Dreher High School Dance

Dreher Dance Director

KATHLEEN LEE

(2002 – Present)

Kathleen Lee joined the Dreher faculty in 2002 as the Blue Devil Dance Director. She began her dance training in Augusta, Maine at Encore Dance Center where she studied Ballet, Pointe, Jazz and Tap and was a member of the Encore Competitive Dance Company. She double majored in Dance and Public Relations in college and was a member of the University of New Hampshire Modern Dance Company (1992-1994) and then danced at the University of South Carolina (1994-1996). After graduating from USC Lee taught for the University of South Carolina’s Dance Conservatory Program (1996-1999), worked for the South Carolina Arts Commission, and danced professionally in the Southeast. Lee studied West African Dance with Mohammed DaCosta and then traveled to Guinea, West Africa with the National Ballet Company (Les Ballets Africains). She was a founding member of USC’s West African Drumming and Dance Ensemble and went on the become the Dance Director of Borenya West African Drum and Dance Company. Since 2002 she has been the Dance Director of Dreher High School where she choreographs and produces three main stage shows annually, directs the Dreher Dance Company (DDC), and serves as the choreographer for Dreher’s competitive marching band show. Her dance career includes: performing member of Vibrations and Borenya Dance companies, faculty positions at Columbia Ballet School and Palmetto Performing Arts (1996-2010), guest artist across the Southeast, musical theatre choreography at Trustus Theatre, Workshop Theatre and the Dreher Drama Program, master class teacher for such organizations as the SC Dance Teacher's Association, SCHPERD, the SC Governor's School for the Arts Outreach Program, appearing as a dance expert on MTV's MADE - Episode 8 "Hip Hop Dancer". She was named Dreher’s 2015-2016 Teacher of the Year. Lee is a cooperating mentor teacher with the University of South Carolina and Columbia College Dance Education majors, a member of NDEO, and a member of Encore Dance Competition staff.

Dance Program Highlights

• Richland I Dance classes are GT (Gifted & Talented). This means students must audition to take

dance classes at the middle and high school level.

• Auditions for rising 9th graders (who plan to attend Dreher) typically take place in December or

January at Hand middle school during the school day. Auditions for transfer students (or upper

classmen interested in admittance to the program) are held the first week of school, the

second day from 3:30pm-4:15pm.

• Dreher Dance Program Focus: Developing healthy dance technique, performance depth,

movement quality, versatility in dance styles, expanding composition and choreography skills

while deepening individual focus, accountability, and self-confidence as a performer and young

artist.

• Dance Styles: Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Modern, Musical Theatre, and Yoga (some: African,

Tap, Social Dance & Hip Hop)

• Classes Levels offered: Dance 1, Dance 2, Dance 3 Honors & Dance 4 Honors

• Two shows annually. All students perform each semester for 3 consecutive nights in

December and in April). All Dreher shows begin at 7pm.

• Fall Dance Production (Semester 1/ December):

Dreher has a long tradition of storyline productions which include multiple dance forms,

backdrops, scenery, & elaborate costuming. We audition elementary and middle students for roles in our fall

dance production every August (usually the 2nd Saturday after the first full week of school.)

High School students can gain experience as class assistants and younger students are mentored by

experienced high school dancers. (Rehearsals are once a week September – December.)

• Spring Senior Choreography Showcase: This end of year concert features senior choreography

works as well as works from underclassmen.

• Dreher is a member of the (NHSDA) National Honor Society for the Dance Arts.

• Student choreography projects are required each spring semester to develop artistry and

collaboration skills. These projects include:

1. Dance 1: Solos

2. Dance 2: Duet / Trios

3. Dance 3H: Small groups (4-6 students)

4. Dance 4H: Direct & choreograph the entire class

• Dance class attire: Students are required to change into dance wear for class (FEMALES this

includes: leotards, tanks tops, biker shorts and/or leggings. MALES: shorts and solid color

tank top or t-shirt). Dance shoes for specific dance styles are encouraged but not required.

• The Richland one District Honors Company is an opportunity for students to work with a visiting guest artist if

they audition and are selected as 1 of 20 dancers to be featured at the District Dance Showcase. Dance 3 Honors

and Dance 4 Honors students to audition each year. Underclassmen are highly encouraged too as well). Students

selected for this company will miss two school days to set the piece and automatically participate in the District

Dance Festival (a one-day event featuring master classes, a performance with Q&A session and tech rehearsal).

• DDC (The Dreher Dance Company) is our school’s premier performance ensemble and rehearses 2-3 days a

week July -May. Auditions are held annually in May for the following year. Performances include freshman

orientation, school pep rallies, home football games, community events, parades, marching band competitions,

Dancing with the Teachers (DDC’s own one night concert stage event and featured numbers in school dance

concerts). In addition, the company travels bi-annually to New York for further dance training and exposure to

Broadway shows.

• The Dreher program is supported by its newly establish Booster Club which is a 501c 3 nonprofit

established in 2024.