ABOUT US

Collective SC is a Charleston-based contemporary dance company dedicated to delivering fresh, innovative perspectives on contemporary dance under the artistic direction of Lacey Bates and Izzy Byers. Our mission is to inspire and engage audiences while nurturing the growth of the Southeastern dance community through dynamic collaboration and creative exchange.

Collective SC is currently the artist-in-residence at Holy City Dance Center.

ARTISTS

Lacey Bates, Founder & Artistic Director

Lacey Bates is a professional dancer, choreographer, and educator from Myrtle Beach, SC. She earned her BA in Dance and Arts Management from the College of Charleston and her MA in Education from Holy Names University. She has performed across the Southeast and in the San Francisco Bay Area with companies such as Annex Dance Company, PUSH Dance Company, Visceral Roots Dance Company, Printz Dance Project, and A Pulso Dance Project, among others. Lacey has shared the stage with entertainment artists including Weird Al Yankovic and Beats Antique, and she served as Co-Artistic Director of The Collective SF, a collaborative dance company. Lacey has over a decade of teaching experience in public schools, non-profits, and renowned institutions like ODC and Alonzo King LINES Ballet. After five years in the Bay Area, she returned to Charleston in 2023 where she continues to contribute to the dance community as a public school dance educator, a performer with Elevate Performance Company, and the Artistic Director of Collective SC, a Charleston-based dance company dedicated to delivering fresh, innovative perspectives on contemporary dance.

Izzy Byers, Assistant Artistic Director

Izzy Byers, originally from Greenville, SC, has been living and dancing in Charleston for six years. She holds both a BA in Dance and a BS in Accounting from the College of Charleston, where she performed in main stage productions and showcased her choreography at the American College Dance Association’s annual conference. Following graduation, her work was featured in the Piccolo Spoleto Festival Alumni Concert. Izzy currently serves as a teacher, choreographer, and studio manager at Holy City Dance Center, as well as the Assistant Artistic Director of Collective SC.

Erika Keller, Company Member

Erika Keller grew up in a military family and began her ballet training in Germany, where she earned a scholarship and studied the RAD syllabus, before continuing her training with a focus on classical ballet. She joined Columbia City Ballet and attended the University of South Carolina, majoring in Fashion Merchandising. After moving to New York City, Erika built a successful career in the fashion industry, while also performing as a freelance artist with companies including Ballet for Young Audiences, Albano Ballet, Jersey City Ballet, and Dances Patrelle. After years of freelancing, Erika transitioned into choreography, creating repertoire for American Liberty Ballet, where she also performed as a principal artist for several years. Her choreographic work has been presented at renowned venues such as New York Live Arts, Abrons Arts Center, Peridance, Arts on Site, and Madison Square Park. In 2023, she was commissioned by composer Alex Wakim to choreograph for his ambitious, multimedia production Dust and Ions at Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, a highlight of her choreographic career. Erika moved to the Charleston area in February 2024 and founded NousPointe, an innovative dance company.

Kayla Thomas, Company Member

Kayla Thomas began her dance training at the age of two in the Chicago area, cultivating a strong foundation in ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, and hip hop. She pursued formal dance studies at the University of Iowa and Columbia College Chicago, and continued her professional development through training programs at The Joffrey Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Kayla’s performance career includes her time as a company member with Culture Shock Chicago, where she had the opportunity to perform throughout the United States and Canada. Now based in Charleston, she shares her expertise and passion for dance as an instructor at local studios while performing as a company member with the professional dance company Collective SC, inspiring the next generation of dancers both in the classroom and on stage.

Emily Falcone, Company Member

Emily Falcone has been dancing since the age of 2 and holds a B.A. in Dance from the College of Charleston. She has performed in and choreographed numerous mainstage productions, with her work selected for faculty concerts and showcased alongside distinguished guest artists. Emily is trained extensively in ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, acro, and tap. She has been teaching dance for over 5 years working with students of all ages and abilities, and her choreography has earned multiple awards. Emily continues to teach and perform professionally in Charleston and is thrilled to share her passion with Collective SC!

Julia Kabernagel, Company Member

Julia Kabernagel is a dedicated dance artist originally from Maryland, where she trained in a variety of dance styles. She earned her undergraduate degree in Dance and Arts Management from the College of Charleston in 2021, gaining hands-on experience in choreography, performance, and arts administration. While at CofC, she performed works by guest artists including Harambee Dance Company, Michael Nickerson-Rossi, and Vincent Thomas, and choreographed original pieces for student showcases. Julia also studied abroad with Staibdance in Sorrento, Italy, participating in international training and collaborative creation. She has performed with Charleston Dance Project and Dynamics at the Charleston Dance Space and is currently a fitness instructor with Fly High Bungee Fitness.

Collective SC is a sponsored artist with The Performance Zone Inc (dba The Field), a not-for-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization serving the arts community. Contributions to The Field earmarked for Collective SC are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. For more information about The Field contact: The Field, 228 Park Ave S, Suite 97217, New York, NY 10003, phone: 212-691-6969. A copy of our latest financial report may be obtained from The Field or from the Office of Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.