Family legacy, complementary strengths and a genuine love for dance – for Corey and Jenna Snide, these are the core of their artistry and success. In their upstate New York school, Capital District Arts Initiative (CDAI), the emphasis is on sweat equity and treating one another like family. The owners and faculty push students toward excellence while insisting that the process be grounded in respect, humility and care. The warmth and energy come directly from its founders, brother and sister Corey Snide and Jenna Snide-Papielion. Their shared history and bond are woven into the DNA of the studio itself. “Our school is a place where choreography isn’t just movement,” Jenna says. “It’s a way of belonging.”
For Corey and Jenna, dance was never a choice, it was part of the family fabric. Their mother was a talented clogger; their father modeled a tenacious work ethic. “Our mom was always backstage with the costumes, the glue gun, the sequins,” Jenna recalls. “Dad was the one pushing us to be our best.” Their mother first enrolled them in classes at a local studio called Eleanor’s. Corey admits his start was a slow burn. “For the first few months, I just watched,” he laughs. “I was really engaged, but didn’t participate until about three months in. Then I jumped in and never stopped.”
The siblings trained with excellent local teachers, including Anthony Morigerato, who set them on a trajectory toward tap excellence. “We were lucky,” Corey says. “We had the best in the area.” Corey’s talent carried him far – literally. He was cast as the title character in Billy Elliot the Musical, performing in both the Australian and West End companies. He went on to appear in the original Broadway cast of 13 the Musical, earned his degree from The Juilliard School, and returned to Broadway as dance captain in the revivals of Carousel and Cats. Most recently, he performed in the 2019 movie Cats and the 2020 revival of West Side Story.
Jenna, four years younger, stayed closer to home. She pursued a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a marketing concentration at the University at Albany. Even while studying, she taught young dancers and performed with regional companies. “I’ve always known I was meant to teach,” she says. “Helping others find their voice in movement is my passion.” Their paths may have diverged, but their purpose was the same – to keep dance, and family, at the center of everything.
“My earliest and strongest memories are of sharing creative space together,” Jenna says. She recalls Corey choreographing her first solo, to “Betty Boop,” complete with a sequined pantsuit. “She was the cutest thing ever,” Corey laughs. “Mom and Dad encouraged me to help her.” When Jenna won an award for that performance, she was too shy to go on stage. “Corey helped me up there,” she says softly. “That’s always been us, he gives me confidence.”
In 2020, when the pandemic shuttered theaters, Corey returned home to Albany. With Broadway dark and uncertainty hanging heavy, he and Jenna began brainstorming what might come next. “Let’s see what we can make,” Corey said one afternoon. And from that, CDAI was born. Jenna, newly out of college, brought a clear business vision. Corey brought artistic direction and experience. They started humbly with just four students in a rented black box theatre in Troy, NY. Soon after, Corey insisted, “We need our own space. No one will take us seriously until we do.” Jenna describes Corey as being the dreamer and herself as the realist. She felt they couldn’t afford it; her brother insisted that they had to. Together, they found their permanent home in Colonie, a suburb of Albany. “We built this from scratch,” Jenna says. “We were painting walls, laying floors, teaching classes – all of it. But we did it, together.”
With well over 100 students, it isn’t just the two of them that keeps things running. Their sister, Danielle, and sister-in-law, Amanda, are a vital part of the CDAI family, helping maintain the space, bookkeeping and cheering them on from behind the scenes. Other relatives lend hands wherever needed – fixing sets, organizing recitals or supporting events. “The studio really is a family production,” Jenna says. “And that’s reflected in our students. They learn that teamwork, respect and perseverance aren’t just studio values, they’re life values.” Corey adds, “Sometimes family can blur lines, but we never let the silly stuff get in the way. We teach our kids that, too.”
The siblings have shared countless emotional highs and lows. At the end of a particularly exhausting 2024 season, they produced the musical Rent, competed in a full competition circuit, and Jenna got married, all within months. After the final curtain call, the two stood center stage in the darkened theater, tears in their eyes. “We both just wept,” Jenna recalls. “It hit us that we’d done it – together.” Corey adds, “She’s had my back through everything. That moment was pure gratitude.”
Recently, Corey and Jenna performed their first true duet onstage together, two decades after they began dancing. “It was surreal,” Jenna says. “We finally shared the stage as adults, as equals.” Their circle has widened, too. Mentors and friends from their childhood studio, including Rachale Mullally, have returned to work with them. Mullally says, “Being a part of the CDAI family is something that inspires me on a daily basis. Having the opportunity to educate the next generation of dancers is so exciting when surrounded by a family who shares an infinite love for the same art form.”
The next generation of Snides now study at the school. “It really is a family affair,” Corey says. “We’re surrounded by people who helped raise us. Now we’re doing the same for the next generation.” He reflects that family and legacy go hand in hand. “That’s what keeps us moving forward.”
The siblings have learned plenty about balancing art, business and blood ties. Corey’s advice: “Keep your eye on only the things that help. Don’t let anything get in the way of family or the prize.” Jenna’s take: “Find your culture. Find your brand. Don’t let anyone make you feel your goals aren’t worthy. Family gives you your grounding, lean into that.” Together, they’ve transformed the familial values of loyalty, honesty and shared purpose into professional strengths.
For more information, visit www.capitaldistrictartsinitiative.com.
By Mary Carpenter of Dance Informa.
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