The Throne

Center Stage Dance and Performing Arts Center was incorporated in 1990 by the Artistic Director, Sherri Shortell. Center Stage offers quality dance instruction, from beginner through professional, in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip hop and modern classes for children and adults. The Center also offers musical theatre, drama and vocal classes for children of all ages. A professionally staged dance revue is presented in late June of every year. The professional Center Stage Dance Company, directed by Ms. Shortell, is in residence at the school.The Center's competition dance teams have received hundreds of regional and National titles at competitions such as Star Systems, I Love Dance, and Showstopper. Dance Teams also attend National Finals or perform at Disney World in Orlando Fl and also have other performance opportunities throughout the year. Members of the dance teams performed with Center Stage Dance Company at the Olympics in Sydney, Australia in September of 2000. Former students are performing nationally in dinner theatres, cruise ships, amusement parks, and touring companies. Students have performed in Debbie Allen's production of "Dancing in the Wings" at the Kennedy Center and "Showtime at the Apollo".

The Center, now in its sixteenth year, hosts more than 500 students annually, and offers a wide variety of dance training to all ages. Classes are designed to promote strength, flexibility and technique for the appropriate level and age of the student. From those who dance for the exercise or for the love of dance, to those at dancing at the professional level, the Center for Ballet Arts provides a well rounded curriculum and a pleasant encouraging environment for dance training. Pointe work (or toe dancing) will not be offered before age 11, nor before a student has studied ballet for at least 3 years. Some exceptions may be made, but only at the discretion of the instructor. At the Ballet III level, some students may be introduced to pointe work for the last 15 minutes of class. At age of 11 or 12, pointe work is given in one 1/2 hour lesson per week, following the regular ballet class. The Intermediate and Advanced level pointe classes are 45 to 90 minutes in length. All students studying pointe are required to attend class twice weekly. Modern dance introduces students to non-traditional dance forms, with emphasis on technique. Class is taken barefoot, using a diversity of music, and includes acting and improvisational skills. The styles of Graham, Horton, and Limon are used to prepare the dancer for the demands of the profession today. A specified type of body conditioning that emphasizes strengthening "the core" muscle groups. Mat classes are now available several times weekly at CBA.