Take five local dancers who love to dance and sprinkle in hundreds of students they teach every year in schools around the Mountain Area and you have Community Dance and Theater. The new community based dance studio opened its doors in June in Coarsegold.

Artistic Director Teena Hagerman has been in the mountains teaching and volunteering her time to the children of Coarsegold and Oakhurst for a decade. She, along with Annie Williams, Jennifer Moore and Shelby Jacobs -- all who have been dancing side by side with Hagerman for 10 years -- have opened the business together.

A newcomer in the mix is Pharaoh Henderson, a hip hop/break dance instructor.

"Simply put, we opened CDAT because we love to dance and create," Moore said.

Valinda Chantrell is at the helm of the business side of CDAT - Valinda worked with the Oregon Ballet for eight years so it was only fitting to bring her on as the studio manager and community events organizer.

This crew of six is dedicated to bringing the arts to all who want to dance and act. They currently volunteer their time teaching classes in three schools in Coarsegold and hope to bring the 'shake the floor dance and theater program' to Oakhurst soon.

Class prices are low so people can afford to allow their children to be involved. Single family parents and grandparents get an additional discount.

"When it comes to the community, we give back," said Hagerman. "We have kids dancing that would not be if we did not reach out and pay it forward."

Community Dance and Theater has a performance crew that will perform in Central California and around the state.

"This is an ego-free zone and a place to inspire, create and perform together," Hagerman said.

The studio teaches classes in jazz, contemporary, ballet, hip-hop, break dance, pop and lock, lyrical and theater.

"We are raising strong, young people through performance,' Hagerman said. "We have seen the shyest of kids come into Teena's world and when they leave, they are strong, confident and ready to take on the world."

The crew of five have together produced, directed and performed in more than 200 shows in the Mountain Area and beyond. This studio belongs to the mountain community so stop by and see what we have created for you and your family.

The studio is located at 35686 Highway 41 right next to Coarsegold salon.

Details: (559) 642-6555, communitytheateranddance.net.