Originally from Wilmington, North Carolina, Danie Johnson Turpin received her BFA in Dance performance from East Carolina University. While in college, Danie had the opportunity to work with guest artists such as Koresh Dance, Zalman Raffael, and Richard Smith. She spent her college years training from the Faculty of the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City while serving on their staff. Danie has danced professionally with Inaside Dance Chicago, Stewart Owen Dance, Cocodaco Dance Project, Moonwater Dance Project, Forward the Movement, and the Asheville Ballet. Through her professional career, she has performed at the National College Dance Festival at the Kennedy Center, the New York City Dance Gallery Festival, the Cleveland Dance Festival, the North Carolina Dance Festival, the Asheville Fringe Festival, and as a main stage company dancer at the Diana Wortham Theatre. In addition to her performance career, Danie has taught, choreographed, and coached for ages 3-23. She has served as the Head Cheer and Dance Coach for both Montreat College and UNC Asheville. Accompanying her experience teaching dance, Danie has taught Pure Barre for over half a decade, informing the way she instructs her students in the dance studio. Danie is also a dance competition judge and has worked for several competitions since 2017.She is beyond excited to return to her Wilmington roots and bring her knowledge and energy to the dancers at SEDA.