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 had the opportunity to learn from and perform with the professional Company. Brennan trained for one year as a student in CDT's Intensive Training Program, and then accepted a Trainee position with the Company the following year in 2018 under Executive Director, Jaime Kotrba, and Artistic Director, Seth Wilson. From there, he accepted an Apprentice position for the following year in 2019, and has since been a full time Company Dancer. During his time with the Company, Brennan has performed in many works such as Matchgirl, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Wonderment, and most recently, Alice: A Wonderland Ballet.  As a dancer with the Company, Brennan has had the wonderful opportunity to use and practice his choreographing skills, as well as his teaching skills.

Brennan is now beginning his third season as a teacher in the Young Children's Division and Intensive Training Program. He is very excited to return for his seventh season with Columbus Dance Theatre, as well as begin his second season as Columbus Dance Theatre’s Communications Director!

Terrence Meadows enters his 1st year of teaching with Columbus Dance Theatre.  Terrence has studied at various summer intensives such as ABT New York, Lines Ballet and Charlotte ballet all on full scholarship.  Also has performed in multiple Company productions including: Experiment II, Wonderment, Matchgirl, and the premieres of Our Town in 2019, Midsummer Nights Dream in 2022, and Firebird 2024. He is excited to be teaching in the Intensive Training Program for the 24/25 season!

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!