About Alli Mae Carnes

My Performance Background

I am a small-town girl, born and raised in Florida. I moved out of state for college, and now reside in Raleigh, NC. I have over 20 years of performance experience in dance, theatre, and film. Some of my favorite regional credits include Legally Blonde (Elle), A Little Night Music (Anne), Next to Normal (Natalie), A Christmas Carol (featured dancer), and Nutcracker Ballet (Mouse).

Training

Voice:

• Sarah K. Brown (2023-present), Dan Callaway (2023), Hilary Maiberger (2021-2022), Carrie St. Louis (2021), Matt Farnsworth Studios, NYC: Mike Maixner (2021), Jennifer Shrader Williams (2018-2021), Alison Lawrence (2019), Beth Frank (2013-2015)

Acting:

• Shakespeare and Style via Moonlight Stage Company: Ray Dooley (2022), Ken Schatz: The Ken Studio (2021-present), Uta Hagen Series via Burning Coal Theatre: Jerry Davis (2021), Lisa Jolley (2020-2021)

Dance:

• North Carolina Dance Institute (2019-2021), Academy of Rising Stars (2000-2013)

Vocal Pedagogy:

• Master of Arts in Vocal Pedagogy from The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (current student)

• Vocologist Certificate Program at New York University (current student)

• Voice Teacher Practicum with Dr. Kari Ragan (2023)

• Vocal Kinesthetics (2023)

• Certified Trauma-Informed Voice Professional Level 4: Voice Study Centre (2022)

• Vocal Pedagogy Professional Workshop: Boston Conservatory (2022)

• VocaLab Vocal Educator Toolkit: Elle Nichelle (2022)

• Somatic Voicework Level I: The LoVetri Institute (2022)

• Introduction to Vocal Psychotherapy with Dr. Diane Austin: Voice Study Centre (2022)

• The Necessity of Trauma-Informed Voice Practices: Dr. Elisa Monti (2022)

• Thinking Outside the Voice Box: Adolescent Voice Change in Music Education: Dr. Bridget Sweet (2022)

• Concepts, Models, and Methods of Vocal Education: Dr. Motje Wolf (2021)

My Teaching Background

I have been teaching children ages 3-18 for about 10 years, and adults for 3 years. I have taught dance in multiple styles such as jazz, ballet, tap, contemporary, acrobatics, hip-hop, and musical theatre, including for competition teams. I have also taught cheerleading, acting, singing, and improv classes. I am an Adjunct Professor for the Musical Theatre Department at William Peace University. I have choreographed and taught dance for both community and professional theatres, and have worked as a teaching artist for many companies in the Triangle area such as North Carolina Theatre Conservatory, Saint Mary’s School, Sanderson High School, Raleigh Area Children’s Theatre, Raleigh Little Theatre, Gallery Players, Stage Door Dance, Raleigh School of Music, and Justice Theatre Project. I have taught thousands of students in my career, and I feel so fortunate.

Teaching is my passion. I have a motto in my studio that once I am your teacher, I consider you my student forever! This means long after class or lessons are over, I am always more than willing to assist with advice, guidance, feedback, questions, etc. I see myself as a mentor to students and an integral part of their journey. No matter the subject, my teaching style is "I do, we do, you do." This means that I initially teach a student how to do something, we do it together, then the student does it on their own. I am a big believer in talking the student through an answer rather than giving it to them. This encourages creativity and teaches the student to trust themselves and their natural, creative instincts.

With my background as a Qualified Mental Health Professional and Applied Behavior Analysis Therapist, I use my mental health training in my teaching. I am a certified Trauma Informed Voice Practitioner and I teach all art through a psychological lens — this allows students to feel safe, secure, and aligned with their truest, most authentic selves.