Faculty
Meet the owner: Megan curtis
My name is Megan Curtis and I am the Owner and Director of NXT LVL Dance Experience. I have been in the dance world my entire life. I have been a professional dancer for over 20 years now and wouldn't have it any other way! My husband Mike is also a dancer and performer with the group All That! I am the mother to two beautiful girls, Mia and Madilyn.
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It has been a dream of mine to open my own studio and in 2020, I did just that. NXT LVL Dance Experience has allowed me to continue teaching young dancers and introduce them to the most talented staff around.
I have studied all styles of dance and am happy to offer everything from Hip Hop to Ballet at the studio. NXT LVL has allowed me to continue to choreograph, something I have been doing over 15 years now. NXT LVL allows these dancers to explore varied styles of dance and instructors, giving them the best training money can buy. This studio is a space for dancers to explore and express themselves in a fun, safe and loving environment.
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The faculty at NXT LVL share my passion for dance, as well as helping to create a unique environment for dancer to develop and excel. See below for more information on these incredible instructors. We are grateful for the opportunity to welcome and work with your dancer. At NXT LVL Dance Experience we NEVER MISS A CHANCE TO DANCE!
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Our Instructors
Mike Curtis
Mike Curtis is one of the most recognizable names in the clogging world. Getting a late start at the age of 14, he never realized how far his talent might take him. The dance overwhelmed him from the very beginning and he would settle for nothing but the best. After years of hard work, he finally hit that big winning streak. For approximately 3 years, he was unbeaten in clogging competitions in the solo division, proving that hard work pays off. Since then, several other major awards have followed including several team titles and two National Championships in the Duo-Duet division. Once these accomplishments had been reached, he decided he still wanted more. He got together with three of his best friends, also prominent dancers in the clogging world, and they developed the performance group ALLTHAT! ALLTHAT! has stepped outside the clogging world into the mainstream and created a great deal of success for themselves. Their biggest performances include The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and being named semifinalists for an unprecedented 2nd time on NBC’s smash summer hit, America’s Got Talent. After all those accomplishments, Mike and the guys still weren’t satisfied. They have now stepped out into the corporate world and perform on a regular basis as Guest Entertainers for Disney and Celebrity Cruise Lines! Mike was diagnosed at an early age with TYPE 1 Diabetes. Though the disease continues to test him on a daily basis, he refuses to let it affect his career or define him as a person! The boys are constant performers at The Carolina Opry in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where the sky continues to be the limit!! Mike continues to teach and perform at venues all across the country in an effort to show his thanks to everyone for their support of himself and ALLTHAT!! Based in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Connor Britt-Tripp
Greetings! My name is Connor Britt-Tripp and as part of the NXT LVL faculty I teach Acro, Jazz, Tap, Leaps and Turns and work very closely with the NXT LVL Project Competition Team. I have been teaching and performing professionally since the age of 18. Growing up in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, I always knew professional dance was my career of choice. I danced competitively for 15 years, winning multiple 1st overall awards, titles, and judges choice awards. I am trained in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Acrobatics, Lyrical, Irish Step, and Hip-Hop. During my formative dance years, I was lucky enough to work and train under many world-renowned teachers and choreographers; such as Mary-Anne Lamb, Aaron Burr, Ayodele Casel, Melissa ”MJ” Jackson, Lauren Froderman, Mark Kanumara, and many more. Some of my professional credits for dance and circus include Dolly Parton’s Pirates Voyage, The Alabama Theatre(Jean Whittaker), and I most recently worked for RWS (Jesse Rob) on MSC Cruises as a dancer and aerialist. I am so grateful to be part of the NXT LVL Dance Experience family and I truly love getting to call this studio home!
Mollie Cason
A seventh generation Texan, Mollie began dancing at an early age and has trained and performed across the United States with Houston Ballet, Orlando Ballet, The School of American Ballet in New York City and numerous other entertainment productions. Honored with many national awards and scholarships in all dance styles, Mollie is excited to have the opportunity to come home to Myrtle Beach and perform at The Carolina Opry Theater, and get to teach aspiring young dancers at NXT LVL Dance Experience!
Taryn Martin
Taryn has been a teacher here since the doors have opened! She teaches tumbling, contemporary/lyrical, core company, privates and NLP intensive classes. She was locally born and raised in South Carolina. As a young dancer, she competed worldwide to receive outstanding dancer awards and top scoring solos nationally ranked. To expand her training, she studied with Royal Ballet to receive her certification through Solo Seal. Each summer she attended intensives at American Academy of Ballet and NYCDA Summer Intensive in New York. At the age of 12 and 13 she was casted as Clara for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in Nashville, TN. She recently traveled with Royal Caribbean Cruise lines for the past 5 years as a dancer/aerialist; Serenade, Freedom, and Voyager of the Seas. She has performed with Legends in Concert, The Carolina Opry, and Le Grande Cirque as dance captain. To reach further into the dance community she began to judge regional competitions. Coming back home, she is now back at The Carolina Opry nightly. Teaching at NXL Experience has been a new endeavor for her and such a blessing. She believes each student is unique and has their own story to be told.
Watching them grow and become into their own is the biggest accomplishment.
