Hanahan dance instructor facing multiple charges amid accusations from students
WCSC (archive.ph)
By Patrick Phillips
2025-07-24 14:21:33GMT
Andrea Mizell, 45, 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.(Berkeley County Sheriff's Office)
HANAHAN, S.C. (WCSC) - Court documents have detailed the arrest last month of a dance instructor who faces multiple criminal charges.
Andrea Mizell, 45, 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.
Police initially responded on March 12 to a report of an argument at a dance school on Carolyn Street.
An incident report states the dispute centered on a dance routine some parents said “conflicted with their morals.”
The report states the dance instructor, Mizell set a time to speak with one of the concerned parents, but that several parents showed up unexpectedly and, in a panic, Mizell left. Two people identified in the report as Mizell’s fiancé and sister were speaking to the parents outside the dance school when police arrived.
While police spoke with the fiancé, Mizell returned to the school in what police described as a “distraught” manner. Mizell told police she felt intimidated by the posture of the parents and left out of fear.
Parents, students raise accusations of inappropriate conduct
Police spoke with parents and children. Some parents claimed Mizell had emailed them suggesting that if they did not want their children to participate in the dance, they would no longer be able to dance in the rest of the competitions for the year. This was said to be despite the fact that parents had paid in advance for classes. The parents claimed that Mizell did not plan on issuing any refunds and that is why they converged to speak with her as a group. They denied they had done anything to intimidate her.
But police said some children told their parents that 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. One of the students told police that Mizell initially declined a child’s request to sample the alcoholic beverage because Mizell allegedly told them she would get in trouble with the children’s parents. The student reportedly said she ultimately gave them the drink, asking them not to tell their parents.
The students also claimed Mizell had detailed, sexually graphic conversations with them and one youth claimed Mizell had shown nude photos to them.
Some parents said they had not been aware of the alcohol or explicit conversations until that information had come out then.
Warrants issued in June for instructor’s arrest
Court documents detail interviews conducted by investigators in mid-May. Affidavits state that multiple students told Hanahan Police investigators in May that Mizell had touched the victim “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.
A former student told police in May that the instructor “used to like to touch our butt,” but that the student didn’t think much of it. However, she also said Mizell would talk about her wanting to be the students or have their bodies and liked her “top half.”
Affidavits state one student claimed Mizell changed in front of them multiple times, talked openly about her sex life, and showed a photograph in which the instructor allegedly exposed herself.
Another student claimed Mizell showed them a nude photo of herself wearing Christmas lights, and another claimed to have been shown a photo showing Mizell wearing lingerie.
Court documents also detail the allegations of Mizell offering alcohol to the underage students, either at her apartment or at the dance school itself.
Some students describe the behavior as making them uncomfortable. Another said it caused them anxiety and they were “shaking the whole time.” That student also said Mizell would tell the students not to tell their parents or say, “It stays between us.” Some students claimed Mizell would change in front of them, often exposing herself.
WCSC (archive.ph)
By Patrick Phillips
2025-07-24 14:21:33GMT
Andrea Mizell, 45, 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.(Berkeley County Sheriff's Office)
HANAHAN, S.C. (WCSC) - Court documents have detailed the arrest last month of a dance instructor who faces multiple criminal charges.
Andrea Mizell, 45, 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.
Police initially responded on March 12 to a report of an argument at a dance school on Carolyn Street.
An incident report states the dispute centered on a dance routine some parents said “conflicted with their morals.”
The report states the dance instructor, Mizell set a time to speak with one of the concerned parents, but that several parents showed up unexpectedly and, in a panic, Mizell left. Two people identified in the report as Mizell’s fiancé and sister were speaking to the parents outside the dance school when police arrived.
While police spoke with the fiancé, Mizell returned to the school in what police described as a “distraught” manner. Mizell told police she felt intimidated by the posture of the parents and left out of fear.
Parents, students raise accusations of inappropriate conduct
Police spoke with parents and children. Some parents claimed Mizell had emailed them suggesting that if they did not want their children to participate in the dance, they would no longer be able to dance in the rest of the competitions for the year. This was said to be despite the fact that parents had paid in advance for classes. The parents claimed that Mizell did not plan on issuing any refunds and that is why they converged to speak with her as a group. They denied they had done anything to intimidate her.
But police said some children told their parents that 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. One of the students told police that Mizell initially declined a child’s request to sample the alcoholic beverage because Mizell allegedly told them she would get in trouble with the children’s parents. The student reportedly said she ultimately gave them the drink, asking them not to tell their parents.
The students also claimed Mizell had detailed, sexually graphic conversations with them and one youth claimed Mizell had shown nude photos to them.
Some parents said they had not been aware of the alcohol or explicit conversations until that information had come out then.
Warrants issued in June for instructor’s arrest
Court documents detail interviews conducted by investigators in mid-May. Affidavits state that multiple students told Hanahan Police investigators in May that Mizell had touched the victim “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.
A former student told police in May that the instructor “used to like to touch our butt,” but that the student didn’t think much of it. However, she also said Mizell would talk about her wanting to be the students or have their bodies and liked her “top half.”
Affidavits state one student claimed Mizell changed in front of them multiple times, talked openly about her sex life, and showed a photograph in which the instructor allegedly exposed herself.
Another student claimed Mizell showed them a nude photo of herself wearing Christmas lights, and another claimed to have been shown a photo showing Mizell wearing lingerie.
Court documents also detail the allegations of Mizell offering alcohol to the underage students, either at her apartment or at the dance school itself.
Some students describe the behavior as making them uncomfortable. Another said it caused them anxiety and they were “shaking the whole time.” That student also said Mizell would tell the students not to tell their parents or say, “It stays between us.” Some students claimed Mizell would change in front of them, often exposing herself.
