Meet Our Founder

All About Me

Courteney Brickell is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Concrete Rose Dance Academy, where she has dedicated her career to inspiring young dancers through excellence in dance education, character development, and community impact.

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A graduate of North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Courteney earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology while serving for three years as Head Captain of the world-renowned Blue and Gold Marching Machine's Golden Delight Auxiliary. During her time at A&T, she also founded the university's Cool Mist Dance Troupe, which she successfully directed and coached for more than four years before passing the program on to the next generation of student leaders.

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With more than 30 years of dance experience, Courteney has trained and performed in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, and majorette styles. Throughout her career, she has performed in nationally recognized football classics, taught dance clinics—including for the Brooklyn Steppers—and coached dancers who have performed during NBA halftime shows, the Michael Jordan Brand Classic, and numerous collegiate and community exhibitions.

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In 2017, Courteney founded The Concrete Rose Dance Academy with a vision of creating more than a dance studio. Her mission is to cultivate confident, compassionate, and disciplined young leaders by combining exceptional dance training with mentorship, academic encouragement, and meaningful community service. Under her leadership, the academy has become known for providing a nurturing environment where dancers of all backgrounds are empowered to grow both on and off the stage.

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Courteney is also the creator of Bloom365™, The Concrete Rose Dance Academy's signature year-round development model that transforms traditional dance classes into personalized learning journeys. Designed to meet dancers where they are, Bloom365 emphasizes continuous growth, technical excellence, leadership development, and lifelong confidence while allowing every student to bloom at their own pace.

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As an educator, mentor, entrepreneur, and mother, Courteney believes that dance has the power to change lives. Her philosophy is reflected in the academy's motto:

"You can bloom anything with time, attention, intention, and passion."

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Every class, performance, and mentorship opportunity is intentionally designed to help each dancer discover their potential—not only as an artist, but as a confident leader prepared to make a positive impact wherever life takes them.