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 is joining 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 (10) and Mason (2), but is very excited to be back teaching dance through magic and creativity.
Bonnie Boiter-Jolley
Ballet
Bonnie Boiter-Jolley has been on the CCJ Faculty since 2011. She began her ballet training at the Columbia Conservatory of Dance before going on to be a scholarship student at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Bonnie graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Honors College at the University of South Carolina with degrees in Dance Performance and Choreography. In 2011, Bonnie joined the Columbia City Ballet and was promoted to Principal 3 years later.
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.
Regan Baker
Modern - Youth Programs
Regan Baker is a graduate from the Dance Education Program at the University of South Carolina. She has danced with the Chesapeake Ballet Company, and the Ballet Theatre of Maryland. Regan has a passion for dance that she utilizes to teach, choreograph and direct in public schools, home studios, summer camps, U of SC dancers and for collegiate peers in other departments.
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.
Lauren Herring
Pre-Company Director
Lauren Herring is a CCJ Conservatory alumni and currently, a student at the University of South Carolina. She is a Cardiovascular Technology major. She received her dance training under the direction of Dale Lam at CCJ Conservatory. She has attended many programs such as Ballet+, Francisco Gella’s Pre-Professional Dancer Institute, Flux Factor, CCJ Summer Intensive, etc. She was a member of Spring Hill High School Dance Team and Furman Dance Team. She is currently a member of Carolina Club Dance.
Savannah Manning
Contempoary / Tap
Savannah Manning danced at CCJ for 14 years and is now an alumni. She teaches technique and combo, as well as choreographs solos and group dances. She is a current criminal justice major at the University of South Carolina and plans to pursue her profession as a dancer after graduation.