Mimi Worrell- Artistic Director, Center for Dance Education and Ann Brodie's Carolina Ballet- began her dance training in Columbia, South Carolina, under South Carolina dance legend Ann Brodie. She has studied under the tutelage of such dance luminaries as Leon Daniellian, Valentina Peryaslavic and Patricia Wilde and at the School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. She was a principal and soloist with the Columbia City Ballet and the University of South Carolina Dance Company. She began her professional career with South Carolina Ballet Theatre/Ballet Michigan, and has toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada. She has served as consultant and adjudicator for the dance program for Artistic, Gifted and Talented in Richland County School District One. She was selected for the Approved Artist and Teacher roster for the South Carolina Arts Commission and has taught and consulted throughout the state under this program. Her original collaboration of children's ballets with the Columbia Community Concert Band established a definitive direction for the youth division of the Carolina Ballet, focusing heavily on a total educational program for the youth ballet. Dancers trained under her direction are performing in companies throughout the world. She is the curriculum coordinator, Director of Faculty and Artistic Director of the Center for Dance Education. She has taught on faculty at Columbia College and as Ballet Mistress for Columbia City Ballet.
