Mr Darrien Beal

Dance Teacher

Darrien Beal

I started dancing at four years old. My mother never intended to put me in dance, but she was a professional dancer and had to take me to her practices. She noticed me imitating in the parking lot what I saw her doing on stage. She then placed me in dance and I have been dancing ever since.

I began my training with the Atlanta Dance Works where I performed in their Christmas productions and recitals. I was able make the company and travel to Italy to perform with their dance company. Performing with the Atlanta Dance Works put me in the position to perform with Savion Glover and Stepp Steward. It also gave me the training to perform in the halftime show of the Hula Bowl. At this studio, I studied tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, and lyrical. The Atlanta Dance Works is where I received the foundation of my training.

In college, I performed with a dance company known as the Terpsichorean. This was the greatest influence on me from a choreographer’s perspective. I choreographed tap, jazz, hip-hop, and lyrical dances for the company, and continued to choreograph for the company after I graduated from college.

Grab the opportunity to rise and shine

I began working at the Academy of Dance and Gymnastics shortly after college. I mainly taught tap for the studio, but eventually I was asked to choreograph dances for their competition group. I also participated in performing with the company in the production of Aladdin where I played the genie. I would also perform on a cruise ship with other members of their company.

In addition to teaching at the Academy, I have also taught and choreographed at Transitions Dance, SI Dance, A&B Dance Company, Triple 7, Simply Dance, and Stuido1. I have been teaching dance for the past 15 years. I was choreographed numbers in productions of the Nutcracker and the Lion King.

Other types of my professional work includes: Commercial for Vivid Bleach, performing in the Mrs. Virginia Pageant, performing in dance productions with Anheuser Busch, lead tap dancer in the show Celtic Fyre at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, performing in Italy and Hawaii (Hula Bowl), performing in the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics while working with Kenny Ortega, and performing with Savion Glover.

I love dancing and performing. It has given me such mental and physical liberation and vision. It is an art form that is indescribable. In many ways, it is therapeutic and soothing. I have met so many people and established many relationships because of performing. I love dancing and being on stage. I am so proud to call myself a dancer, choreographer, and artist and I plan to continue for the rest of my life.

Our Teachers

Mary Madeline

Mary Madeline has been a native to the dance world since she was 3 years old. She has trained in various styles of dance such as ballet, jazz, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, modern, and hip hop.

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