Founder & Artistic Director
Gabrielle Celeste
Ballet, Contemporary, Tap, Creator of The Christmas Angel Ballet and Director of Nova Ballet Theatre
Gabrielle Celeste, a Columbia native, has an extensive local and international training background. At a very young age she found her calling in choreography and at fifteen she established her company, Celestial Stars. Her innovative Ballet’s are accentuated by other various dance styles creating moving and powerful works; such as her original, full length Ballet, “The Christmas Angel"©, which debuted in 2001. Gabrielle was very determined to break the mold of most studios and create an atmosphere of professionalism that is balanced with ethical guidelines. All of her students are taught equally the Vaganova Ballet technique, and she also means to bring out the best of each individual as a person.
At age 4 Gabrielle performed for Rasia Struckova, Principal Ballerina of the Bolshoi Ballet. Rasia said of Gabrielle - "I have only seen one other child more talented than her, and that was me."
Gabrielle began her training with Wrenn Cook of Wrenn Cook and friends at age 3. The same year she started ballet with William Starett and Marie-Claire Miranda of Columbia City Ballet. At age six she studied intensively under Ann Brodie until Ms. Brodie's passing seven years later. While she was at Calvert-Brodie she also was taught by Debbie Spivey (Ballet), Maura Gable Moore (tap), and Linda Busby (jazz). The next few years she trained with Donna Lewis Director of the Eboni Dance Theater, Stanislav Issaev, as well as Kris Cangelosi (contemporary) at USC. Gabrielle performed in countless productions while dancing with Columbia City Ballet, The Carolina Ballet, Footnotes, Eboni Dance Theater, and the USC Dance Company. Gabrielle has also had the opportunity of training at different summer programs including: classes with the Queensland Ballet Company, Australia; Jazz Dance World Congress, Chicago; The Princeton Ballet, NJ; and multiple summers at the USC Summer Intensive. Gabrielle met her dance partner and husband, Gene Reed in 2006, while studying Argentine Tango. Together they have two beautiful daughters, Genevieve Starr and Seraphina Lang-tai, Gabriel Justus and their newest addition, Noble Blaise .
Ballet, Contemporary, Tap, Creator of The Christmas Angel Ballet and Director of Nova Ballet Theatre
Gabrielle Celeste, a Columbia native, has an extensive local and international training background. At a very young age she found her calling in choreography and at fifteen she established her company, Celestial Stars. Her innovative Ballet’s are accentuated by other various dance styles creating moving and powerful works; such as her original, full length Ballet, “The Christmas Angel"©, which debuted in 2001. Gabrielle was very determined to break the mold of most studios and create an atmosphere of professionalism that is balanced with ethical guidelines. All of her students are taught equally the Vaganova Ballet technique, and she also means to bring out the best of each individual as a person.
At age 4 Gabrielle performed for Rasia Struckova, Principal Ballerina of the Bolshoi Ballet. Rasia said of Gabrielle - "I have only seen one other child more talented than her, and that was me."
Gabrielle began her training with Wrenn Cook of Wrenn Cook and friends at age 3. The same year she started ballet with William Starett and Marie-Claire Miranda of Columbia City Ballet. At age six she studied intensively under Ann Brodie until Ms. Brodie's passing seven years later. While she was at Calvert-Brodie she also was taught by Debbie Spivey (Ballet), Maura Gable Moore (tap), and Linda Busby (jazz). The next few years she trained with Donna Lewis Director of the Eboni Dance Theater, Stanislav Issaev, as well as Kris Cangelosi (contemporary) at USC. Gabrielle performed in countless productions while dancing with Columbia City Ballet, The Carolina Ballet, Footnotes, Eboni Dance Theater, and the USC Dance Company. Gabrielle has also had the opportunity of training at different summer programs including: classes with the Queensland Ballet Company, Australia; Jazz Dance World Congress, Chicago; The Princeton Ballet, NJ; and multiple summers at the USC Summer Intensive. Gabrielle met her dance partner and husband, Gene Reed in 2006, while studying Argentine Tango. Together they have two beautiful daughters, Genevieve Starr and Seraphina Lang-tai, Gabriel Justus and their newest addition, Noble Blaise .
