Main Navigation
Preschool Programs
Outreach
Home Children’s Dance Theatre

Children’s Dance Theatre

Children’s Dance Theatre (CDT), a company of dancers ages 8 to 18, is the major performing arm of the Tanner Dance Program. CDT presents a new work each year with original choreography, music, and costumes at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre and other professional venues throughout Utah. The company has earned state, national, and international recognition, and is the second-oldest performing arts organization in Utah. CDT’s mission is to develop young people into creative problem solvers, powerful performers and compassionate community members, while providing professional and engaging performances for audiences of all ages.

Join our legacy of excellence in dance! Our company of nearly 200 dancers participate in our fully produced annual concert at Utah's acclaimed Capitol Theatre along with other  performance opportunities  in professional venues throughout the year. Tanner Dance offers the unique tradition of live musicians in class, and students additionally benefit from original scores for their choreography and collaborating with professional musicians. Our costume shop continues to construct expertly designed costumes to enhance the dancer's experience. CDT dancers have opportunities to travel and perform in conferences around the world. Past tours include Taiwan, Denmark, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Jamaica, Brazil, Canada, New York, Washington DC, and Seattle.

We remain committed to Virginia Tanner's original mission to give students the opportunity to share their own voices through the medium of dance. We have retained our position as an internationally-recognized leader in arts education. Our methodology develops young dancers into engaged adults through creative exploration. CDT is the premiere program for the development of young performing artists.

 

Join the Tanner Dance community and audition with us Monday, April 21 at 6:00 & 7:30 PM.

7th and 8th grade audition sign-up

9th - 12th grade audition sign-up

CDT Calendar

Youth Protection Training

All adults are required to complete the online Youth Protection Training prior to volunteering at Tanner Dance. This training can be completed here.

Once you have completed the training, please email a copy of your completion certificate to jennifer.killpack-knutsen@utah.edu

Credit is non-transferable between parents, meaning if one parent completes the training and background check, the other will not be able to participate in volunteer opportunities involving children like monitoring, carpool driving, etc. Please reach out to the office with any questions: tannerdance@utah.edu

 

Background Checks

In addition to the training, at least one parent from each family (the parent who will be most involved with the studio i.e. monitoring, studio carpool driving, etc.) is required to initiate a background check, which will last for three years. Credit is nontransferable between parents.

The University also accepts documentation of a background check from a public school through a local school district from the past three years in lieu of this. You may send that documentation to jennifer.killpack-knutsen@utah.edu

 

Once you complete the background check request form, Tanner Dance will initiate the process for you. Please look for an email from applicationstation@certifi.com to complete your background check. 

Volunteer Recording System

Volunteer opportunity sign-ups and hours recording are now handled through TrackItForward. The 20 hour requirement will start over each June. Please use the form below to record volunteer hours.

Your donations help support the Children's Dance Theatre