MEET OUR TEAM

Shannon Haigler – Owner/Instructor

About Page for Shannon Bridges Haigler, owner and operator of Dance Explosion in Pageland, SC.

Shannon Bridges Haigler began dancing at age 3. She competed for 12 years in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop with Sullivan Dance Studio in Rock Hill, SC. She also cheered for 9 years in Richburg, SC, where the Lewisville High School varsity squad was named State Champions all four years. Shannon was named a UCA All Star and traveled to London, England to represent UCA in the New Year’s Day parade. While earning her degree in Psychology from the College of Charleston, Shannon danced with the Cougarettes for 4 years, 3 of which serving as Dance Captain. While in Charleston, she taught at Dance Explosion for 5 years and was also the team instructor for 2 years, leading them to many awards, as well as earning an instructor choreography award.

After the Air Force relocated her family to Guam, Shannon became the sole teacher for SKIP Entertainment, an elite studio where students would learn from guest choreographers from Los Angeles and then travel all over the world to compete with those routines. While in Guam, Shannon was also in charge of marketing for Costume Gallery Hollywood Competitions and SourceDance workshops, a competition/convention that travels through various parts of Australia and New Zealand.

When the Air Force took Shannon and her husband, Jon, to Altus, Oklahoma, Shannon found a new dance family at Studio One. She taught tap, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary there for 5 years. The last 3 years of teaching at Studio One, Shannon also worked with the Elite competition team, leading them to many awards, as well as earning another choreography award. While in Oklahoma, Shannon also completed her Master’s Degree in Psychology from Cameron University.

For their final Air Force move, Shannon, Jon, and their daughter, Lizzie, relocated to Sumter, SC, where Shannon obtained her LPC-I and began working as a licensed counselor. While in Sumter, she also taught dance at Miss Libby’s School of Dance for one year. After Jon retired from the Air Force, their family moved back to his hometown of Pageland, SC, where they currently reside. Shannon is ecstatic to own her own studio and cannot wait to pass on her love of dance to a new generation of dancers.

Serena Garcia – Instructor

Serena began dancing at age 4. She was a member of competition teams from age 5-18. She has been trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, musical theater, and pointe. She danced at Carolina Dance Company in Monroe, NC, which later became Be Famous Dance Center. Over the years, she has won numerous overall titles as well as national titles. Serena was able to perform at Disney Land in California and represented her studio in a production with the Young Americans.

After graduating from high school, Serena attended Charleston Southern University, where she earned a degree in Early Childhood Education. For her first 3 years of college, she was a member of the collegiate cheerleading team. Serena is a recent graduate and is currently a teacher in Lancaster County. Serena is excited to get back to what she loves: dance.

Meghan Estes – Instructor/Assistant

Meghan Black

Meghan began dancing at the young age of 3 and danced for a total of 16 years. 5 of those years, she danced with The Dance Company in ballet, jazz, and tap. For the other 11 years, she danced with Stepping Out School of Dance in point ballet, lyrical, and jazz. She is a 2014 Central High School graduate where she was a 4-year member of the cheerleading squad, 3 of those being varsity. In 2011, she competed for Miss South Carolina’s Outstanding Teen where she represented her hometown as Miss Pageland Teen. In 2012, she won the title of Miss Central High School teen and she went to compete for the state tittle Miss South Carolina’s Outstanding Teen for a 2^nd time.

Meghan has had a passion for animals and young children from a very young age. In her spare time, she enjoys hunting, fishing, doing DIY projects, and spending time with her friends and loved ones. Meghan is very excited to have the opportunity to share her love of dance with the students of Dance Explosion.