Artistic Staff
Nyna Dalbec
Ballet
Nyna has been teaching and choreographing throughout South Carolina for 20 years. Her training includes Columbia Ballet School, Ann Brodie's Carolina Ballet, South Carolina Governor School for the Arts (first a student and later returning as an assistant to the dance department), Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, David Howard Dance Center in New York City, Steps on Broadway in NYC, and the USC Dance Department of Theatre and Dance in Columbia, SC. She has performed regionally as a dancer and actress. She has been on the boards of, and consulting artist to, fledgling dance and live-arts performance groups. Nyna's greatest love is her children: Ian and Simon. In her spare time, she writes and sketches (though rarely published), and does volunteer work for Carolina Peace Resource Center.
Ballet
Nyna has been teaching and choreographing throughout South Carolina for 20 years. Her training includes Columbia Ballet School, Ann Brodie's Carolina Ballet, South Carolina Governor School for the Arts (first a student and later returning as an assistant to the dance department), Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, David Howard Dance Center in New York City, Steps on Broadway in NYC, and the USC Dance Department of Theatre and Dance in Columbia, SC. She has performed regionally as a dancer and actress. She has been on the boards of, and consulting artist to, fledgling dance and live-arts performance groups. Nyna's greatest love is her children: Ian and Simon. In her spare time, she writes and sketches (though rarely published), and does volunteer work for Carolina Peace Resource Center.
Nicole Hamm
Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Creative Movement I & II, Pre-Ballet, Mommy& Me Nicole Hamm started dancing at the age of 3. She danced for 11 years at Miss Amy's Competitive Edge Company in Dickson, Tennessee with a focus in Hip-Hop and Jazz. In high school, she competed for 2 years and went to nationals with her team. During college, Nicole took improv, ballet, jazz, and contemporary at the University of South Carolina Department of Theatre and Dance. She just recently graduated from U of SC with an Education Specialist Degree in Counselor Education. Outside of dance, she is a school counselor at a local elementary school and a mental health therapist in a private practice. |
Nora Mader
Ballet, Contemporary Nora Mader is 24 years old and just graduated business school from the University of South Carolina. She is currently in her 22nd year of dance. Nora has spent the majority of her time at Celestial Stars dancing under the instruction of Mrs. Gabrielle Celeste and has in recent years had the additional opportunity to train under Mrs. Debbie Spivey, Mr. William Moore Jr., and Ms. Nyna Dalbec. Nora has been a teacher at Celestial Stars for the past 9 years, instructing both ballet and contemporary for levels I – V. |
Jessica Asel
Tap, Ballet Jessica has been dancing since she was 4 years old. She attended various studios in Las Vegas and Houston training in Ballet, jazz and tap. Jessica attended Texas State University were she earned her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Education. While at TXST, she studied Ballet and modern dance. Jessica was awarded a scholarship for her original student choreography IIluvia from her professors. Jessica is originally from Houston, Texas but moved to South Carolina in 2021 where she now lives with her husband Michael and their daughter Olivia. |
Assistants
Genevieve Starr
Genevieve Starr Reed, 14, is a 9th grade homeschooling student who has been dancing at Celestial Stars for 12 years under the tutelage of Gabrielle Celeste, Nicole Hamm, William Moore Jr., Nora Mader, Nyna Dalbec, and Debbie Spivey. She is honored to be an assistant to begin her apprenticeship in teaching.
Genevieve Starr Reed, 14, is a 9th grade homeschooling student who has been dancing at Celestial Stars for 12 years under the tutelage of Gabrielle Celeste, Nicole Hamm, William Moore Jr., Nora Mader, Nyna Dalbec, and Debbie Spivey. She is honored to be an assistant to begin her apprenticeship in teaching.
Local Resident Mentors
Blade Boulware
Blade Boulware, a native of Columbia, SC, is a professional pianist and composer. He studied ballet, contemporary, and tap at Celestial Stars for 10 years and now that he has returned to Columbia, he is dancing again. Together with Gabrielle, his sister, they have created two Ballets, "The Jewel Heart" and "Lights and Shadows". Although he is trained classically, Blade enjoys jamming and improvising with other musicians and friends. Blade is a graduate of Coker College.
Blade Boulware, a native of Columbia, SC, is a professional pianist and composer. He studied ballet, contemporary, and tap at Celestial Stars for 10 years and now that he has returned to Columbia, he is dancing again. Together with Gabrielle, his sister, they have created two Ballets, "The Jewel Heart" and "Lights and Shadows". Although he is trained classically, Blade enjoys jamming and improvising with other musicians and friends. Blade is a graduate of Coker College.
Headshots by Shutterbug Photography