Elevate was founded in 2010 on the idea of bringing together talented dancers and performers in the Raleigh area to create an exciting and entertaining atmosphere at any special event. What started out as a shared dream and passion between director/choreographer Amy Bates and performer/planner Valerie Curran has quickly become a flourishing performance company providing entertainment to an array of events such as corporate meetings, awards banquets, charity galas, bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, concerts, nightclubs, trade shows, grand openings, festivals, and many other special events.
Elevate performs most often in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia but our clients have hired us to perform at events all over the East Coast and beyond including New York, Vegas, Asheville, New Orleans, Orlando, Houston, Nashville, Tampa, Atlanta, Arizona, Aruba, Curacao, Cabo, Grand Cayman, and Dubai to name just a few.
Valerie Curran, Owner
After stepping into that first dance class at the age of 6, Valerie knew that dance would be an important part of her life for a long time. Before attending NC State University to major in chemical engineering, she danced with the Land of the Sky Civic Ballet and Tap Company at Fletcher's School of Dance in Asheville, NC where she performed lead roles in the Nutcracker as well as danced competitively in tap and jazz. At NC State, Valerie was a dancer and captain of the NC State Dance Team for 4 years.
After college, she danced professionally for the Carolina Cobras Arena Football team and then moved to Philadelphia to cheer professionally for the Philadelphia Eagles NFL team. While an Eagles cheerleader for 4 years and captain of the team for 2 years, she performed in the Super Bowl, in Bosnia and Kosovo for the troops stationed there, in Hong Kong in the Chinese New Year Parade, on tv shows such as Cold Pizza and Good Morning America, and was featured in publications such as FHM, Fantasy Football Magazine, and Sports Illustrated.
Valerie also has a knack for planning. While in Philly, she worked for Max and Me Catering at the National Constitution Center as a sales manager and wedding specialist. There she planned weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, and corporate events for clients such as Comcast, HBO, Subaru, KPMG, GSK, and Dikembe Mutombo.
Valerie lives in Raleigh full time (and Charleston part time) with her husband, Eric, and 4 rescue dogs, Nuala, Sulley, Cocoa Bean, and Sissi, Valerie loves being able to combine her two passions and "Elevate" events with live performances!
Christie Moser, Talent manager
Valerie is lucky to have a sister who has experience in the event and entertainment industries and can manage talent in her absence. Christie Moser currently serves as the President of the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce. She is originally from Asheville, NC but moved here to attend NC State University where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Communications. She is an avid cook, Wolfpack enthusiast, and spends her free time running and travelling. Christie is a member of Church of the Apostles, and lives in Raleigh with her two sons, Finley and Asher, husband Frank, and dog Poppy.
Colleen baehr, entertainment assistant and marketing manager
Both a dancer and aerialist, Colleen is a Point Park University graduate with a great capacity for creative problem solving. In addition to performing with Elevate, you can find her as the face behind our social media and website development. She currently lives in Charleston with her husband and their dog, Bentley.
mary gilmore, talent manager
A Charleston, SC native, Mary pursued her studies in International Business and Spanish at the College of Charleston before embarking on a five-year journey as a touring musician in Nashville, TN. In 2017, she returned to Charleston and spent the past decade planning weddings alongside her mother—an experience that sharpened her ability to anticipate and resolve event challenges seamlessly. Mary has loved performing as a singer alongside Elevate’s talented dancers and additionally enjoys playing a vital role in talent management, ensuring each production runs smoothly. Beyond events, Mary is a passionate classic car enthusiast. On sunny days, you’ll find her with the top down, cruising and enjoying the open road.
Alex Bouffard, Videographer
After graduating from NC State University, Alex went on to pursue a career in filmmaking. Starting off in the field of software and technology, she eventually found her passion for capturing weddings and live events. As a previous dancer, Alex has an eye for the perfect framing and musical timing in her edits. She is a New York native who loves the city and now resides in downtown Raleigh, NC with her husband Jon. Together they run a videography company, Madison Grey Media, specializing in small business promos, weddings, and live events.
marcus Jackson, Talent manager
Originally from Washington, DC, Marcus has travelled the world performing for audiences exhibiting a variety of dance techniques. He is a graduate from the Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts in Washington, DC and has also earned BFAs in Dance/Choreography and Tech Theatre from California Institute of the Arts. Marcus has danced in shows by Debbie Allen, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Pasadena Dance Theatre, Lula Washington Dance Theater, and Dance Institute of Washington. He has also worked at the Disneyland Resort, Royal Caribbean Productions, and Disney Cruise Line, where he has traveled around the world DANCING! Other than performing, teaching and choreographing, he has worked in TV shows and Movies in LA.
becky cox, talent manager
Cameron Pace, costume designer
Cameron first joined our team as a multi-talented performer, showcasing her skills in dance, singing, and acting. However, her exceptional creativity and eye for design quickly made her an invaluable asset to our costume department. As a key contributor to our extensive costume collection, Cameron brings artistry and innovation to every piece she creates, enhancing the visual impact of our performances with her unique designs.
Meridith Walters, Talent Manager
Meridith is a Certified Special Events Professional with over two decades of experience in the events industry. In addition to her freelance and consulting work with event professionals, she also operates a coaching practice serving small business owners. Her early career was in marketing, advertising and public relations for major consumer brands where she worked on trade shows, retail consumer events, market weeks, and events. She is passionate about creating guest experiences at live events and loves working with the many talented performers within Elevate.
