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Sissy Quinn, lead vocalist for her band Southern Charm has led a life of singing and dancing. She took her talents to the stage professionally and is now teaching children glee lessons.

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Sissy Quinn is a professional performer and instructor. She will be auditioning for The Voice later this month.

Is being a performer a natural born talent?

Perhaps, said Sissy Quinn.

But one must perfect their craft if they want to rely on it for success. That's just what Quinn has spent her life doing from the time she was a small child.

Fortunate enough to have a mother who was a professional dancer and dance instructor, and a father who was a professional singer, Quinn had the best of both worlds.

Today, as a mother herself, she said it is rare to see children performing in age appropriate song and dance shows that are detailed to the point in which they provide an opportunity for drama.

In other words, where's the glee?

To fill that void, Quinn has created a new type of performance class called Starmaker.

Essentially Starmaker is an instructional glee club designed for all ages, male or female, who want to learn to dance, sing and act.

Quinn explained, it is all about learning to be a well-rounded performer.

Quinn entered competitions and pageants at a very young age and was singing professionally with a local band in her hometown of Columbia at the age of 11.

She plays the fiddle as well.

She performed her way through high school, and was able to earn a spot in the Carowinds Outdoor Theater for two summers.

The secret to her success was not just her hard work, but her parents' commitment to helping her along the way.

For example, her mother or other family members would drive her to Carowinds, from Columbia so she could perform seven shows a day. They would wait all day until she was finished and make the return trip home.

She continued to do local band work such as weddings and private parties.

It was no secret, she said, that performing was her passion.

Quinn graduated from high school and decided to study dance at Columbia College. Not long after enrolling, she decided she wanted to be a singer.

She packed her Mustang from floor board to ceiling with clothes and necessities and took off for Nashville.

"I was there for a few years, and it was a tough life because everyone is there for the same reason as you're there. It was very eye opening for me and I did a lot of growing up," she said.

Quinn was fortunate to be offered a job in Branson, Mo., doing performances at Mickey Gilley's Theater.

Gilley was one of the first to build a theater in Branson, which was a soon to be boom town for the country music industry.

Quinn worked there for two and a half seasons doing full production shows similar to ones put on at the Grand Ole Opry.

She eventually got married and came back to the Carolinas. Quinn has been in Charleston for 12 years and became involved in beach music. One of her CD's won four Cammy Awards from the Beach Music Association.

"That was a great honor and I've been singing with bands ever since. I never stopped working," she said.

In fact, she continued to work with her mother teaching dance.

Today, in addition to working with her professional band, she does a lot of extra work in the shows "Army Wives" and "Homeland Security." She will be auditioning for "The Voice" next month.

But today, as she goes to school functions and festivals with her 11-year-old daughter, she sees more and more the need for full performance training opportunities for boys and girls.

And while images of the glee club of yesteryear may flash across your mind when you hear those words, her vision for glee classes are much more instructional.

"I've seen so many talented kids who deserve an opportunity to really express themselves. My daughter and her friends love to sing and they know every word to every song but they have nowhere to perform or learn or express themselves and truly show their talent."

For Quinn, performing is almost like being in a different world. "Regardless of what is going on in your life, the show must go on," she explained. "Being on stage and performing is the most incredible feeling. Engaging with the audience and seeing that they are interested and getting pleasure - that is, to me, where I get my satisfaction. I'm giving my gift to make people happy. If I can take them away from things not so great in their lives, and the audiences takes a few minutes to engage with me and let me entertain them, that's what I enjoy. That's the pleasure I get."

Quinn explained that classes will include everything from pageant preparation, audition preparation, drama, vocal expression, modeling, posture, hair and makeup, dance, and singing of course, public speaking, ear training, harmonizing, solo voice development, stage presence and image development.

And whether a child decides to take this instruction and turn it into a passion is irrelevant. Quinn said that the experience will most certainly serve to boost self esteem and confidence.

And for those who want to make it a career choice, there are things one must know, she said.

"Because it has become more popular to try to become a star with all of the new shows and theaters there are more outlets than ever before to help people along the way.

But you still have to screen them to make sure they are adequate and decent and legitimate," she said.

And the likelihood of getting discovered locally is not very promising. "I still think you have to follow a path to be successful."

The popularity of all of the new singing and talent shows on television too has created more competition. "There are so many talented kids out there who didn't express themselves and now they're doing it because they feel comfortable doing it. Even with boys - they're coming out of the woodwork because performing has become more acceptable."

Boys are encouraged to participate in this class because there are plenty of male roles that need to be filled.

Participants can expect to perform in a fall showcase featuring a live band with which class participants will perform.

During the course of the class, there will be chances to perform in local festivals and events.

No experience is necessary to participate in Starmakers. Classes are designed for children ages 4 through high school

Class size is limited but open to both males and females. Classes will be divided based on age and experience.

Classes will be held at Elite Dance on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard.

Classes will be held on Mondays and Tuesdays. Classes are 55 minutes long and monthly tuition is $60. Private classes are also available.

Registration will be held Sunday, March 5 (at a time to be determined - call for more details). Classes start March 6

Visit www.sissyquinn.com or call Sissy Quinn at 843.425.6689 for more details.