Pre-Professional Dance Program
COCA—Center of Creative Arts

COCA instructor leads dance program students in a routine.

Photo: James Schwartz

Since its inception, COCA—Center of Creative Arts has been dedicated to providing the highest quality arts instruction to St. Louis youth, regardless of their ability to pay. The Pre- Professional Dance Program is a long-term, comprehensive program that seeks to foster a love of dance in youth. The program also serves as a community support for low-income youth and demonstrates that the arts can be the vehicle for transforming young lives.

Through its outreach efforts in urban classrooms, COCA uncovers the promise of young dancers. Instructors watch for students with interest, motivation, and promise to participate in ongoing dance instruction. Students receive scholarships to train in ballet, jazz, modern dance, and tap and can audition for COCAdance, COCA's performing company of teen dancers. In addition to performance opportunities, COCAdance offers its members the chance to interact with professional dancers and choreographers.

Although the Pre-Professional Dance Program's name suggests that the program's aim is career training, its fundamental goal is to encourage the overall development of young people. The program teaches the rewards of discipline and hard work; increases self-esteem, as students improve and receive accolades for their achievements; and provides many opportunities for experiencing the joy of performance.

To support the growth of talented students who cannot afford the opportunity to develop their skills, COCA has provided $850,000 in scholarships since 1992. Furthermore, the program provides comprehensive support services to anyone who needs them in the form of transportation, counseling, academic tutoring, and assistance in applying to summer and postsecondary institutions.

The program's quality is reflected in the achievements of its graduates. Members of the program have found success at The Juilliard School, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Houston Ballet, and Ballet Hispanico, among others. Yet even for those who do not pursue dance careers, Executive Director Stephanie Riven says, "The program challenges students intellectually and physically. It teaches the skills necessary to work with a diverse group of teammates. Participants learn that there is a time for originality and a time for replication and that there is a time to be the star and a time to be a productive member of the group. Perhaps most important, the program fuels the students' creativity and passion for dance."