THE JUNIOR TRAINING PROGRAM

About

The Junior Training Program (JTP) is designed for the next generation of dancers seeking additional training to complement their current studio or program commitments. The program is neither a dance studio nor a competitive team, but instead aimed at fostering a nurturing environment for continuous growth. The JTP provides extra training to eager artists & is unique in its structure as it is not meant to be a dancers sole training, but instead a complimentary addition. Here at Koin & Co, the goal is to have dancers pursue as many training opportunities as possible, while honoring the importance and consistency of each dancer’s home-studio training.

Program Structure

The program runs September - May, and is comprised of two semesters, Fall & Spring. Training is held once a week on Sundays, at Pearl Studios located in midtown NYC. The JTP is limited to 30 or less dancers every season - as we are not a studio, the capacity is limited to a select, unique group. Each Sunday is comprised of a unique roster of teachers/genres, to best push & grow each dancer towards a versatile career. In this day and age, dancers are not needed to have one specialty but are required to simply, do it all - dancing, singing, acting, special skills, etc,. The Sundays are long days, and truly geared towards the dancers who are hungry, open and willing to be challenged - not for the dancers who are socially-focused, seek praise & want special attention. The schedules is true to one of a working dancer in the industry, and is built to cover every genre of training. Koin & Co is proud to offer the only incredibly diverse training program for dancers, that is actually focused on the training!

Elements included within the Junior Training Program

Resident Educators

Each semester has two resident educators, a technical resident & a diversity resident! These educators work closely with the dancers to educate & aid in building their professional networks. Their responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Teaching the dancers twice a month, with two-hour sessions.

• Mentorship to help build dancers’ professional network.

• Casting, creating & setting a piece - giving dancers the opportunity to see the educators full process (training, casting, choreography)

Past residents include Andrew Mulet, Emily Greenwell, Judith McCarty, Matt Deloch, Carlos Neto, Emily Bufferd, SKooJ, Justin Schaffner

Juan Rodriguez, Terry Tsu, Shannon Atkins, James Alonzo, Julia Kane & more!

Mock Audition Series

Throughout the season the year-round trainees work with all major NYC talent agencies via the Mock Audition Series (MAS)! The MAS is a true test of the dancers, as of their hard work & training is put into action by having agents/choreographers leading these mock auditions. Through the MAS, there have been numerous dancers receive agency representation, meetings or have even started their connection with a future agent. Over the last eight years we have been fortunate to have many dancers receives agency representation;

Bloc Talent Agency: Kiana Rodriguez, Marina Krumins-Beens, Robbie Sioch, Hope Irish, & Anaih Melenciano

CESD Talent Agency: Julia Russo, Celeste Maniero, Jessica Santa, Kayla Capato, Adriana Ciociano, Mia Ciociano, & Nicollete Ciociano

Clear Talent Agency: Hayatt Kiki

MSA Talent Agency: Giada Leigh, Daneya Celestin, Madison Arce, Avivah Hernandez

Resume/CV Building

A resume is every dancer’s key to success! A dancer’s resume is normally the first impression made on any audition and needs to professionally and accurately represent your brand. As Koin & Co Founder & Director Ali likes to say, “you wouldn’t buy a vacuum without reading about the features first.” Many artists new to the industry don’t always understand what exactly is needed for a resume, which is JTP dancers receive “how-to” seminars & consistent feedback on their ever-developing resumes.

Reel Creation

Much like a resume, a dancers’ reel is equally as important as their resume! Reels can be assumed as various clips strung together, or a “highlight reel” but in reality nether are true. The JTP receives hands-on reel seminars, reel footage filming opportunities and virtual aid to create an outstanding reel that represents each dancer’s brand, as well as themselves as an artist for hire.

Photo Shoots

Twice a year, Koin & Co offers photo shoots! The first being in September, “The Welcome Shoot,” the second in March, “March Madness.” These shoots are to provide the dancers with the necessary media to keep up with their brand and social media. The shoots are done in an age-appropriate, classy atmosphere, with themes that are fun & bright. Every dancer leaves the shoots with a new head shot & a minimum of two dance shots that are submission quality!

Seminars

On topics from Social Media Branding to networking - the dancers get to hear a variety of experiences from different industry leaders! It is the teachers way of giving back and helping pave the path of success to the next generation of working dancers. Seminars are held during the lunch break, and are jam-packed with knowledge for dancers to soak up!

Full Program Piece

During the season there are a variety of non-competitive, professional performance opportunities that pop-up & are offered to the Junior Training Program. All of the performance opportunities are 100% optional & additional - there is no requirement for participating or repercussion for not participating. Due to the occasional optional performance opportunity, there is a full program piece that is set on the entire program. In the past, the style has been unique every season - contemporary, street jazz, lyrical, Latin fusion, etc,. The style is changed every season to challenge the dancers & have them get familiar with performing a new style, while also giving them an opportunity to work with an industry choreographer. This piece is used for all of the mentioned optional performances, as well as for our Spring Showcase. Previous choreographers for this have been Hayden J Frederick, Miles Keeney, Michelle Barber, Ashlé Dawson, Jona Show & most recently Josh Assor!

Mandatory Dates

There are only FOUR required dates each season; this is to best respect each dancer’s home studio commitments!

• “The Welcome Shoot” hosted & photographed by Full Out Creative;

  • Season Nine date: September 29th, 2024.

• The last Saturday & Sunday in December full program piece rehearsals;

  • Season Nine dates: December 28th & 29th, 2024.

• The Spring Showcase; the showcase in June;

  • Season Nine date: June 22nd, 2025.

• Tech rehearsal at the theater; Wednesday evening prior to the showcase;

  • Season Nine date: June 18th, 2025 3-9pm

Spring Showcase

The season ends with an incredible Spring Showcase, that cultivates the time & work executed while training with Koin & Co! The showcase is put together in a short amount of time keeping true with industry time-frame. Each dancer is cast in a minimum of three pieces & has the opportunity to be cast in many more, based on their year-round integrity. The showcase features pieces in every style to best show our dancers in the most versatile format. The showcase is split into two shows, Industry (4p) & Family & Friends (6p) - the industry showcase is for invited agents & industry professionals to have a private viewing of the dancers, while the Family & Friends show is just that, for family & friends to enjoy! Traditionally, a cast party is held after the second show at a venue nearby the theater.

Junior Training Program Director Ali was once a young dancer who came eagerly to New York City, only to find herself feeling unprepared for what was required to be a successful working artist. Ali has created the ultimate program for young dancers to further expand their knowledge of what is expected in the industry, while refraining from imposing on current studio/program commitments.

Dancers are invited not based on talent alone, but on their personality & professionalism as a whole.

" Koin & Co strives to invite dancers with kind hearts & open minds into the JTP, as their mission is to

develop not only exceptional dancers, but all-around kind humans as well!”

​