COMPANY

CGDA's performing company is open to any dancer taking three separate elite level technique classes each week. Company class meets every Friday afternoon and must be a priority in the dancer's schedule. Absences are not tolerated, unless due to illness. The Company curriculum is focused on extra performing opportunities, advanced choreography and guest teachers. There is no extra cost for Company members, however every dancer is required to participate in the several fundraisers scheduled.

CGDA Company 2007-08

 

Chloë		Chloë is a 15 year old freshman at Hood River Valley High School who had been dancing at the Columbia Gorge Dance Academy for the past 12 ½ years. She began ballet classes at the age of 2 ½ and has absolutely loved it ever since. She also enjoys jazz and hip-hop. Chloë dances 5 days a week and enjoys every second she spends with her close friends and amazing instructors at CGDA.  The Dance Academy has become a home away from home for her. She has auditioned at Pacific Artist and the Oregon Ballet Theatre in Portland and loves to learn from as many instructors as possible. Her favorite aspect of dance is performing in front of a live audience. She has had lead roles in the Nutcracker including Clara, Chinese solo and Doll; these experiences have been the most exhilarating of her life.  She hopes to continue performing for many years to come.
Katherine		Katherine is a sophomore at HRVHS. She has been dancing at Columbia Gorge Dance Academy since age four, when she started Mary Beth Kennedy’s Ballet, Tap, and Tumbling Class. She has taken ballet ever since, adding jazz in sixth grade and hip hop in ninth grade. She loves everything about dancing and being at CGDA has sparked her passion for dance. Katherine attended Summer Dance Lab at Whitman College in the summer of 2007 and was thrilled to learn countless new things and explore new forms of dance. This is Katherine’s first year with the CGDA Company and she has really enjoyed taking her love for dance to the next level.
Katie V.		Katie considers the Columbia Gorge Dance Academy a second home, since she spends about 11 hours each week dancing in the studios.  Katie has been dancing with CGDA since she was only 3 years-old, and is proud to have made it to the elite level at age 16, being in the performing company for the fourth season this year.  Dance is one of Katie’s passions, be it ballet, modern, jazz or hip hop.  She tries to expose herself to many styles through summer intensives and workshops, but does ballet, jazz and hip hop weekly in Hood River.  Katie would like to thank all of her wonderful teachers that she has been privileged to work with in the past and truly appreciates the lessons in dedication, persistence, and cooperation that dance has taught her.  Whichever direction Katie’s life takes her, dance will always be involved!
Katie R.		Katie is 17 years old and a junior at Hood River Valley High School.  She has been dancing at Colombia Gorge Dance Academy for 12 years and loves all of the teachers, other dancers, and the opportunities it has brought to her.  She takes ballet and jazz classes four days a week along with participating in Company.  This past summer was Katie’s first year attending the summer dance lab at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington.  She is looking forward to dancing in the program again this year.  Katie has also taken classes from Jan Hurst of Columbia Dance in Vancouver, Washington as well as the guest teachers for Company.  This year is Katie’s third year in Company and she is looking forward to having fun and working hard with all of the other members.
Kayla		Kayla is sixteen years old and a home schooled junior. She started dancing when she was five and has loved it ever since! She is currently dancing a total of six days a week partially under the instruction of Nancy Clement, Theresa Mason, and the various choreographers for Company at CGDA and partially under the instruction of Jan Hurst at Columbia Dance in Vancouver, Washington. Along with dancing at CGDA and Columbia Dance, Kayla has had opportunities to attend various programs including Oregon Ballet Theatre’s summer program in 2003, Summer Dance Lab’s summer program in 2004, 2005, and 2006, Regional Dance America Pacific Festival in 2005, and Long Beach Ballet’s summer program in 2007. She is thrilled to be returning to Long Beach Ballet this summer for a six week intensive that culminates in a two week performing tour of China! She loves to perform and appreciates the many opportunities she has to do so at CGDA. She would like to thank all of the wonderful faculty here at CGDA; they are truly a blessing in her life!
Sara		Sara is fifteen and a sophomore at Hood River Valley High School. She has enjoyed dance since she started taking ballet at the age of eight. Besides ballet she loves hip-hop and jazz. This summer will be her second time at Whitman College Summer Dance Lab. Outside of dance Sara enjoys soccer and lacrosse. She loves performing and feels honored to be a part of Company. Sara looks forward to a lifetime of dance, and gives thanks to her teachers and peers for their wonderful support throughout the years.