Faculty

Resident CDT Faculty

Staff photos by Jennifer Schaaf Photography

Erika Alloway began her dance training Dance Centre North and the Center for Ballet and Dance Arts in Syracuse, NY, and is a graduate of BalletMet Columbus' Pre-Professional and Professional Trainee Programs under the direction of Gerard Charles.

Most recently, Erika has performed and choreographed for CDT's Dancer's Making Dances and was a winner of the 2014 Columbus Dance Fellowship. She has also guest performed the role of Sugar Plum Fairy for the Warren County Theatre Project from 2016-2018 as well as Rose in the premier of I Will Wait. Notable favorite CDT roles include Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, the premiere performance of Anne: Diary in Dance, in which she originated the role of Anne Frank, and title role of the encore performance of Claudel, which won the 2015 Greater Columbus Arts Council's Artistic Excellence Award. Erika has also enjoyed performing works by Jaime Kotrba, Seth Wilson, Stella Kane, Laura Wade, and Jan Erkert.

Erika is thrilled to be returning to CDT for her tenth season as a Company Member, the Young Children’s Division Director, and CDT’s Managing Director. Erika has enjoyed guest teaching around Columbus.

Josephine Duncan began her dance training at age 3 at BalletMet Dance Academy. She continued on at Shelby Bakie’s School of Dance. At 11 years old, Joey started her training at Columbus Dance Theatre in the Intensive Training Program. Since then, Joey has been training at CDT for the past eight years. One of her favorite roles was Colonel Hathi in “The Jungle Book”. Joey is very excited for the 23-24 Season. Joey is a teacher and teacher helper in our Young Children’s Division.

Brennan Johnson began his dance career through musical theatre at the age of eight. Some of his favorite roles that he has performed include Prince Eric (The Little Mermaid), Sam Craig (Our Town), and Mr. McQueen (Urinetown). Brennan also performed alongside his father in numerous variety-style charity shows around Columbus with Columbus Entertainment Productions 4 Charity. Brennan started his ballet training at the age of 16, where he attended BalletMet for three years under Tim Lynch and Daryl Kamer. He then became a full time student at Columbus Dance Theatre at the age of 19, where he performed in works such as Matchgirl, La Bayadère, Exodus, and O. Twist. Brennan teaches in both the ITP and the Young Children’s Division.

Gavin Mark McNally started training with the Fort Wayne Ballet at the age of eight. He furthered his studies at Interlochen Arts Academy. He then moved on to study with Violette Verdy at Indiana University. Gavin then joined the Kansas City Ballet, performing works by; Todd Bolender, George Balanchine, and Twyla Tharp. In New York City, he furthered his movement studies in aerial, acrobalance, and breakdance, performing with various companies including Janusphere, The NYC Tranzformers, and Team AntiGravity. In addition to dance, he is a professional cosmetologist, makeup artist, and marching band flag constructor. Mr. McNally is pleased to teach in the ITP Program.

Chloe Mellblom, began teaching dance at age 16 by volunteering at the local recreation center. She then furthered her teaching by staying involved in children’s camps throughout the Summers as well as becoming a Summer camp counselor through BalletMet. After joining CDT and graduating from the Intensive Training Program, Chloe became a teacher in the Young Children’s Division as well as in the ITP Program. “CDT has opened so many doors for me with teaching and choreography. I love every second of my classes and teaching children the art of dance.”

Jenna Swartz began her dance training at Enterline's Dance Center and the Williamsport Civic Ballet in Central Pennsylvania and has attended summer programs at The Rock School, The Joffrey Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. She graduated from Mercyhurst University (Erie, PA) with a BA in Pre-Physical Therapy and a BFA in Dance under the instruction of Tauna Hunter, C. Noelle Partusch, Lesley Scalise, and Jennifer McNamara.

While in school, Jenna was a company member with SoMar Dance Works and then joined Seiche Dance Collective (Erie, PA) as a company artist, performing classical, contemporary, and jazz works, as well as debuting original choreography. While living in Erie, Jenna also choreographed for the Erie Dance Film Festival, worked as a remote artist for Dissonance Dance Theatre (Philadelphia, PA), taught a variety of ages at local studios, and served as the rehearsal director and choreographer for Erie Contemporary Ballet Theatre. Jenna is very excited to be joining CDT for her second season, teaching in the Young Children's Division and around the Columbus area too!