Explore Our Legacy and the Passionate Team That Leads It
Inspiring Students for Over
30 Years
Tradition. Precision. Grace.
At Tamalyn’s Dance Centre, our instructors bring passion, professionalism, and years of experience to every class. Each member of our team has honed their craft through formal training and a lifelong dedication to their discipline.
Our dance faculty includes former students and seasoned performers from the Orangeburg Civic Ballet; artists who understand the studio’s legacy and are committed to inspiring the next generation. Our martial arts and yoga instructor brings over 40 years of martial arts experience, more than 30 years of teaching, and nearly two decades of yoga training to the studio, creating a well-rounded and enriching environment for all students.
Meet The Team!
Tamalyn Blackman
Owner and Founder - Ballet
Tamalyn Blackman is a native of North Charleston, SC, and graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts degree from the College of Charleston. After relocating to Elloree as a newlywed, Tamalyn began teaching dance in Orangeburg through the Parks and Recreation Department in August of 1986. Ten years later, she and her husband, Lee Blackman Jr., built Tamalyn's Dance Centre which is in its twenty sixth year of operation. She founded the Orangeburg Civic Ballet, Inc. in 1993 as a non-profit, totally volunteer, community dance company. OCB is still going strong and continues to cal Tamalyn's Dance Centre its home.
Tamalyn started her formal training with the Charleston Ballet School, becoming a member of the Charleston Ballet Company at age eleven. She then trained at the Charleston Dance Studio becoming a founding member with the Robert Ivey Ballet where she earned the title of Principal Dancer. During this time, several pieces were choreographed specifically for her. Tamalyn has also studied ballet in New York, Seattle, Atlanta, and Augusta with such teachers as Robert Joffrey, Gus Giordano, Melissa Hayden, Edward Villella, Suzanne Farrell, and Valentina Kozlova. She has performed at the World's Fair; in Spoleto for both operas and ballet; with the Charleston Opera Company in West Side Story, Cabaret, and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum to name a few; and with the Orangeburg Part Time Players as a performer and choreographer. While building her business, Tamalyn taught dance and aerobics in Charleston, Walterboro, Estill, Santee, Elloree, and Holly Hill. Tamalyn's Dance Centre is proud to have been the on-site school at Mellichamp Elementary School.
Tamalyn and Lee reside in Elloree.
Allison Bates
Instructor - Tap
Allison Bates began her dance training with Tamalyn Blackman at Tamalyn's Dance Centre in 1999. Throughout her years dancing at TDC, Allison had the privilege of dancing and performing with the Orangeburg Civic Ballet in numerous performances such as The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, and Coppélia to name a few. Allison also traveled with the OCB to perform in places such as Piccolo Spoleto, the North Charleston Arts Festival, and Amazing Feets. Allison began teaching dance at Tamalyn's Dance Centre in 2007, and that experience led her to seek a degree in Dance Education at Winthrop University, where she studied under teachers such as Stephanie Milling, Margaret Schriffin, Mary Beth Young, and Bethany Tuffy.
During her studies at Winthrop, Allison performed and choreographed in numerous shows such as Winthrop Dance Theatre, the Winthrop University Choreography Showcase, and the Rock Hill Rockettes Upon graduation, Allison returned to the Orangeburg Civic Ballet as an assistant director in 2011, and then took on the role of Artistic Director in 2013. She has helped create and direct performances such as Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, The Wizard of Oz, and Alice Allison has also had the opportunity to teach and choreograph at local dance events such as the Orangeburg Arts Consortium and the Orangeburg chapter of the National Liturgical Dance Association Convention. Allison resides in Orangeburg, SC with her husband, Dustin, and their sons, Noah and Levi and daughter, Eliza.
Shannon Williams
Instructor - Ballet, Tap, Contemporary
Shannon Williams has danced since age 3 in many various styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop to name a few. She has not only taken lessons from Tamalyn’s Dance Centre since the age of five but has since taught various classes at the Dance Centre as well. She was a member of the Orangeburg Civic Ballet for twelve years before becoming an assistant director. Growing up, Shannon had the opportunity to perform in many area productions, such as the Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty ballets, and she also performed in area festivals such as Piccolo Spoleto, Amazing Feets, and the Festival of Roses. Throughout her college career Shannon had the opportunity to study with many master teachers and observe other dance teachers in area schools across the midlands.
She graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Dance Education in 2016 and was a dance teacher at Meadow Glen Middle School for the 2016-2017 school year. Dance has always been in Shannon’s life and she looks forward to sharing her experience, knowledge, and joy for dance with her students.
Mikayla Rider
Instructor - Acrobatic Dance, Hip-Hop, Jazz
Mikayla Rider was born in Columbia SC, and currently resides in Orangeburg. She trained at Tamalyn’s Dance Centre in the following genres - ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, acrobatics, and tap for over 14 years. While there, she was a member of the Orangeburg Civic Ballet for 9 years. During most of her years in OCB, she was chosen to be a principal dancer. She has performed in numerous productions, earning lead roles in productions such as The Nutcracker, Frozen, Peter Pan, and An American Girl’s Story. She is now on the artistic staff for the Orangeburg Civic Ballet.
Although a recent alumni of the studio, she has already gone on to receive both level 1 and 2 Acro certifications, and has taken various professional development intensives around the state. In the past, Mikayla has taught at Studio Z in Hampton, SC and at Southern Unlimited Dance Company in Beaufort SC. Mikayla plans to continue to grow her teaching career, while continuing her training in dance. She strives to help her students to be the best dancer they can possibly be, by encouraging them to grow more in their art form everyday.
John Bates
Instructor - Martial Arts, Yoga
John Bates has been studying martial arts for over 40 years and has been teaching for more than 30 years. He has a 5th-degree black belt in Goshin Budo Karate and a 6th-degree black belt in Koga Ryu Ninjutsu and the Akeru System of Martial Sciences. In addition to these primary arts, he has studied systems from around the world such as FMA Escrima, Japanese jujutsu, and Kobudo. As a compliment to Martial arts and other fitness skills, John has been training in yoga for 19 years. He became a certified yoga instructor 10 years ago. He is committed to helping his yoga students find what they need in each class.
CLASSES AT TDC
A Well-Rounded Approach to Movement and Growth
At Tamalyn’s Dance Centre, we offer a diverse range of classes designed to support each student’s unique journey—whether they’re dancing across the stage, building strength through martial arts, or finding balance on the yoga mat. From early childhood programs like Twinkle Toes to adult tap and hip hop, our classes are structured to nurture confidence, discipline, creativity, and joy at every level. With expert instruction in dance, acrobatic arts, martial arts, and yoga, students are empowered to grow in both skill and self-expression.
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Studio Information
What to Know Before You Step Inside
To help every student succeed, we’ve created clear studio guidelines that support a safe, respectful, and organized learning environment. From dress code to class etiquette, we encourage all families to review our policies before joining us in the studio.
We also have downloadable schedules and forms below. The registration form for martial arts and yoga can be found here.
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Moments That Move Us