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DeLoris  “Dee” Davis

DeLoris also known as the "ATL Connection" or "crunkographer" in the 90s and early 2000 simply because she was the known choreographer for many artists in Atlanta and surrounding areas. Ms. D's love for dance started at Miss Marion's School of Dance and Ms. Gerri’s Dance Ensemble in the disciplines of Ballet, Jazz and Modern Dance. She started choreographing inner-city dance routines at the age of fourteen with a group she started at the local recreation center they performed for local events and won numerous talent shows. Her love for dance prompted her to contact Mrs. Richie guidance counselor at Spartanburg High School to start a dance team, however, due to her dance training schedule she was not able to participate until her senior year. She then became co choreographer for SHS Express. But her love for the performing arts blossomed at Voorhees College while performing in the Dance Guild and Dr. King Davis Godwin theatrical dance and the SCSU Henderson Davis Players. During this time she studied many disciplines of dance including "Locking" under the direction of the late Fred Berry (Rerun) and "Electric Boogaloo" also Nacho Pop. Attending a Buddha Stretch intensive at South Eastern Univ.  her love for hip hop, street, or urban dancing was reintroduced . Donald McKayle modern dance and dance production with Mabel Wynn, one of Clemson's first African American faculty members honed her modern dance skills. After college graduation she returned home and started many modern, lyrical, jazz and urban dance companies: Mahogany Dancers, Charisma and the all-boys group Smooth Sensation. Under her direction Smooth Sensation performed for many Hip Hop festivals and opened for many groups including Outkast / Dungeon Family, P Diddy and Family, Wu Tang, and 2 Live Crew to name a few. They also were featured on Steve Harvey's Showtime at the Apollo Kids. Smooth Sensation later recorded their own cd with videos featured on BET. Dee taught summer Cultural Themed Dance workshops for Spartanburg County school district six gifted arts program. She choreographed and directed the Junior Miss Black Spartanburg Pageant 1998 – 2010. As assistant director of T. K. Gregg Recreation Center she taught dance, fitness and etiquette programs to participants. Summer dance instructor for SCSU Star Program, An Evening of Talent Expression dance consultant and judge, Clemson University 4H Performing Arts Programs dance instructor and choreographer are additional missions. Ms. D is a certified Master Teacher through APA. In 2016 the Institute of Dance and Fitness was created. She teaches dance teacher certification classes to IDF (Institute of Dance and Fitness) students. DeLoris is the former Head Administrator at Christ Church Prep School she is presently the executive director at the Cush Ministries 99 Youth Development, Youth and Family Service ( 501 c 3) nonprofit organization.. As lead vocalist for many bands Dee can be seen on the festival circuit, as well.