(843) 284-8407
WEEKDAYS: 3:00 - 9:00
SATURDAY: 10:00 - 1:00
SUNDAY: CLOSED
Meet Our Staff
CHARLESTON DANCE WORKS
Charleston Dance Works
Melissa DiRienzo- Studio Owner
Melissa DiRienzo is the owner and founder of Charleston Dance Works. Melissa has nearly 20 years of experience teaching all styles of dance to all ages. Her teaching motto/ mantra/ mission statement is all about bringing technique and fun together as one. Melissa received scholarships to Dance at both Adelphi University and Plymouth State University. She received prestigious dance awards from Plymouth State University as well bachelor’s degrees in Dance and Psychology. Melissa has performed with two professional contemporary dance companies in Boston, MA. She was also named Miss Lakes Region and Miss Winnipesaukee in the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship program. She went on to choreograph for many pageants throughout New Hampshire. She has directed many shows and managed many studios before opening her own studio. Melissa is overjoyed to have her own studio to teach future dancers. Her greatest joy is developing excellent technique as well as a passion and love for dance in her students.
Jody Mack
Jody Mack was trained in the Cecchetti Method of ballet and completed exams up to the Professional V level. She performed lead roles in Cinderella, Wizard of Oz and Coppelia at the Upper Montgomery School of Ballet in Maryland. She studied ballet and jazz at the Radford University and performed in the corps de ballet for The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Swan Lake and Giselle. She continued to train in advanced ballet for 5 years while in graduate school at the USC Dance Department. As a postdoctoral fellow in Pharmacology at MUSC, she performed as a soloist in lyrical and contemporary pieces with the JII Performance Group and taught the Adult Ballet classes at the MUSC Wellness Center for 7 years. She currently teaches Adult Ballet at CDW and also serves as the staff photographer/social media manager for CDW. She lives and works full time as a newborn and heirloom portrait photographer in Mt. Pleasant with her husband, 3 daughters (all dancers at CDW).
Julia Pase
Julia Pase moved to Charleston in 2020 from New York where she taught dance for 8 years. She has taught many styles from hip-hop to lyrical for children ages 2 to 18 years old. Most recently, Julia coached a high school dance team where they placed 4th at a regional competition. Before teaching, Julia danced tap on a regional competition team. She enjoys teaching dance at CDW in her spare time as her first job is a 1st grade teacher. She currently teaches Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap and Musical Theater at CDW and serves as a coach/choreographer for the Competition Teams. Julia is beyond excited to be a part of this new journey with CDW and to inspire students through dance.
Sonya Cole
Sonya Cole trained in ballet at the New Jersey School of Ballet, where she started dancing at age 6. She was part of New Jersey Ballet’s Junior Company throughout high school and apprenticed with the company into college. She performed demi-soloist roles on tour with the company throughout the Northeast. She has performed in ballets such as Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Coppelia, Swan Lake, Concerto Barocco, Hansel and Gretel, Flower Festival at Ganzano and Le Bayadere, to name a few. Sonya taught ballet for all children's levels for 12 years at Danceworks Studios in Montclair, New Jersey, before she moved with her husband and two daughters to Mt. Pleasant. Sonya is a graduate of New York University and Seton Hall Law School.
Angelina Bartolozzi
Angelina Bartolozzi is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer based out of Charleston, South Carolina. Originally from Vineland, New Jersey, she trained with Maxine’s Dance Studio LLC. and the Vineland Regional Dance Company (VRDC), spending summers training at Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Burklyn Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and Pennsylvania Ballet. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Purchase College, SUNY with a BFA in Dance Performance and a BA in Arts Management. Angelina is currently a professional ballet dancer in her second season as a soloist with Palmetto City Ballet. Angelina has performed with the contemporary ballet company, Unbound Ballet Project. Angelina is also an active teacher and choreographer for classes, workshops, and festivals throughout the North and Southeastern United States in all styles to all age groups. She has had eight works premiere with the VRDC since 2014. Her work, Run, was chosen to close the Emerging Choreographers Showcase Performance at the Regional Dance America Northeast Festival in 2016, making her the youngest choreographer in the organization to do so. And in May of 2022 Angelina’s work, Wake Up, was performed as a full-performing work for the Regional Dance America Northeast Festival. Angelina is also passionate about physical fitness and is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer.
Ali Pace
Ali Pace is a Charleston Dance Works alumni and teacher. She currently teaches Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Jazz and Competition Team. She started dancing at age 3 and began dancing competitively in various styles at age 7 until she graduated in 2023. She is currently earning her Associates in Arts. This is her second year teaching and she is excited to continue her next chapter at CDW!
Studio A: 3500 Park Avenue Blvd Suite 103, Mount Pleasant, SC 29466
Studio B: 3540 Park Avenue Blvd Suite 103, Mount Pleasant, SC 29466
(843) 284-8407
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