Celebrated dancer and choreographer Jay Staten has stepped into a legacy of excellence — and is bringing his full spectrum of experience to COCA as its new Artistic Director of Dance.
Staten, who relocated from New York City and officially began his role on February 22, enters to helm a program that is both thriving and evolving. This semester alone, COCA’s Dance Program includes more than 630 students — from toddlers discovering rhythm to adults rediscovering movement — and 47 dancers in its rigorous Pre‑Professional Division. Staten will guide the curriculum, shape the artistic vision, and oversee productions that have become a hallmark of COCA’s impact on the region’s arts landscape.
“Jay Staten is a visionary dancer, choreographer, and dance educator committed to COCA’s mission,” said Shawna Flanigan, Senior Director of Artistic Strategy & Programs. “His breadth of understanding and connections will provide COCA’s dance students with an exciting lens to view their future opportunities.”
A native of Washington, D.C., and a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, Staten’s artistic footprint spans nearly every corner of the dance world. He has performed as a soloist in After Midnight on Broadway, danced in Fire Shut Up in My Bones — which had its world premiere in St. Louis by way of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis — at both The Metropolitan Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago, and served as a principal dancer with PHILADANCO!. His credits also include work with Spectrum Dance Theater and Camille A. Brown & Dancers — companies known for pushing the boundaries of contemporary and culturally rooted movement.
Behind the scenes, Staten has shaped productions as Associate Choreographer for Toni Stone and Fire Shut Up in My Bones, and as Dance Captain for Dreamgirls and the Broadway workshop of Super Fly. He founded “Bring It to the Marley,” a program that creates performance opportunities and scholarships for young dancers, and co‑founded D3, PHILADANCO!’s pre‑professional youth company. His teaching career includes The Juilliard School, Webster University, University of the Arts, and Chapman University.
“Leading the dance program at COCA feels like stepping into my life’s work,” Staten said. “My vision is to not only mentor the next generation, but to learn from these talented young artists and connect deeply with the rich history and culture of the St. Louis community.”
Staten’s appointment follows the impactful tenures of Antonio Douthit‑Boyd and Kirven Douthit‑Boyd, who led COCA’s dance program for nearly a decade. During their leadership, the program expanded its national profile, strengthened its Pre‑Professional Division, and deepened its commitment to access and excellence — setting a strong foundation for the next chapter Staten now steps into.
Staten joins COCA at a moment when the organization is celebrating 40 years as one of the most diverse and impactful cultural institutions in the region. COCA’s mission — to enrich lives and build community through the arts — is reflected in its reach: more than 65,000 students, families, artists, and audience members from over 300 zip codes engage with COCA each year. As the fourth‑largest multidisciplinary arts organization in the country, COCA supports more than 200 artists whose work spans schools, community centers, cultural organizations, and COCA’s own campus.
That scale and commitment to community are part of what makes Staten’s arrival feel both timely and transformative.
“We are profoundly honored and energized to welcome Jay as the next steward of COCA’s long‑standing excellence in arts education,” said Indigo Sams, COCA’s President and CEO. “Jay represents both the continuation of our legacy and a bold leap into what’s next for dance at COCA. His vision, artistry, and commitment to young people will not only build upon our strong foundation, but expand the horizons of dance education — igniting imagination, opening new pathways, and inspiring the next generation of artists to see themselves as creators, leaders, and change‑makers.”