About Us

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND:
Park Avenue Dance Company celebrates over 30 years in motion. The company's mission is to encourage and develop Modern Contemporary Dance through choreography and performance (Park Avenue Dance Company), education (Modern Contemporary Dance classes and other styles of dance), and community involvement (Workshops, Residencies, and Performances). In keeping with our mission we are a non-profit  501(c)(3) organization. 

PARK AVENUE DANCE COMPANY:
The Company is under the direction of Christine Fendley. Members of the company audition through the advanced level Modern Contemporary Dance technique class. Company choreographers have the opportunity to present their work.  The company has appeared at the Memorial Art Gallery, the Choreographer Series at Monroe Community College and Pyramid Arts Center, the Annual Contemporary Dance Series and self-produces concerts throughout the year. Park Avenue Dance Company has been the recipient of several grants from the New York State Council on the Arts, New York State Legislature, Arts and Cultural Council of Greater Rochester, and The Wilmot Foundation, among others.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR:  Christine Fendley, founder, has taught children and adults dance for over 30 years. As an educator, performer and choreographer, Ms Fendley has taught for the Aesthetic Education Institute in Rochester and Albany, The Rochester AEI/Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning, through the artist-in-residence program of Project U.N.I.Q.U.E. and the Rochester City School District and through Young Audiences of Rochester. She was on the faculty at Nazareth College in the graduate Studies program teaching teachers the benefits of using dance in the classroom and has taught dance at Wells College, NY. Ms Fendley has developed programs for children in private and public schools. Her choreography has been presented at Kilbourn Hall at the Eastman School of Music, Wells College, Pyramid Arts Center's Dance Series, MCC Choreographer's Series, Park Avenue Dance Company's concerts, the Rochester Contemporary Dance Series, Finger Lakes Community College Composers Forum, and at ARTISANworks. She is the recipient of choreography grants for her interdisciplinary collaborative work in video, dance, music and theater from the New York State Council on the Arts, from the Wulitzer foundation and from the Wilmot Foundation.  She holds a BA in English, Drama and Dance from the University of Maryland and MA in Choreography and Perfomance from State University of New York at Brockport.

FACULTY:  To view our current Faculty, please follow here.

COMPANY:  To view our current Company Members, please follow here.

DANCE CLASSES:
The company offers an Adult Program and a Children's Program. The program is process-oriented. Each dancer is encouraged in a positive and supportive environment to reach his/her highest potential and create his/her own personal goal for achievement. Although Park Avenue Dance Company is a Contemporary Modern Dance organization, other styles of dance are offered in support and as an adjunct to that style. Artistic Director Christine Fendley has developed Modern Creative Dance Programs for a number of Rochester organizations and schools. For further information about each program see our course descriptions.

RESIDENCIES AND WORKSHOPS:
Members of the faculty and company are available for special workshops, residencies for organizations and schools, and community performances. Artistic Director Christine Fendley has created numerous workshops in schools.  For further consultations contact Ms. Fendley.

MASTER CLASS SERIES:
Park Avenue Dance Company has initiated a Master Class Series bringing noted Canadian contemporary dance choreographers and teachers to the Rochester area. Toronto is the equivalent of New York City in the Contemporary Dance world, producing cutting edge choreography and technique classes. We are happy to welcome our neighbors who bring their international experience to Rochester dancers. Previous classes have been offered by  Darryl Tracy, Heidi Strauss, Vicki St. Denys, Andrea Nann and Susie Burpee.

ORGANIZATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
- Dance audience development.
- Opportunities for independent choreographers to do their work.
- Classes in a variety of styles of dance open to the professional and general public.
- Special workshops and Residencies targeting special needs children, young children and mature adults.
- Community and Educational involvement through workshops and performances.

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY:
Park Avenue Repertory Dance Company prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, mental or physical disability, political belief or affiliation, veteran status or sexual orientation and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of the access to, admission or treatment of students in its programs and activities, or in employment and application for employment.

Created by Park Avenue Dance Company through a Capacity Building Grant from the Arts and Cultural Council of Rochester and the Rochester Area Foundation.