Creating Inspiration Through Dance

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it"  Proverbs 22:6

Shiloh Rhaiel Ransom

Executive Director

A native of Wilmington, Shiloh began her dance training at South East Dance Theatre where she performed and competed at regional and national competitions winning top and overall awards.  She has studied with master teachers such as Frank Hatchett, Tracie Stanfield, Karen Hebert, Gene Medler, and Debbie Dee along with attending master classes at NCSA and ECU.  Her performances include The Nutcracker, Swan Lake , Sleeping Beauty, Chicago , Sweet Charity, and Oklahoma!  She has also performed in the Bahamas and for Carnival Cruise Lines. Shiloh ’s choreography has won top awards at regional and national competitions.  She has worked with the Moscow Ballet, Dance Theatre of Wilmington, The Wilmington Ballet Company, and was the founder/director of The Wilmington Broadway Dance Company.  Her students have gone on to attend year-round and summer programs at North Carolina School of the Arts, School of American Ballet in NY, American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, Austin Ballet, Harid Conservatory, North Carolina Dance Theatre, and Boston Ballet.  Shiloh received certification from Dance Masters of America in 2000.  She is also registered to teach Kindermusik and Music Together.  She has taught in the Wilmington area for 11 years.

Ashley Smith

Faculty

Ashley has been dancing for eighteen years and teaching for four years.  She began her dance training at the Oak Island School of Dance under the direction of Erin Hughes and Pat Pittenger.  At ages nine and eleven, she danced with the Greensboro Ballet Company and the Charleston Ballet Company.  Ashley was captain of her high school dance team and was selected to perform in the Pro Bowl 2003 in Hawaii by the All American Dance Association.  Also in 2003, she performed at the North Carolina Dance Festival with the Dance Cooperative and in 2005 she was selected to perform with Forward Motion under the direction of Tracy Varga.  She has participated in several local events such as Southport ’s Annual Chili Cook-off and the 9/11 ceremonies.  Ashley is in her senior year at UNC-Wilmington where she is pursuing a degree in psychology.    

Karen Piette

Faculty

Karen owned and operated Studio 64, a David Taylor Dance Theatre affiliate school, for ten years.  Under Karen's direction, this Denver school placed many of its students with major universities and professional companies throughout the Rocky Mountain region.  Karen then moved to Cape Cod where she instructed and choreographed for many are studios and companies such as Studio 878,  the Academy of Performing Arts, and Cape Cod Ballet.  During this time she worked closely with Catherine Batcheller and Joseph Cippolla, and co-chaired the Academy of Performing Arts dance department.  She was rehearsal assistant for Configuration/Academy production of the "Sea Captain's Nutcracker" where her original choreography was displayed in sections of Act II.  She staged the Academy's much acclaimed Act II 2004 production of "Swan lake" where she was also instrumental in securing guest artists Meghan Andrews and Stephen Erwin of Northern Ballet New Hampshire.  With special permission she was invited to restage and produce "Spirit," a beloved  David McCarty production piece.  Ms. Piette's genuine passion for her craft is most often reflected in her enthusiastic students and appreciative audiences alike. 

Tiffany Barrett Long

Faculty

Tiffany has been dancing since the age of twelve and teaching for the past six years.  She has competed across the country in national conventions as well as competitions where her team won Grand Champion on several occasions.  Ms. Tiffany went on to perform in "An Irish Dance Show" in Myrtle Beach and other local venues.  She is proficient in teaching all levels of clogging and Irish step dance and has a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education.  She is currently a teacher at Southport Christian School.

Lauren Broadwell

Faculty

©Inspirations Dance Centre

8109 River Rd. SE

Southport, NC 28461

910-612-7441