Meet our Staff

  Ballet Mistress

Rebecca Fleming has been teaching ballet at the Carolina Strut for over 20 years and serving as the Ballet Mistress for the past 15 years. She began dancing at the age of six and trained in the conservatory program of the Dancer's Workshop in Yuma, Arizona. She has performed with the Yuma Ballet Theatre, Westport Ballet Theater (Kansas City, MO) Carolina Strut, and TAMU Ballet Troupe (College Station, TX) but her favorite and most rewarding role has been that of teacher.
 
When not in the studio, you can find her traveling with her family, attending her children's soccer games and track meets, walking her dog, reading a book, or enjoying the outdoors.

Artistic Director

     A native of Morehead City, Katie Ball started dancing at the young age of 3 but it wasn’t until she started dancing with TCS that her love for dance flourished. Through her teens, The Carolina Strut Performing Arts Centre was her home away from home. During her years at TCS, she competed with the “Power Pack” competition team and was a finalist for Miss Teen Dance of North Carolina.
     During high school, her summers were spent training with the North Carolina Dance Theatre, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, The Rock School, Joffrey Ballet, NC Governors School & The American Ballet Theatre. The ballet technique & skills she learned studying at these schools laid down the framework for her success as a dancer.
     After high school, she continued her dance education at Meredith College (where she studied Interior Design, her second love!) & Appalachian State University (where she majored in International Business and Spanish). While working in the Finance industry after college, she continued to stay involved with the dance community by doing choreography and critique work for several studios locally and across the Raleigh area.
      After taking off to travel the world for a year in 2019, she finally moved back to Carteret County to be closer to family. We were so excited to welcome her back into The Carolina Strut family again in the Spring of 2022 and to now have her officially fill the role of Artistic Director at the start of the 2022/2023 season!
 
“I am extremely excited to be back at my home away from home and I can’t wait for many AWESOME seasons ahead! I feel very blessed to be working with such a loving & supportive group of young women and men and their families!” - Katie

Instructors

Allie McLeod's love of dance began at the young age of 3. Over the years, she has studied Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, and Musical Theater. During that time, she was a member of her studio's competition team, where she was able to compete in dance competitions and attended conventions throughout the East Coast. She attended Campbell University, where she obtained a bachelor's degree in Healthcare Management. All while continuing her dance education by enrolling in dance curriculum courses. She moved to the area after college and has been teaching at The Carolina Strut for the last three years.
 
Teaching her students and helping them find their love of dance is one of Allie’s greatest joys. She is excited for this upcoming season and looks forward to a fun and exciting year!

Lianda Lynk, a native of Carteret County, began dancing at The Carolina Strut at the age of 4 and continued to perform, compete, and assist. She also earned the opportunity to represent our state as a Carolina Dance Masters Protege’, and perform throughout North Carolina and beyond, including at the Dance Masters of America National Convention at the Marriott on Broadway in New York City.
Lianda also took master classes at STEPS on Broadway, performed Revelations with The Alvin Ailey summer intensive, and performed with The Joffrey Ballet summer intensive.
In addition to attending Teachers Training School at the University of Buffalo, she is a certified dance educator through Dance Masters of America, and a member of Carolina Dance Masters Chapter 15 organization. With more than 20 years of experience in teaching dance to children of all ages, and adults, in both recreational and competitive environments, Lianda has created award-winning choreography, and enjoys passing along her knowledge and expertise. She was a studio owner for 10 years and has taught at several other studios in the surrounding area. Lianda is excited to be back at her home studio and continue to share her passion for the art and education of dance!

Amber Welch is originally from North Eastern Pennsylvania. She has been a dancer for twelve years, with the last four at The Carolina Strut as a student and an assistant teacher. Currently, she is a student at Craven Community College pursuing Cosmetology. She has been trained in pointe, tap, contemporary, modern, jazz, lyrical, technique, classical ballet, and cheer dance. She is a lover of Broadway, musicals, and all things Disney. Amber is excited to work with the dancers of the future and be a part of their dance journey. She believes it is a true joy seeing the young dancers pursuing their dreams and passions for dance.