Classes

Spring Registration is Open!

CYT Dallas Fort-Worth offers classes over the course of three sessions during the school year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. Weekly classes last for two hours and run for ten consecutive weeks. A variety of classes are offered in drama, voice, dance, and specialty classes that vary per session. Most of the classes are small to ensure personal attention and growth. At the end of a CYT session, students will come away with improved skills in the area of emphasis. During the last week of class, a high-energy showcase is presented by each class to demonstrate to other students, family, and friends what they have learned.

Enrolled students, ages 8 – 18, have the opportunity to audition for a CYT Broadway-style musical! Younger students may serve as ushers at CYT shows, and students ages 13 and up may work on a backstage crew.

Classes may include but are not limited to:
  • Wiggles (Ages 4-5)
  • Our Gang (Ages 6-7) 
  • Dance/Movement
  • Drama 
  • Voice
  • Musical Theater
  • Auditions and Callbacks 
  • Comedy and Improv 
  • Technical Theater; such as Makeup, Set Design, etc.
  • Stunts and Combat.
Classes are held once a week for two hours, and run for ten consecutive weeks. During the tenth class week, a showcase is presented in which each class performs a brief prepared presentation, showcasing what they have learned over the session. Every CYT student participates in the Class Showcase!  

Current Classes:

Class: Age: Chapter: Location: Day: Time: Start: End:
CYT Black Box: Straight Play 14-18 Denton County
(Spring 2020)		 Lamb of God Lutheran Church Tue 6:00pm - 8:00pm Mar 03 May 12
Middle School Musical: Kids Voice 8-10 Denton County
(Spring 2020)		 Lamb of God Lutheran Church Tue 6:00pm - 8:00pm Mar 03 May 12
Modern & Jazz 11-18 Denton County
(Spring 2020)		 Lamb of God Lutheran Church Tue 6:00pm - 8:00pm Mar 03 May 12
Our Gang: Mary Poppins 4-7 Denton County
(Spring 2020)		 Lamb of God Lutheran Church Tue 6:00pm - 8:00pm Mar 03 May 12
Sew Awesome!: Adult Sewing Class 19-79 Denton County
(Spring 2020)		 Lamb of God Lutheran Church Tue 6:00pm - 8:00pm Mar 03 May 12
The Actor in Transition: From Presentational to Three-Dimensional 11-13 Denton County
(Spring 2020)		 Lamb of God Lutheran Church Tue 6:00pm - 8:00pm Mar 03 May 12
Vocal Power: Shrek 11-18 Denton County
(Spring 2020)		 Lamb of God Lutheran Church Tue 6:00pm - 8:00pm Mar 03 May 12

I cannot even begin to describe the impact that CYT has had on my life. There I was, welcomed with open arms, despite all of the flaws I thought made me so undesirable.

Alexandra Gandy, CYT Student

Current Teachers:

Dana Taylor

Dana Taylor holds a degree in vocal music from West Texas A&M University and has worked as a high school and middle school choral director for 30 years. She has also done masters level study in vocal pedagogy – specific to the adolescent voice. Along the way, she has music directed many high school musicals as well as directed and choreographed for show choirs. She has sung professionally in Santa Fe and New York and appeared in DFW theatres such as Lyric Stage in Irving, Garland Summer Musicals in Garland and was thrilled to be in the regional premiere of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Uptown Players. Dana currently is the voice instructor at McKamy Middle School in Flower Mound and also teaches voice and piano in her home studio. She is a judge for UIL choir competitions, a local high school musical awards program and serves as a frequent accompanist for choirs and musical auditions.

Elise Dolan

Elise Dolan is originally from Rockford, Illinois. She has trained in various types of dance including Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Contemporary, and Modern. Prior to moving to Dallas, she danced at Steps to Grace Dance Academy and performed with their ensemble team for 7 years. Elise was involved with CYT Rockford and performed in musicals at her high school and a community theater. She trained and toured the country with Ingredients Dance Company from 2010-2012. She has also been teaching dance for 6 years at A Time to Dance Studio in Hickory Creek, TX. Elise has loved being back with CYT this last year and has had the honor of choreographing their first four shows! She is always thrilled to get the chance to instruct other dancers on how to grow in their movement and technique and to help them learn what God has called them to do with their gifts and talents. And most importantly how to worship God in everything they do! She loves being apart of the CYT family and is excited to continue to watch it grow!