@tarynemartin
Christopher Robbins
I am Christopher Robbins and I teach a wide variety of genres at NXT LVL. I have been in the entertainment industry for over 27 years and have worked with multiple entertainment gurus such as Donny & Jimmy Osmond, Darius Rucker, and Justin Timberlake; just to name a few. Not only have I worked with many well-known people, I have also worked with a number of major companies like Opryland Productions, Gaylord Productions, Walt Disney World productions, etc. With multiple experiences under my belt, I have the privilege to be an adjunct college professor in Theatre & Dance department at College of Charleston and pass on my knowledge to college students. I privately train student across the U.S. at studios using specialized Kinesiology & WSI Licensed coaching with body alignment, conditioning, strength, stretch, across the floor, and combo. I am also Co-owner/Artistic Director of Integrity Talent project (www.integritytalentproject.org). With everything I have learned throughout my involvements, I am proud that I can bring that knowledge right here to the students at NXT LVL Dance Expierence.
Alex Barber
Alex Barber, raised in Myrtle Beach South Carolina started dancing at an early age at a local studio. Alex has had the pleasure of working with Megan Curtis for 15 years, in which took a huge part in training her into the dancer she is today. Winning many regional and national awards through New York City Dance Alliance, Hollywood Vibe, K.A.R. Here at NXT LVL Dance Experience Alex teaches our little level tumbling! She has had the pleasure to be apart of the Nxt Lvl family for her first season in 2022. As Alex has had many opportunities for Myrtle Beach Productions, she is currently dancing professionally at The Carolina Opry Theater since 2018.
Linelle Settelen-Yates
My name is Linelle Settelen-Yates, or better known as “Miss Nelle” to my dance students. My dance training started at age three in my home state of Iowa. I majored in dance at the University of Iowa and Colorado College. After a few years in New York City training in various genres, I settled in South Carolina. While maintaining my own studio, The Gilbert Studio of Dance Arts, I led my students to compete in National competitions and received awards for choreography and experienced outstanding growth in my dance career. During this time I also remained on the faculty of The Southern Strutt for 20 years. It has been a passion to support the arts, and energetically served on the Board of Dance at the University of South Carolina. I moved to Pawleys Island in 2014 to teach at the Litchfield Dance Arts Academy. My main focus has been on the younger students and am honored to have been the “first dance teacher” for hundreds of children.
This is my first year at NXT Lvl and I have enjoyed teaching ballet and combination classes. It is pure joy to see old and new students progress in their technique but more importantly to see them fall in love with the art of dance. My husbund, David, and I have raised three children and have six grandsons.
Claire McCaa
Hi, my name is Claire McCaa and I teach ballet at NXT LVL Dance Experience. I grew up in Delaware and attended some of the most prestigious classical ballet schools in the country including the School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and The North Carolina School of the Arts. Upon graduation from NCSA's high school program, I joined Columbia City Ballet in 2003. During my time with Columbia City Ballet, I was best known for my awareness of the entire production and willingness to step in wherever needed. I danced the full array of roles - from Rats in the Nutcracker all the way to Snow Queen and Sugarplum Fairy. Some of my favorites include : Fairy Godmother and Cinderella - Cinderella; the title role in William Starrett's Snow White; Titania - A Midsummer Night's Dream; and Wendy - Peter Pan. I love sharing my joy and knowledge of classical ballet and reminding my students that ballet is fun but also necessary to take their dancing to the NXT LVL. I live in Socastee with my husband, local musician, Josh McCaa and two sons Hunter and Jacob.
Abby Lackey
Hey NXT LVL families and newcomers, my name is Abby Lackey. I have been dancing since I was three years old and my passion for dance is still very much alive. I have been in competitive dance since 3rd grade in New York. Thankfully, I was introduced to NXT LVL during my senior year of high school as our family made the move from NY to SC. I have experienced NXT LVL both as a student and now as an instructor. I am currently attending Coastal Carolina University seeking a major in Communications with a double minor in Film and Theatre. I look forward to using my experience both on and off the dance floor to help the young dancers here at NXT LVL.
Erica Pike
Erica Pike received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. Before that she was involved in multiple ballet intensives with the Dance Theater of Harlem. Erica began her professional career at the age of 16 dancing with the Alexandria Ballet. During college she danced professionally with The Latin Ballet of Virginia as well as taught dance classes. Erica continued her professional career after college dancing with Princess Cruises for several years where met her husband Nick Pike, also an entertainer. They moved to Myrtle Beach where she began dancing at The Carolina Opry, until she had her daughter Izzy. She enjoys working with and providing choreography for Pied Piper Youth Theater South. Erica was also Choreographer/Director for Myrtle Beach’s Le Grand Cirque at the Broadway Theater. She has been teaching all types of dance for over 25 years now and finds such joy in watching young dancers learn and grow.
Morgan Britt-Tripp
My name is Morgan Britt Tripp and I am ecstatic to have recently joined the Nxt Lvl family as the Lvl 1 jazz and hip hop teacher! I danced competitively for 15 years, while training in styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical, and pom. I am a four year former member of the Coastal Carolina Dance Team, performing at various Division One sporting events and local community events. As part of the Coastal Carolina Dance Team, I have also performed on ESPN Game Day and danced at the Cure Bowl and Birmingham Bowl. I graduated from Coastal Carolina in 2023 with an Interdisciplinary Studies degree of Animal Science. I am also lucky to be a part of the backstage management team for Fusion National Dance Competition. Teaching at Nxt Lvl has been such a special opportunity for me, I adore watching these students learn and grow as dancers!
