They range in age from 6 to 18 years with the average age of the corps de ballet dancers being 14. Daily training is essential for the corps dancers to be technically prepared and all rehearsal time, approximately 12 hours each week, is strictly in addition to class time. At the corps de ballet level, the dancer is at the studio perhaps 15 to 22 hours each week for class; at the junior corps de ba
llet level, the student is training an average of 10 hours weekly. Most of our young children study classical ballet at least 2 hours weekly, with many studying much more. CODA dancers have rehearsed and performed alongside guest dancers from New York City Ballet, American Repertory Ballet, New Jersey’s Garden State Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Catanach Ballet Theater, and the Joffrey Ballet. Working with such renowned choreographers as Peter Anastos, Frank Ohman, Yvonne Lamb Scudiery and Daniel Catanach give the young dancers the experience they can put to full use later in their careers. The Company of Dance Arts has mounted successful productions at regional venues including the the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, Monmouth University’s Guggenheim Theater in West Long Branch, Rutger’s University, Camden, the historic Strand Theatre in Lakewood, the Mary B. Burch Theater in Newark, Red Bank Regional High School, Red Bank, the Park Theater in Union City, and Montclair High School in Montclair. Our repertoire includes:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
(choreography by Peter Anastos)
Celebrate Dance
(various choreographers; directed by Jennifer James Church)
Fire Maiden
(choreography by Jennifer James Church)
Hansel and Gretel
(choreography by Jennifer James Church)
La Boutique Fantasque
(choreography by Frank Ohman; remounted by Charles Nicoll and Jennifer James Church)
Peter Rabbit & Other Tails
(choreography by Daniel Catanach)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
(choreography by Yvonne Lamb Scudiery)
The Nutcracker
(choreography by Peter Anastos)
The Sleeping Beauty
(choreography by Peter Anastos)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
(choreography by Yvonne Lamb Scudiery)
