Faculty

Meet Jessica, Owner & Artistic Director

Jessica Lighthart is from Boca Raton, Florida, where she trained with Boca Ballet Theatre under the direction of Dan Guin and Jane Tyree. While at BBT, Jessica danced in many classical ballets including Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Les Sylphides, Coppélia and La Bayadere. Other noteworthy accomplishments include attending North Carolina School of the Arts, ABT Summer Intensive, and performing with Ballet Memphis. A 2002 graduate of the College of Charleston majoring in Elementary Education, Jessica began teaching at Ballet Academy of Charleston in 2008 and, in March 2021, became its new owner and director. Between 2016 and 2018, Jessica completed all levels of the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy Teacher Certification Program. In January 2021, Jessica completed the Ballet Conservatoire Classical Ballet Training and Examination and, in July 2021, she received her certification in Progressing Ballet Technique. In May 2024, Jessica completed the 4Pointe Level 1 Certification with Lynne Charles in Probo, Utah.

  • Amanda W

    Amanda Wingard attended the School of the Arts in Charleston, SC for middle and high school, where she majored in dance. She then studied dance education at the University of South Carolina and worked with master teachers from across the region and nation. After graduating from USC in 2013, Amanda directed the dance program at Alston Middle School in Summerville, SC for three years. Subsequently, she taught the 7th grade dance students at SOA. Amanda has loved being a part of the Ballet Academy of Charleston family for the past several years.

  • Amanda E

    Amanda Evans is a ballet dancer from Copper Canyon, Texas. She began her early training at The Ballet Conservatory in Lewisville, Texas, where she danced with Lakecities Ballet Theatre. She also danced with Oklahoma Festival Ballet and Contemporary Dance Oklahoma while pursuing her BFA in Ballet Performance at The University of Oklahoma. Amanda currently dances with Palmetto City Ballet.

  • Martin

    Martin began his training in Canton, Michigan primarily focusing on the Cecchetti Ballet syllabus. He went on to study Musical Theatre Performance at Western Michigan University, and most recently Dance Performance at Grand Valley State University. Martin has had the opportunity to work with and perform works created by Lizzie MacKenzie Pontarelli, Eddy Ocampo, Brian McSween, Calin Radulescu, Erica Fischback, Autumn Eckman, Becca Lemme, and Amy O'Neil. He has performed with the Grand Rapids Opera Company, Ballet Fleming, Brandywine Ballet, and Dance Del Bello, Arch Contemporary Ballet, Columbia City Ballet and Alabama Ballet. Martin is currently dancing with Palmetto City Ballet.

  • Emily

    Emily Koppenhofer started ballet at the age of thirteen at the Ballet Academy of Charleston. Since 2016, she has enjoyed being a part of numerous performances with BAC’s Junior Company. In addition to dancing, she enjoys spending her time drawing or baking. She is excited to inspire children to express themselves through dance.

  • Sarah

    Sarah Farr has been dancing with Ballet Academy of Charleston since 2016, and loves to be at the studio. She is a part of the Junior Company and participates in every annual spring performance. Sarah has been babysitting for years, so she has lots of experience with children. She can’t wait to teach Creative Movement and Pre ballet!

  • Lisa

    Lisa Strauss studied dance at the Robert Ivey Ballet in Charleston, working her way up through the Junior Company to Principal Dancer. She twice attended the S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts summer program in dance and returned as a faculty assistant. Lisa graduated from Tulane University magna cum laude with a B.A. in history and dance and received the Minnette L. Starts Award for Excellence in Dance. While in college, she performed with the Newcomb Dance Company and participated in the American College Dance Association Festival. She has studied with many notable artists including Suki Schorer, Edward Villella, Twyla Tharp and Bella Lewitzky. After retiring from the practice of law, Lisa is again studying and teaching ballet and has participated in multiple sessions of the Artemotion Dance Intensive for Adults.