Dance

Matthew Kiel holds an MFA in Choreography from Jacksonville University, FL; a BA in Dance from Huntingdon College, AL; an AA in Vocal Performance from Northwest Shoals Community College, AL and is certified Ballroom Instructor.  He is currently the Director of Dance for Florence High School, Academic Leader for 7-12 Fine Arts, the artistic director of the Florence Academy of Fine Arts Dance Company, and Resident Choreographer for Eastern Shore Repertory Theater of Fairhope, AL.   

Matthew’s choreography has been featured all over the United States from Six Flags Theme Parks in New Orleans and New Jersey, to World Premiers in Atlanta and Sacramento, to New York City, and several state and national dance festivals.  Recently, Matthew choreographed “How to Train your Dragon” for Eastern Shore Repertory Theater presented in New York City’s Central Park. He has also produced and written four original contemporary concept shows for Florence Academy of Fine Arts Dance Company. His FAFA Dance Co. has gained national recognition and awards at the National High School Dance Festival over the past 3 years and FAFA Dance Company has been invited to perform at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival 4 times. He has choreographed six world premier shows for Musical Theatre International’s Junior Theatre Festival and has been nominated for two IAPPA awards for shows he co-wrote and choreographed for Six Flags Theme Parks. 

Performance wise, Matthew has danced in many venues on contracts across the US including the Paris Hotel and Casino and the Hilton Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV, The Kennedy Center, The Andy Williams Theater, Opryland Hotel, and the Gaylord Texan to name a few. While living in Los Angeles, Matthew was ranked the No.6 Ballroom Instructor in the world by Arthur Murray Dance Studios.

Chynna Boddie has been teaching dance at Florence Middle School since 2020. She has been teaching dance since the age of 16. She started dancing at the age of 6 at Laura’s Studio of Performing Arts. Ms Boddie is a native of the shoals area. Go Falcons!

Elisabeth Bendall joined the Florence Academy of Fine Arts Family in 2020 as one of our Hibbett Intermediate School Dance Teachers. After teaching there for five years she transferred to Florence Middle School where she currently teaches three dance classes. She started her dance career in 2002 at Applause Fine Arts School where she is now a teacher, assistant, and choreographer. Through her years of dance she has studied and taught ballet, pointe, tap, lyrical, and jazz. She danced competitively and attended national conventions winning numerous awards and scholarships for 6 years. Ms. Bendall is from Tuscumbia and is now a resident of Sheffield. She graduated from Deshler High School in 2016 and continued her education at The University of North Alabama graduating with a Bachelors of Arts and Sciences in Entertainment Industry in 2020.