Dakota Demato
Dakota Demato is in her 4th year as theatre teacher at South Pointe High School. Since May 2022, she has taken on the title of Director of Theatre. She holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from The University of the Arts (Philadelphia, PA) and a M.A.T. in Theatre Education from the University of South Carolina.
Since joining the staff at South Pointe in 2020, she has directed nine productions with the The Stallion Repertory Theatre. In addition, she has choreographed Mamma Mia!, Chicago, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Curtains at South Pointe. Her direction of the one acts The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and In the Garden of the Selfish Giant have both placed in the Top Eight at the South Carolina Theatre Association Annual Convention. With her direction of the latter also receiving a Superior Rating at the Palmetto Dramatic Association Festival. Also, in her time at South Pointe, she started the school's first ever dance program.
Prior to her time at South Pointe, Ms. Demato was fortunate enough to build the Elementary Dance and Theatre programs for Lexington-Richland School District 5 at Nursery Road Elementary School-Arts Magnet in Columbia, SC. She has taught all grade levels as either a full-time teacher or master-class instructor.
Before becoming a full time educator, Ms. Demato had the great privilege of performing in dozens of theater productions in South Florida and Philadelphia, PA, working with many professional theatre companies; including Irondale, Headlong Dance Theatre and Pig Iron Theatre Company. She has even performed twice in the esteemed Philadelphia Fringe Festival.
Ms. Demato has directed and choreographed over 25 full scale musicals and plays for students of all ages. She is a multi award winning choreographer for her work in South Florida. While in Philadelphia, and still virtually, Ms. Demato teaches for Theatre Horizon’s award-winning Autism Drama program.
Ms. Demato is a member of American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE) and volunteers annually at AATE's national conference. Additionally, Ms. Demato is a both an alumni and now Troupe Director for the International Thespian Society. She is also an alumni of the South Florida Cappies program.
Ms. Demato is currently the Treasurer for the South Carolina Thespians and the Program Director for the Carolina Cappies.
Ms. Demato is a self proclaimed "theatre nerd" and is so looking forward to sharing her passion for the arts and welcoming you and your student into our little world of whimsy and creativity here at South Pointe!
"The performing arts are taught so one can become sensitive, become closer to an infinite beyond this world, have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, more acceptance, and in short, more life. This is what I hope to achieve as an educator of the arts." - Ms. Demato
Feel free to reach out at any time - ddemato@rhmail.org
Dakota Demato is in her 4th year as theatre teacher at South Pointe High School. Since May 2022, she has taken on the title of Director of Theatre. She holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from The University of the Arts (Philadelphia, PA) and a M.A.T. in Theatre Education from the University of South Carolina.
Since joining the staff at South Pointe in 2020, she has directed nine productions with the The Stallion Repertory Theatre. In addition, she has choreographed Mamma Mia!, Chicago, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Curtains at South Pointe. Her direction of the one acts The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and In the Garden of the Selfish Giant have both placed in the Top Eight at the South Carolina Theatre Association Annual Convention. With her direction of the latter also receiving a Superior Rating at the Palmetto Dramatic Association Festival. Also, in her time at South Pointe, she started the school's first ever dance program.
Prior to her time at South Pointe, Ms. Demato was fortunate enough to build the Elementary Dance and Theatre programs for Lexington-Richland School District 5 at Nursery Road Elementary School-Arts Magnet in Columbia, SC. She has taught all grade levels as either a full-time teacher or master-class instructor.
Before becoming a full time educator, Ms. Demato had the great privilege of performing in dozens of theater productions in South Florida and Philadelphia, PA, working with many professional theatre companies; including Irondale, Headlong Dance Theatre and Pig Iron Theatre Company. She has even performed twice in the esteemed Philadelphia Fringe Festival.
Ms. Demato has directed and choreographed over 25 full scale musicals and plays for students of all ages. She is a multi award winning choreographer for her work in South Florida. While in Philadelphia, and still virtually, Ms. Demato teaches for Theatre Horizon’s award-winning Autism Drama program.
Ms. Demato is a member of American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE) and volunteers annually at AATE's national conference. Additionally, Ms. Demato is a both an alumni and now Troupe Director for the International Thespian Society. She is also an alumni of the South Florida Cappies program.
Ms. Demato is currently the Treasurer for the South Carolina Thespians and the Program Director for the Carolina Cappies.
Ms. Demato is a self proclaimed "theatre nerd" and is so looking forward to sharing her passion for the arts and welcoming you and your student into our little world of whimsy and creativity here at South Pointe!
"The performing arts are taught so one can become sensitive, become closer to an infinite beyond this world, have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, more acceptance, and in short, more life. This is what I hope to achieve as an educator of the arts." - Ms. Demato
Feel free to reach out at any time - ddemato@rhmail.org