By Shamona McClary

Kannapolis Citizen

If Rebecca Massey Wiley was Cinderella, Dole Foods Owner David Murdock would be her fairy godfather.

It all started in February 2005, when Castle & Cooke's Charlotte Region President Lynne Scott Safrit introduced her to the California billionaire.

At that time, the Winston-Salem native was finding difficulty in directing her own dance company — Piedmont Dance Theatre. She started the company in downtown Kannapolis in 2003.

As a former American Ballet Theater dancer in New York for eight years, she had plenty of talent but no business experience.

"I had no clue what I was doing," she said.

But she persisted.

"I basically got a business degree without going to college for it," she said.

Wiley began with about 20 students, and in September of 2003, she decided she wanted to perform the "Nutcracker."

One problem — no money.

The struggling dance teacher was already renting a space owned by Murdock's Atlantic American Properties for her dance studio.

But not just a studio, "I lived there too, just to make ends meet," she said.

Wiley applied to become a non-profit agency, but did not receive any funds until the following year from the Cabarrus Arts Council. She was allotted a little more than $1,000.

So with some contributions from students' parents, the company put on the show within three months. But that came with much labor — building sets, designing and making costumes, painting and more.

Wiley's attempt to make a positive impact on the youth through dance caught Safrit's eye.

After all, it wasn't everyday a dancer who had traveled the world and been in the presence of the elite such as Jackie Onassis, started a dance company in Kannapolis. So Safrit thought Murdock would be interested in what Wiley was trying to do in the community.

"He loves ballet," Wiley said Safrit told her, so much so, Murdock had served as chairman of the board of directors for the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago for about 10 years.

Murdock visited Wiley's studio to see her teach, and soon a friendship developed. Murdock and Wiley had several lunches and dinners together to discuss her aspirations.

"He's like a dad," Wiley said.

She said he made her write down her goals and dreams.

"He said, 'Rebecca, you've got to think bigger' and 'Rebecca, what makes you happy?' " she remembered.

Wiley said Murdock taught her how to be successful through making good business habits. Eventually, the real estate mogul and philanthropist upfitted a new 6,000-square-foot dance studio for her.

"Crazy, isn't it?" she said.

Wiley's story is so fairy-tale-like, even she can't believe it sometimes.

The facility provides three dance studios, boys and girls dressing rooms, a reception area, a lounge, wardrobe, injury preventive floors, full-length mirrors and floor-to-ceiling windows. And that was just the first of other dreams on her wish list Murdock would help fulfill.

Now, Wiley says he has plans to install a fly system in the 1,000-seat auditorium on the N.C. Research Campus for the local dance company.

A fly system is a mechanism that raises and lowers parts of the set on and off stage. Wiley said she suspects it will cost millions of dollars.

Wiley's students have performed in several area schools and at the Village Park Amphitheater, but she said she is looking forward to having a central location on the campus for their productions.

"I'd love to have a home theatre," she said. "Life will be a whole lot easier."

Although happy to perform at the other locations, Wiley said they didn't have the proper equipment, so they found themselves having to redesign sets occasionally.

She said they've redesigned Nutcracker scenes three years in a row.

"It's time consuming and exhausting," she said.

Wiley said architects are expected to begin the design phase soon, but construction of the auditorium building will come after all the university buildings are completed on the campus.

She said it probably won't be finished until 2008 or 2009.

Wiley said she hopes the new auditorium/theatre will bring in other touring and performing arts companies.

Contact Shamona McClary at 704-933-3450 or smcclary@salisburypost.com.