FOUNDER

Karen Brown-Deese graduated with honors from the University of Greensboro with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance. At UNC-G and while living in New York City, she studied with Twyla Tharp, Phil Black, Luigi, David Howard, Broadway Dance Center, Martha Graham and the Alvin Ailey Dance Companies. In 1977 she opened The Academy of Dance Arts in Mooresville, NC. The studio later became known as The Academy of Dance and Fine Arts, Inc. (ADFA).

Over the last 43 years, Karen has taught thousands of dancers and numerous students who have gone on to become professional dancers and dance educators. Former student accomplishments include dancing at The Carolina Opry, The Alabama Theater, and Tokyo Disney, as well as performing in numerous Broadway tours of West Side Story, A Chorus Line, and Hairspray. Additionally, several of her students have performed on numerous international ships, in Vegas shows, and in various European performances. In the Ballet world, former students have danced with companies in Nashville, Boston, Milwaukee, and for Ballet Pacifica. Karen was an assistant, choreographer, and dancer with the Miss NC, Miss Virginia, and Miss Mississippi Pageants (for a total of over 20 years). She has traveled the world working with Kennedy Entertainment, choreographing and directing revue shows for numerous cruise lines including: American Hawaii, Crown, Cunard, and Stella Solaris. Karen has also worked as a choreographer for Norwegian Cruise Line. In 1998 she began directing and choreographing Paramount’s main stage theater shows in Cincinnati, Ohio, Richmond, Virginia, Santa Clara, Ca, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Toronto, Canada. In 2002 her “Graveyard Shift” show in Cincinnati received the IAAPA Award for the most outstanding theme park show internationally, and her “Superstars” show in Toronto received the 2nd place international IAAPA award.

Karen now judges across the United States for Kids Artistic Revue dance competition on regional and national levels and has choreographed for their opening productions in Las Vegas and NYC. She has also choreographed the opening numbers for the Brunswick County and Horry County Dancing with the Stars. The Academy of Dance and Fine Arts at North Myrtle Beach won the Top Primary Studio at the National Kids Artistic Revue Competition. Karen’s goal is to produce another studio offering the finest instruction for students who wish to dance on a competitive level or just for fun and recreation. She and her husband Larry currently reside in North Myrtle Beach.

OWNER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

A Charlotte native, Sadie has been teaching dance for over 30 years. She trained at Rhythm Dance Studio in Charlotte NC and then studied freelance in New York with such dance icons as Sheila Barker, Frank Hatchett, Jason Parsons, Mia Michaels, Ray Leeper, Jermaine Brown and BT. Sadie’s professional dance credits include commercials and industrial shows for Belk, Levi and Nike. Sadie also performed as a Kiss 102 dancer, Charlotte Heat Cheerleader, and for the television show Star Search.

While Sadie enjoys dancing professionally, her true passion lies in teaching and choreography. You can find many of Sadie’s students pursuing dance as a profession. Many of her students can be found dancing for Holland American Cruise Lines, industrial shows, and theme parks to dancing in music videos with Missy Elliot to performing in Sonya Tayeh’s dance company. Sadie believes in a well rounded dance education leading to her dancers performing with American Ballet Theatre, School for American Ballet, Ballet Semperoper, Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson One Show in Vegas, and Hubbard Street Dance in Chicago.

While believing in the power of dance performance, Sadie has also created a strong program focusing on the educational challenge of dance. Many of her students are attending prestigious college dance programs at University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Marymount Manhattan, Suny Purchase, University of Alabama, University of Las Vegas Nevada, University of Greensboro and Eastern Carolina

University just to name a few.

Sadie was the artistic director for The Academy of Dance and Fine Arts for five years prior to becoming the owner. ADFA has been a staple in the Mooresville community for many years and Sadie continues the studio’s success with her commitment to the art of dance. “Dance is not just a physical activity you can have fun with but also an art form to be appreciated, nurtured, and respected”, says Roberts.

Sadie not only loves being in the classroom at ADFA but also teaches and judges for conventions and competitions across the country. As director of ADFA competition companies, Sadie has received many choreography and overall awards on a regional and national level.