MICHAEL MCMANUS

Michael McManus was born and raised in Bennettsville, South Carolina. He received his training at Crystal McInnis School of Dance in Laurinburg, NC. Michael graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor's degree in history and a minor in dance. As a student, Michael received training from Thaddeus Davis, Dale Lam, and Susan Hancock. Michael also had the opportunity to perform at the American College Dance Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. His self-choreographed piece Recrudescence earned him recognition from the university faculty and he was also selected to perform in the American College Dance Festival regional event.

Michael currently serves as the Company Director at Mrs. Jenkins Dance Academy in Columbia, SC, where he is based. He also takes every opportunity to guest choreograph at studios throughout the Southeast. Recently, Michael was fortunate enough to be a mentor and guest teacher at the University of South Carolina Summer Dance Conservatory, where he fostered the growth of over 100 children and had the opportunity to partner with Artists for Africa in training 11 dancers from Nairobi Kenya.

Michael also toured with the Wideman-Davis Dance Company, debuting “Migratuse Ataraxia” in Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama.  Michael is a company member and choreographer with Unbound, a professional dance company under the direction of Caroline Lewis Jones and Morgan Holton in Columbia, SC. In addition to his work with Unbound, Michael was a guest performer with Salt Lake-based company Divinity under the direction of Krissie Edwards and Nikole Black.