Cora Dance Alleghany

Ongoing Dance Education Programs

Cora Dance Alleghany offers pay-what-you-can dance education programs for ages 5 and up, welcoming students of all abilities and experience levels. During the school year, CDA provides 12 classes per week over a 40-week session, each incorporating a dynamic blend of modern dance, improvisation, and choreography.

Classes are held at the Historic Masonic Theatre, Boys Home of Virginia, Millboro Elementary School, and Valley Elementary School. CDA is also proud to offer its third year of the Alleghany-based Cora Youth Company (CYC), designed for returning students ready for more advanced technical training. CYC members have opportunities to learn, perform, and tour a diverse range of works by professional choreographers. All programming culminates in the 2026 CDA Showcase on April 18, 2026, at the Historic Masonic Theatre. Cora Dance Alleghany is committed to accessibility: all programs are pay-what-you-can, and no family is ever turned away due to inability to pay.

Community Workshops & Events

Cora Dance Alleghany holds FREE and PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN workshops and performances throughout the year at local festivals and community events. Past partnerships and appearances include the Clifton Forge School of the Arts’ Kriskindlmkt and Fun Fridays, Clifton Forge’s Arts Community Celebration, Fridays in the Forge, and Tree Lighting events; Jack Mason’s Tavern Hometown Mondays; Clifton Forge’s Juneteenth Celebration; and Alleghany Highlands Community Services Annual Developmental Services Awareness Festival! 

The Professional Company - Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance

The professional company Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance (SH/CD) performs the intricate, accessible, and sophisticated work of Founding Artistic Director Shannon Hummel. Founded in 1998 in New York City, the company built a reputation for critically acclaimed work presented not only on some of the city’s most respected stages, but also in backyards, living rooms, cars, public parks, and community spaces—bringing dance directly to people where they live. Since January 2023, SH/CD has expanded to a dual residency in New York and Virginia, serving as the resident company at the Historic Masonic Theatre in Clifton Forge, VA, and at Cora’s space in Red Hook, Brooklyn. This expansion strengthens its mission to increase access to professional dance in both urban and rural communities. SH/CD’s work is created with a focus on fostering authentic connections among diverse audiences, while also serving as a positive and sustainable model of a professional dance company for Cora’s young artists in both Virginia and New York City.