Charleston dance team coaching, while continuing her training with them. Her choreography has been showcased at the Miss South Carolina Pageant and various regional and national dance competitions. Having studied under respected competitive dance coaches, Kaitlyn is passionate about helping dancers grow both technically and artistically through effective dance coaching.

Born and raised on Long Island, NY, Keara is a graduate of Florida State University, where she earned her degree in Exercise Physiology. During her time at FSU, she was a member of the Seminole Dance Force and competed nationally at NDA each year. After college, she performed professionally as a cheerleader for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Currently, Keara is a Physician Assistant student at MUSC and is actively involved with the Charleston dance team, where she collaborates with competitive dance coaches. Her passion for dance, wellness, and fostering a positive, empowering environment for dancers of all levels shines through in her coaching.

 Kayla began her dance journey at the age of 5, competing through middle school before continuing her passion for dance as a member of her high school dance team. She went on to earn a spot on the South Dakota State University Dance Team, where she competed at NDA Nationals and continued to grow as both a dancer and performer.

Kayla holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from South Dakota State University and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is passionate about helping dancers develop strong technique, build confidence, and discover a true love for performing.

Ashley has been training in all styles of dance and has been in the Dance Team world for 12 years. She was on her middle school and high school dance team. She continued her passion for dance at the College of Charleston, where she was a member of the team for four years, and served as Captain for two years. While at the College of Charleston, she competed in the Division 1 category at UDA College Nationals in Orlando, Florida. Her team placed top 10 in the Gameday, Jazz, and Hip Hop categories all four years. Her final season the team earned 2nd overall in the Hip Hop category. Ashley has been a member of UDA staff for 3 years, and continues to travel to teach dance as well as choreograph. Ashley also works at a local studio continuing her passion for fitness and wellness. She loves sharing her passion and experience through coaching and cultivating a competitive community for dancers.  

Elena is a junior at the College of Charleston double-majoring in dance and international studies. She has been dancing since she was four years old and joined a competitive team at her dance studio in New York. Training and competing in a variety of styles, Elena specializes in tap and ballet. She is excited to be joining the Charleston Elite team to share her love of dance with the youngest dancers at the studio!