Meet The Team

Anika McClellan

Studio Director

Anika is delighted to be the owner of The Dance Atelier, a lifelong dream. Anika is from Sydney, Australia where she studied full time ballet at The Conlan College of Classical Ballet under world class teachers. Upon graduating, Anika received her first professional job from the very first audition she attended, to be a classical dancer in Universal Studios Japan's “Triwizard Spirit Rally.” Her professional credits after this include ensemble dancer in Tokyo Disneyland’s “One Man’s Dream ii”, Head Dancer on MSC Cruises, Choreographer and Dancer for Elevate Performs and dancing in multiple variety shows with Brad and Jenny Moranz of Moranz Entertainment.

Anika has always had a passion for teaching dance to children. She believes in creating a nurturing environment that encourages everyone to be the best version of themselves. Anika emphasizes learning correct technique from your very first class, to ensure a long and healthy dance journey.

Anika is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Anika is also a certified Progressing Ballet Technique instructor.

Anika has taught ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, body conditioning and competition groups and solos at some of Australia’s leading dance schools. She has also been teaching private lessons in Charleston for the past 2 years, where her students have met major milestones and goals under her tutelage.

Anika cannot wait to share her love of dance with the next generation of dancers who walk through the TDA doors!

Tori Edwards

Acrobatics, Hip Hop & Senior Jazz

Born and Raised in South Carolina, Tori Edwards has spent her entire life within the world of Dance and Gymnastics. She grew up competing in both sports until she made the decision to pursue dance professionally at the age of 18. 

Tori moved to LA in order to focus on Jazz, Heels, Acro, and Hip-hop. Quickly becoming a represented dancer of Go2Talent Agency, she found work dancing behind multiple artists across the US, Mexico and China. After experiencing the industry in LA, she wanted to embrace the travel aspect of her work and joined Princess Cruises. She began a near decade of dancing in shows under the direction of Steven Schwartz, Danny Teeson, Liz Imperio, and Eden Shabanti.  

During the pandemic, she moved home and began performing with different entertainment companies throughout Charleston. She began coaching gymnastics and movement to athletes between the ages of 3 and 18 years old and she fell in love with teaching. Over the past 3 years she has continued growing within this new passion.

Tori is excited to bring her knowledge and enthusiasm to The Dance Atelier. She cannot wait to coach the next generation of performers!

Audrey Lanning

Junior Lyrical

Lyrical Dance Class

Born and raised in North Carolina, Audrey Lanning discovered her passion for dance at the young age of three. By the time she was seven, she had embarked on a competitive dance journey that spanned over a decade, training extensively in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, and tumble at Lake Norman Dance Gallery.

In 2015, Audrey moved to Charleston, South Carolina, to pursue a double major in Business and Dance at the College of Charleston. Throughout her time at the university, she was an integral part of various performances, both as a choreographer and performer.

In 2018, Audrey had the opportunity to collaborate with Annex Dance Company, performing in Origin at the prestigious Piccolo Spoleto Festival, showcasing her versatility in modern dance.

Beyond performance, Audrey has a strong passion for choreography, creating original works for both collegiate productions and competitive dancers at Anne Marie’s Academy of Dance. Her work was recognized at the League of Champions regional competition, where she received the Choreography Award.

Her dedication and excellence in dance earned her multiple accolades, including the Dean’s Excellence Award, Recognizing distinguished performance in Theatre and Dance and the School of the Arts Scholar, honoring top graduates for scholastic excellence in Theatre and Dance

Since graduating, Audrey has been actively involved in Charleston's business world while staying connected to the dance community. She is also a Certified Yoga Instructor (RYT 200), further expanding her movement and body awareness expertise.

Audrey’s lifelong commitment to dance, choreography, and artistic expression continues to shape her journey, inspiring those around her through both movement and mentorship. Audrey is excited to share her knowledge with the students of The Dance Atelier.

Colleen Baehr

My Adult and Me + Ballet Substitute

Born in Connecticut, Colleen Baehr discovered her love for dance at an early age. She began her training in ballet in 1998 and made her stage debut at just three years old as "the small mouse" in a local production of The Nutcracker. Over the years, she expanded her repertoire to include modern, jazz, and various other dance styles, ultimately earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a concentration in Jazz Dance from Point Park University.


After graduating, Colleen embarked on an exciting professional career that took her around the globe. She spent four years performing worldwide with Holland America Line and RWS Entertainment Group, based in New York City, where she had the opportunity to also serve as a Featured Dancer, Hair and Makeup Supervisor, and Dance Captain.


Since relocating to Charleston following the pandemic, Colleen has built an impressive array of credits, including dancing in multiple shows for a Minneapolis theme park, touring the country with Do Portugal International Circus as a dancer and featured aerialist, and appearing as a dancer on HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones. Currently, she performs with Elevate, the premier event entertainment company of North and South Carolina, as a dancer, aerialist, and choreographer in addition to being the company's Entertainment Assistant.


Colleen is passionate about sharing her love of dance and her extensive experience with the next generation of performers. As an instructor at The Dance Atelier, she is thrilled to inspire and nurture her students, fostering both technical skill and artistic expression in the classroom.