Instructors

June Horton began teaching dance at age 17. She has owned and operated June Horton’s School of Dance for 43 years. Aside from her studio, June has taught for local schools, churches and universities. Some of her students have gone on to perform on Broadway, dance on Cruise ships, start their own dance studios, and teach for National dance tours.  For the past 30 years, June has been involved with local and regional theatres choreographing shows like, "Funny Girl", "Grease", "Singin In The Rain", and "Westside Story", "Fiddler On The Roof", just to mention a few. She also was SC Junior Miss Choreographer for 14 years and one of 3 choreographers for The Peach Bowl.

June also has been a regional and national judge for Rising Star Talent Production for the past 21 years.  June is married with 2 daughters and a 2-yearold grandson.

?Robin Byouk has recently completely a mural and several large art pieces for Smiley’s Acoustic Café in Greenville, SC and Southern Dance Connection in Greer, SC. She has been the Set Designer/Artist for the Greer Children’s Theatre for the past 4 years. Robin has taught Camp Ark for 6 years and taught Art classes for the Greer Cultural Arts Council for the past 5years. She has a BA in fine art from Millersville University of PA.

 Jenna Tamisiea is a theatre educator and musical theatre actress with a B.A in Musical Theatre from the University of Tulsa. Jenna has performed and taught with regional theatre groups across the South including the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre, The Midtown School of Performing Arts, and Light Opera Oklahoma. Jenna’s start in children’s theatre at the age of 8 sparked her enthusiasm for a career in theatre education. Energetic and optimistic, she has dedicated herself to performing and educating youth about theatre and music, instilling a respect for acting and support for the performing arts in everyone she teaches.

 Susan Heiser- Whatley has been involved in theater for over 25 years either as a performer or on the technical side.   She started her theatrical career at the age of 9 performing in the school play, and then joined the local children’s theater.  Susan continued to study theater arts through high school and focused on drama and dance at San Francisco State University were she earned her B.A.  In addition to performing in over 30 productions in the San Francisco Bay Area, Susan spent 5 years as member a touring group, performing all over California.   While she has performed in both dramas and musicals, her favorite role was that of Grace Farrell in the musical “Annie.”  On the technical side Susan has worn many hats: Set Crew, Lighting Crew, Stage Crew, Costume Designer, Stage Manager, Director, Assistant Director and Production Manager.  Since moving to Greer 3 years ago, Susan has been part of  Greer Children’s Theater filling the roles of Stage Manager and Production Manager, and will be on stage again in our latest production HONK! – The Musical.  

 Loretta Geisler studied voice at Bob Jones University from 1970 to 1972.  She studied privately for 3 additional years.  Loretta sang with the Greenville Civic Chorale,  the Greenville Savoyards,  The Greer Children's Theater, and at  various churches and benefits in the Greenville area.  Loretta has directed the children's choir at Peoples Bible Church for 9 years and led children's praise and worship at the Greenville Vineyard for 3 years. Loretta has given private voice lessons to adults and youth. Loretta starred the Greer Children's Theatre production of Cinderella and also performed in Dr. Doolittle.  Loretta has been dancing every Tuesday night at the Starlight ballroom for 5 years. She loves to dance and can't wait to teach.

  Reta Cooper teaches art at her studio, Outside the Lines, in Greenville. She began teaching expressive art ten years ago in Lansing Michigan. Ms. Cooper has a BA from the University of South Carolina. Her studies included Visual Art and Art Education. She completed an internship in Miami Florida for the Women’s Institute for Creativity Inc. Recognized for her unique concepts; Ms. Cooper was an invited guest on the Fox news morning show, Your Carolina. Ms. Cooper advocates for all youth to have access to the arts.  She has given freely of her time to teach children of local non-profit organizations, such as the Girl Scouts.  She patiently encourages expression and originality; understanding that creative thought is critical to healthy child development.

 Thom Seymour is a native of Spartanburg where he grew up in the Spartanburg Youth Theatre. He studied English and Theatre at Clemson University and since graduation has spent most of his adult life as a professional theatre technician and actor. He has trained technicians at the college level and is a certified K-12 drama teacher.

 Bill Burns has been an educator for 33 years, teaching college level engineering and writing courses. Born circa the early Fifties, he started writing on the trailing edge of the cultural revolution of the beautiful generation (remember the Hippies? OK for those of you too young to remember, how bout Shaggy from Scooby Doo?).  He has written 11 plays that have made the stage and has won awards for his fiction.

 Bill started teaching fiction writing in the Greenville area since 2004 and many of his students have gone on to publication as well as incorporating the process of writing into their daily lives.  He has developed several new approaches to plot, setting and character realization.