Spotlight on Cora Dance in Clifton Forge
We recently spoke with Cora Dance Founder & Artistic Director, Shannon Hummel, to learn more about the dance company and school, their mission, upcoming events and more.
Take a look at the responses from Shannon and the Cora Dance team below:
Can you tell us about Cora Dance?
“Cora’s mission is to create transformative dance experiences, addressing the inequities that limit people from bonding deeply with the art form, one another, and their individual creative potential. We value building common ground between people through dance and authentically connecting communities in ways that go beyond the stage in the Alleghany Highlands as well as New York City. It’s a unique thing to be based in both an urban and a rural setting and so exciting to connect professional dancers from VA and WV with those from the city inside my dances.
As a person who grew up in the Shenandoah Valley and was connected to the Alleghany Highlands all my life through my family, friends, and so many artists living in the surrounding area that I’ve worked with over the past three decades, it was a dream of mine to expand Cora’s work here. Forming Cora Dance Alleghany in 2020 was the manifestation of that. Now I enjoy not only working with professional artists and local youth in both places as a choreographer and teacher, but I also get to see my dancers and students travel, intersect, and dance with one another in both communities and build lasting connections in new ways.”
When asked about what she enjoys most about doing business in Clifton Forge and supporting our wonderful arts community, she shared, “Coming together to collaborate is my favorite part of the work we do here. The people, the excitement about arts, the incredible spaces that exist here for performance, and the spirit of connection are all enormous assets to the kind of work we do at CDA. Hearing the enthusiasm of families and audience members who express that offering our performances and classes in a way that is within their financial reach and how meaningful that has been to them is so rewarding.
We love partnering with so many exceptional organizations: The Alleghany Highlands YMCA, Boys Home, Clifton Forge School of the Arts, the Historic Masonic Theatre, Total Action for Progress (TAP), The Town of Clifton Forge Armory and so many others has really made our work here for the past three years feel part of a collective effort toward artistic opportunities for everyone. We look forward to many years of sharing dance with the community here.”
Stay tuned for Cora Dance’s upcoming events:
- Previewing “Because” at the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School on February 20. Watch the trailer.
- Company Performance at the Clifton Forge School of the Arts’ The Color of Movement exhibition on March 1 from 5-6 p.m.
- Youth Showcase at the Masonic Theatre on April 27. Tickets coming soon!