Jay Staten

Artistic Director of Dance

Jay Staten joined COCA as Artistic Director of Dance in February 2026.  

Jay’s career spans Broadway, opera, television, and dance education. A native of Washington, D.C., and a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, his diverse performance credits include appearing as a soloist in After Midnight on Broadway, Fire Shut Up in My Bones at The Metropolitan Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago, and as a former company member of Spectrum Dance Theater, The Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO!), and Camille A. Brown & Dancers. 

Beyond performance, Jay is a dedicated creative leader and mentor. He has served as Associate Choreographer for the play Toni Stone, the opera Fire Shut Up in My Bones, and Camille A. Brown’s I AM. He also served as Dance Captain for Dreamgirls (Dallas Theater Center), the Broadway workshop of Super Fly (Bill T. Jones), and the opera X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. 

Jay’s commitment to the next generation of artists is central to his mission. He is the founder of “Bring it to the Marley,” a community initiative providing performance opportunities and scholarships to youth, and the co-founder and artistic director of D3, PHILADANCO!’s pre-professional youth company. He is a former judge for the Youth America Grand Prix and National Dance Showcase.  A former master teacher at institutions like Webster University, University of the Arts, Alabama State University, Chapman University, The Juilliard School, and the University of Richmond, to name a few. A proud member of The Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), and The International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD). Jay is passionate about nurturing talent and building a healthy community.