The CHCA Theatre Department and Dance Department have joined forces to bring the story of The Wizard of Oz to life! In this Gr 6-8 musical classic, Dance Academy/Gr 9-12 Dance Teacher Melissa Kidd and dance student Claire Fancett '26 support Director Anna Brink by choreographing and teaching fun songs like "The Jitterbug" and "If I Only Had a Brain." 

Melissa Kidd has 30 years of training in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary/lyrical, pom, hip hop, kick and acro as well as 15+ years of instruction/choreography experience. She is certified in injury prevention, rehab, and dancer specific training on the Pilates Reformer. She was the Founding Director of CHCA's Dance program, and her choreography and routines have won CHCA several regional and national titles. Melissa's experience includes training under the Cincinnati Ballet and members of the New York City and Boston Ballets. Miss Kidd has also choreographed for the Christian rapper "Gyfted" and had her choreography featured on ESPN and FoxSports Network. Melissa currently judges for over 30 dance event producers in cities across the United States in both the all-star and studio competition circuit where she has also served as a judging coordinator/trainer. To learn more about the CHCA Dance Academy, visit www.chca-oh.org/dance. 

Claire Fancett is a freshman at CHCA and has over 12 years of dance experience, as well as many years of theatre experience. You may recall seeing her as Molly in Annie last fall as an eighth grader! Claire's dream is to study dance in college, so she is offering her time and expertise assisting Melissa Kidd with this choreography. Claire is an excellent helper, dancer, and problem-solver. We'll surely see her choreographing on her own in no time!

Anna Brink is thrilled to have Melissa and Claire on her team to contribute their gifts and talents to our Gr 6-8 musical theatre students (along with Mara Wright, Assistant Director, and Adele Enns, Vocal Director)! And although their journey to see the Wizard has just begun, we hope that you will save the date to see this spectacular classic in January: 01/13/22 at 7:00 p.m., 1/14/22 at 7:00 p.m., and 1/15/22 at 3:00 p.m. Visit www.chca-oh.org/CurrentShow and click on ShowTix4U. Ticket sales are open!