MEET OUR TEAM
Madison is an instructor, choreographer, mountain dance caller, and performer rooted in the mountains of Western North Carolina. A lifelong mountain resident with family history spanning many generations in WNC, her connection to this region runs deep. Madison is the founder of Appalachian Performing Arts and the Mountain Dance Preservation Project. She began dance classes at the age of three, and has continued to dance ever since. At age seven she developed a deep passion for clogging and Southern Appalachian dance. She has a passion not only for dance and performing, but engaging with its history and development. Madison has the opportunity to train in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre dance, modern, contemporary, theatre and drama, and recreational dance, but her love for clogging and mountain dance remain at the center of her passion. She enjoys calling square dances and performing onstage at bluegrass and folk events. Madison has trained under the instruction of countless dance teachers over the last two and a half decades as a student, and has shared her knowledge and love of dance with countless students as an instructor. Madison has achieved regional and state championship titles as a member of clogging and mountain dance teams, duets, and as a soloist. Her choreography has placed in regional and state competitions.
Her love for art and passion for keeping the dying art of traditional mountain dance alive inspired Appalachian Performing Arts and the Mountain Dance Preservation Project.
Madison's goal as an instructor at Appalachian Performing arts is to help each student grow in confidence, strength, technique, creativity, knowledge of history, appreciation for arts, excitement, and joy - and to help each student find their place in the exciting world of performing arts. She believes in "dreaming big for the glory of God."
Outside of Appalachian Performing Arts, Madison has a heart for youth and children's ministry, mission projects in communities across the nation which has shaped a huge part of her approach to teaching dance. Madison directs non-profit, The Cole Mountain Cloggers. She enjoys thrifting, bluegrass, painting, and spending time with her animals.
Madison currently teaches many of the classes on our Appalachian Performing Arts schedule.
Madison Casteel - Owner & Director, Instructor and Choreographer
McKenzie Casteel
Dance Instructor
and Choreographer
McKenzie began dancing at the young age of three years old, and has been involved with dance ever since. She joined the Appalachian Performing Arts team during the 2019-2020 dance season. McKenzie has had the opportunity to train in ballet, tap, jazz, clogging, modern, contemporary, musical theatre dance, pointe, theatre, and drama.
McKenzie has achieved multiple regional and state titles as a member of clogging and mountain dance teams.
McKenzie currently teaches several classes at the studio, including Little Dancers, ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, and contemporary. She is the director of Appalachian Performing Arts Pointe and Pre Pointe program, in which she inspires and trains young dancers to reach their goals of dancing and growing en pointe.
When McKenzie isn't dancing, she is likely enjoying a cup of coffee, thrifting, or serving in youth and children's ministries.
Amy Riddle
Dance Instructor
and Choreographer
Amy began dance classes at the age of 8, and and continues to dance today. Her dance career began and is based in Burnsville, North Carolina. She joined the Appalachian Performing Arts staff during the 2020-2021 dance season. Amy has been involved in several genres of dance during her many years of experience, including tap, jazz, ballet, musical theatre, clogging and mountain dance, modern, and recreational dance. Outside of dance, Amy Amy has a passion for working with children and currently works in early childhood education.
Amy currently teaches multiple Little Dancers and Kinderdance Classes. You may also find her at the front desk, or assisting throughout the studio!
Bethany has been dancing for over 22 years, beginning her dance journey at just 5 years old. Throughout the years, she has had to opportunity to train in a variety of styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, acrobatics, hip hop, and clogging. While she loves them all, her favorite styles to dance and teach are contemporary, hip hop, and tap.
Her passion for teaching began at the young age for 14 when she started teaching her own dance classes. Since then, she has discovered just how much she loves sharing her passion for dance with others. Bethany especially enjoys helping students build confidence and discover their own love for dance, and have fun while learning.
Throughout her dance journey, she has had the honor of being a guest performer in the Bailey Mountain Cloggers' spring convert at Mars Hill University four times.
Outside of the studio, Miss Bethany teaches preschool and absolutely loves working with children. She has been happily married for almost 5 years, is a proud dog mom to her sweet pup, Izzy, and is excited to welcome her baby girl in October.
When she isn't teaching dance, you can usually find Miss Bethany thrifting, camping, cooking, listening to an audio book, checking out a new coffee shop, or spending quality time with her family. She is so excited to be a part of the dance studio community and looks forward to creating fun memories, encouraging her students, and helping them fall in love with dance, just as she has!
Bethany Belyea
Dance Instructor
and Choreographer
Savannah has been dancing since she was three years old. She has been involved at Appalachian Performing Arts for 5 years. She has experience in ballet, modern and contemporary, clogging, musical theatre dance, and pointe.
She is a Little Dancers class instructor and assists with various classes, shows, recital, and throughout our Burnsville Location. Outside of Appalachian Performing Arts, Savannah enjoys reading, drawing, and baking, and is a member of the Cole Mountain Cloggers. Her favorite type of dance is pointe.
Her love and passion for dance shines through all that she does at Appalachian Performing Arts!
Savannah Dunlap
Dance Instructor
and Choreographer
Specialty Instructors & Volunteer Staff
Our recitals and showcases would not be possible without our incredible team of volunteers. We have a wide rage of help, experience, and talent with the teams you will see during each recital, gathering, and performance.
Volunteers and Student Assistants
Our volunteers and student assistants offer a helping hand to our main instructors in class and around the studio! We appreciate their hard work and dedication both inside and outside of the classroom.