Dance teacher charged after parents raise flag on ‘inappropriate’ routine, police say

HANAHAN, S.C. (WCSC/Gray News) – A dance teacher in South Carolina is facing charges after an investigation that stemmed from a dance routine that parents believed was inappropriate.

Andrea Mizell, 45, is accused of giving children alcohol, having vulgar conversations with them, showing students sexually explicit photos of herself, and even touching students inappropriately during dance practice.

The investigation started in March when Hanahan police responded to a report of an argument at a dance school.

An incident report said the fight centered on a dance routine that some parents said “conflicted with their morals.”

The dance instructor, 45-year-old Andrea Mizell, reportedly had set time aside to speak with one concerned parent about the routine. However, several other parents unexpectedly showed up to discuss the dance, and Mizell reportedly left in a panic.

When officers arrived at the studio, Mizell was gone, but her fiancé and sister were there, as well as multiple parents.

Officers spoke with parents and children, who raised concerns about Mizell’s inappropriate conduct.

Some children said Mizell had given them alcohol and was having “vulgar conversations” with them.

One of the children described Mizell inviting some of them to her apartment and giving them margaritas while they watched a movie.

The students also claimed Mizell had detailed, graphic conversations with them about her sex life, and one child claimed Mizell had shown nude photos of herself to them.

Affidavits state that multiple students told Hanahan police in May that Mizell had touched them “in the private parts on the butt,” which was “unwanted and nonconsensual.” One victim told police it would happen multiple times during dance practice, making them uncomfortable, and alleging Mizell would “go out of her way” to touch the student.

Another described the action as “smacks” that made the student feel uncomfortable. That victim claimed Mizell would place her hands on the victim’s waist and butt during practices and that the action was not associated with correcting the student’s posture or dance moves.

Some students claimed Mizell would also change her clothes in front of them, often exposing herself.

Mizell was charged with four counts of second-degree assault and battery, four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and three counts of disseminating harmful material to minors, according to court documents.