Our Artistic Director: Ms. Rita McIver
My Bio
Ms. Rita McIver is a native of Sanford, NC, for the past 10 years, resided in Clinton, NC and now a resident of Fayetteville NC. Ms. Rita has two beautiful daughters; Egypt Matthews and Atirra McIver. She is a new studio owner of Rita’s Dream Maker Dance Studio, LLC, which was established in April 2017. She is also a graduate from American InterContinental University with an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration as of March 2017. As a member of Carolina Dance Masters of America; I am now officially a Board Member for Chapter #15 as a Co-Director/Advisor for our Jr. Members.
She has had over 20 years of dance training in many areas of dance including: Acrobatics, African Dance, Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Pointe and Tap. Several of these dance genres were taught under the instruction of Tori Melby, Betty Newell and Barbara Clark at Dancers Workshop in her hometown Sanford, NC. Ms. Rita is nationally certified in Tap/Acrobatics with Carolina Dance Masters of America under Chapter #15. Under this organization, she has held two chapter titles as; Junior Miss Dance of NC 1992-1993 and Miss Dance of NC 1996-1997. She has also held the titles as; Majestic Miss Sanford (first African American to ever hold this title in the year of 1995, Overall and 3rd Runner up for Teen Miss North Carolina, Top soloist for National Competition at Myrtle Beach as “Miss Superstar”. She has studied under many dance “greats” including: Al Gilbert of Hollywood California, Bob Rizzo, Charles Kelly, Debbie Dee, Frank Hatchett, Gene Medler, Shelia Barker, Judy Bassing and Karen Abare from The Broadway Dance Center in New York City.
She has choreographed for many youth programs in the Baltimore Metropolitan Areas: Milford Mill Marching Band, Herring Run Recreation Center, Ella Bailey Recreation Center, Flair Dance and Modeling Studio and HDDC Music and Art Ministry. Ms. Rita McIver has also been the Assistant Director to the stage play “Teacher’s Lounge” in Baltimore Maryland. She has assisted in the play production and choreography for Cats and Mary Poppins for Sampson Community Theatre both under the direction of Mrs. Linda Jewel Carr. She has judged pageants in Clinton, NC: Miss Hobbton Middle School Pageant, Miss Greater Sampson County, (choreographed Miss SMS Pageant). Ms. Rita also, choreographed the SMS Junior Beta Club Talent, winning 1st in Regional 2015 and 1st and 5th overall at State 2015. SMS Junior Beta Club Talent, winning 1st in Regional 2016 as well. In 2017, Jr. Beta group Talent also was included in the Top 5 for regionals. Ms. Rita has also worked along with Ms. Tasha Bethea (writer and director) native of Sanford, NC with her stage plays of The Encounter and Black 365 (Black History Month Plays). She is passionate about her craft and dancers.
Ms. Rita McIver is a native of Sanford, NC, for the past 10 years, resided in Clinton, NC and now a resident of Fayetteville NC. Ms. Rita has two beautiful daughters; Egypt Matthews and Atirra McIver. She is a new studio owner of Rita’s Dream Maker Dance Studio, LLC, which was established in April 2017. She is also a graduate from American InterContinental University with an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration as of March 2017. As a member of Carolina Dance Masters of America; I am now officially a Board Member for Chapter #15 as a Co-Director/Advisor for our Jr. Members.
She has had over 20 years of dance training in many areas of dance including: Acrobatics, African Dance, Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Pointe and Tap. Several of these dance genres were taught under the instruction of Tori Melby, Betty Newell and Barbara Clark at Dancers Workshop in her hometown Sanford, NC. Ms. Rita is nationally certified in Tap/Acrobatics with Carolina Dance Masters of America under Chapter #15. Under this organization, she has held two chapter titles as; Junior Miss Dance of NC 1992-1993 and Miss Dance of NC 1996-1997. She has also held the titles as; Majestic Miss Sanford (first African American to ever hold this title in the year of 1995, Overall and 3rd Runner up for Teen Miss North Carolina, Top soloist for National Competition at Myrtle Beach as “Miss Superstar”. She has studied under many dance “greats” including: Al Gilbert of Hollywood California, Bob Rizzo, Charles Kelly, Debbie Dee, Frank Hatchett, Gene Medler, Shelia Barker, Judy Bassing and Karen Abare from The Broadway Dance Center in New York City.
She has choreographed for many youth programs in the Baltimore Metropolitan Areas: Milford Mill Marching Band, Herring Run Recreation Center, Ella Bailey Recreation Center, Flair Dance and Modeling Studio and HDDC Music and Art Ministry. Ms. Rita McIver has also been the Assistant Director to the stage play “Teacher’s Lounge” in Baltimore Maryland. She has assisted in the play production and choreography for Cats and Mary Poppins for Sampson Community Theatre both under the direction of Mrs. Linda Jewel Carr. She has judged pageants in Clinton, NC: Miss Hobbton Middle School Pageant, Miss Greater Sampson County, (choreographed Miss SMS Pageant). Ms. Rita also, choreographed the SMS Junior Beta Club Talent, winning 1st in Regional 2015 and 1st and 5th overall at State 2015. SMS Junior Beta Club Talent, winning 1st in Regional 2016 as well. In 2017, Jr. Beta group Talent also was included in the Top 5 for regionals. Ms. Rita has also worked along with Ms. Tasha Bethea (writer and director) native of Sanford, NC with her stage plays of The Encounter and Black 365 (Black History Month Plays). She is passionate about her craft and dancers.