Kate Gesch

Kate Gesch holds a bachelor’s degree in Arts Management and Musical Theatre from Eastern Michigan University, where she stage managed for the theatre and dance departments. Her resume includes Studio Manager for Dance Gallery Studio/Peter Sparling Dance Company in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Stage Manager for the Undermain Theatre in Dallas, Texas, and Box Office and Promotions Manager for the Department of Dance and Theatre at the University of North Texas. Since joining CYT Dallas in 2016, Kate has served as Managing Director, Production Stage Manager, CYT@Schools Instructor, and Camp Director. She also recently directed the MainStage musical, Alice: A Wonder-full New Musical.

Kathryn Bailey

Kathryn has 23 years dance experience, with training in Jazz, Modern, Ballet and Hip Hop. She trained and performed nationally with Ingredients Dance Company from 2011 to 2012. After graduating from the Ingredients Training Program, she began teaching at A Time To Dance Studio, where she taught jazz and modern classes for 6 years, as well as co-directing their performance company. She is passionate about pulling instruction, choreography and performance together in a way that will enrich the whole life of each student. She believes every moment from stepping into class, to stepping on the stage is a chance to share the genuine joy and inspiration of the Lord, to His glory and our delight.

Kimmy Durham

Kimmy is a newlywed who recently moved to Dallas, Texas from California. She spent her childhood in a dance studio, and eventually found the musical theater stage as a young teen. She went on to teach musical theater at public schools in LA county while pursuing her passion for acting in films in Hollywood. In 2017, she relocated to Sacramento, Ca to work at Bayside Church where she helped launch Thrive Arts Academy’s Musical Theater program. While working there, she met her now husband, Matt, and they made the leap of faith to move to Texas to start their life together. Kimmy is incredibly passionate about helping churches believe in the arts, and helping students believe that they truly are God’s masterpiece.

Michele Thrasher

Michele Thrasher has been in love with the theatre since she was a little girl. Being on stage is what makes her feel alive, and she feels her adoration for the stage and gift of performing in front of people is a gift that the Lord has blessed her with. She enjoys making people laugh and excels in comedy and improv. She wants to use her talents to make much of the Lord and loves encouraging students that that they can be strong artists and have strong faith, believing you do not have to compromise what you believe in order to excel. She has traveled nationwide with the Christian company, Clear Vision Drama Company, and has performed with Dare to Share in front of audiences as big as 10,000 as a part of their drama team. She has performed alongside big name Christian artists such as Propaganda and Shane and Shane. She has also been the spokesperson for The Container Store in their Facebook Live Videos. When she is not acting she enjoys drinking copious amounts of coffee and exploring nature with her husband.

Molly Akin

Costume Design is so much more to me than putting clothes on bodies; it is my art of storytelling. Through it I consider character and movement, mood and setting to bring concept to life, convey resonating truths, and create understanding. We can often forget about the beauty of this life - costumes remind us. We get so busy we forget to laugh - costumes stimulate us. We all want to feel alive - costumes pull at our heartstrings. There is joy to be possessed, laughter to be had, empathy to be embraced. My goal in life is to tell a meaningful story filled with Truth, time and time again. Paint and fabrics are my words. A love of humanity is my storyline. Costuming with a Purpose is my title.

Teachers

A CYT Teacher’s mission is to train and instruct students in such a way as to promote the development of character, self-esteem, and confidence. CYT teachers are qualified and experienced in the area in which they teach. They have been trained in the CYT methods of instruction and agree with the CYT values and outcome goals.  All CYT teachers have been background checked and adhere to our CYT Mission and Values. Our teachers truly care about their students and provide a constructive and fun environment for them to learn.

If you are interested in teaching, please email your cover letter and resume to dallas@cyt.org.

Showcase

Parents, friends, and relatives are invited to attend CYT's Showcase performance on the last day of classes, free of charge! Showcase is the grand finale of each session of classes, at which every class develops a presentation of the material and skills they have learned and rehearsed during the session. Don't miss the action!

Curriculum

CYT offers a wide variety of classes, and they all enable students to gain valuable theater arts training, develop confidence and make friends! CYT is currently teaching over 50 different curriculum in a variety of musical theater areas. Please note these classes vary per session.