Published: August 28, 2008 09:58 am         

Ballet school has new name

Staff Report

The Cooperstown School of Ballet is getting a new name. Owner Alma Curtis announced that the school, which is located on 103 Main St. in the Key Bank building on the third floor, will adopt the new name Cooperstown Performing Arts.

Curtis said the school’s newly adopted name reflects the expansion of the programs being offered to students. ``This will give us an opportunity to diversify and discover new interests in many different elements of dance,’’ Curtis said. ``With the new name, I believe we are going towards the right direction along with our new offerings.’’

Curtis said Shannah Kane has been appointed to the position of artistic director.

This will be her third year teaching at the dance school. She is a graduate of Dean College, graduating Phi Theta Kappa. Shannah received her bachelor’s degree in dance. She participated in the New York State Summer School of the Arts Program in Saratoga, N.Y., and with the Alvin Ailey Dance Intensive, as well.

Kane was a featured soloist with the Impulse Dance Company and was a member of the She-Figured Dance, located near Boston. Kane is a current member of the Phoenix Project Danse Theatre Company in Norwich.

``Shannah is an excellent dance instructor, a wonderful individual and a tremendous asset to our school,’’ said Curtis.