Brianna Taylor-Kelly
Artistic Director | Founder

Mrs. Taylor Kelly is a professional ballerina of 12 years, and ballroom dancing and Shag extraordinaire. A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Mrs. Taylor Kelly embarked on her ballet journey at the tender age of three. Under the mentorship of renowned artistic director Radenko Pavlovich, she honed her craft, further studying with distinguished instructors such as Stanislav Issaev and Natalya Revich from the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy, where Mrs. Taylor Kelly emerged as a performance soloist. She continued her training at the American Ballet Theatre.

In addition to her strong ballet background, Mrs, Taylor Kelly expanded her repertoire by studying Musical Theatre and Tap under Dedra Daniels-Mount at the Broadway Bound Musical Theatre Company, where she expanded her role from dancer to Ballet Mistress and Tap and Shag Instructor. During her tenure with Broadway Bound's competitive team, she earned numerous overall Diamond and Platinum awards, including the prestigious Triple Threat title, recognizing her excellence in singing, dancing, and acting. Notably, she portrayed Bombalurina in the 2019 Vista Theatre Project's production of Cats. Mrs. Taylor Kelly’s expertise extends into contemporary dance, where she trained under Terrance Henderson and served as a guest artist with the Vibrations contemporary dance company.

Additionally, she was a dedicated member and team captain of the Junior Shag Dance Team, which won the title of 2019 U.S. Open Champions and won the 2019 French Open Swing Dance Championship in Paris, France. In the Pro-Am Division, Mrs. Taylor Kelly and her partner Brennar Goree achieved gold medal status, solidifying her reputation as national and international shag and swing dance champion. A gifted choreographer as well, many of Mrs. Taylor Kelly's pieces have garnered top honors at regional and national competitions.

She has an impressive performance history of twelve seasons as an artist and Principal Dancer with Columbia Classical Ballet, where she worked under the direction of esteemed Artistic Directors Radenko Pavlovich and Brooklyn Mack. Her repertoire includes notable roles such as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, the Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, Myrtha in Giselle, Nikiya in La Bayadere, Medora and Gulnare in Le Corsaire, and numerous others, including featured roles in contemporary works like Osmos, choreographed by Andile Ndlovu.

Through her studio, Palmetto Conservatory of Dance (PCD), Mrs. Taylor Kelly has directed many full-length ballets, such as Cinderella, The Wizard of Oz, and Aladdin. In partnership with Resident Choreographer Simone Cuttino, PCD has staged numerous ballets that showcased her students dancing alongside professional guest artists from all over the world. PCD has provided these students with the unique opportunity not only to perform but work with and be mentored by notable professionals in the industry. A passionate advocate for dance education, Mrs. Taylor Kelly is committed to nurturing the next generation of dancers by instilling technical skills, perseverance, artistry, and creativity within a nurturing and supportive environment. Her profound love for dance, children, and her community inspired her to establish the Taylor Foundation for the Arts—a non-profit organization dedicated to dance education and outreach. Mrs. Taylor Kelly is dedicated to blending her artistry with her desire to serve and elevate her community through the transformative power of dance.

Simone Cuttino

Resident Choreographer

Mrs. Cuttino, originally from Koblenz, Germany, studied ballet at both the Acadamie of Dance in Cologne, Germany, and the John Cranko Ballet School in Stuttgart. She studied under the tutelage of Ursula Bormann and Peter Vondruszka.

Over the course of her dancing career, Mrs. Cuttino has performed well over 1,000 classical and modern ballets, including Romeo & Juliet, Midsummer Night's Dream, Giselle, The Three Musketeers, Rite of Spring, and The Gershwins. Some of her favorite solo roles include Warenka in Anna Karenina, Venus in Primavera, amd the lead in Carmina Burana.

Mrs. Cuttino performed with Columbia Classical Ballet in The King and I, LifeChance 2000, and Madame Butterfly. As the Director of the Ballet Department at Stepping Out Studio, her choreographies have won many gold and platinum awards.

She has and continues to choreograph many pieces for Palmetto Ballet Theatre and Palmetto Conservatory of Dance. Her choreographies have included pieces such as Nutcracker, Oz, Bolero, Tango, Under the New Moon - Forever Twilight, Aladdin, Cinderella, and Clara's Winter Wonderland, to name a few.

Radenko Pavlovich
Artistic Advisor

A native of Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, Mr. Pavlovich began his ballet training at the age of eight after being selected by Yugoslavian officials for his exceptional potential. He quickly rose to the top of his class, earning the rare opportunity to study at the prestigious Vaganova Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia. Soon thereafter, he was awarded a full scholarship to the Royal Ballet School in London, England, becoming the only foreign student in an exceptionally elite graduating class.

Mr. Pavlovich began his professional career under the direct guidance of legendary Grand Ballet Master Rudolf Nureyev, who personally coached him in matters of classical technique, artistry, and character development. Under Mr. Nureyev’s tutelage, he earned the highest honors at the Balkan Ballet Competition, marking the beginning of a distinguished international career.

His professional engagements include dancing with the Austrian National Ballet; serving as a soloist with the Croatian National Theatre of Yugoslavia and the London Festival Ballet; and performing as a principal dancer with the Munich State Opera Ballet, Ballet Casa Della Cultura in Ecuador, and Atlanta Ballet.

Following his illustrious performing career, Mr. Pavlovich relocated to Columbia, South Carolina, where he founded the Pavlovich Dance School—now known as Palmetto Conservatory of Dance—in Forest Acres. A passionate advocate for the rigorous classical training that shaped his own career, he has spent more than three decades training children and young adults of all ages and backgrounds in the Vaganova method, preparing them for notable achievements, awards, and professional careers.

Mr. Pavlovich has since returned to Sarajevo and currently teaches and directs in Belgrade. However, Palmetto Ballet Theatre (PBT) and Palmetto Conservatory of Dance (PCD) are honored to welcome him back to the studio regularly, where he teaches master classes, coaches competition students, and provides artistic guidance to the professional company.

He began mentoring PBT Artistic Director Brianna Taylor Kelly at an early age, first as a student and later as a professional company member. He continues to serve as her mentor and trusted confidant to this day, maintaining a lasting artistic legacy within Palmetto Ballet Theatre.