In 2001, RDT began in a local church basement under Ms. Jay Skeete- Lee’s direction with just 3 students. With the huge support of a few families, RDT found a home in the heart of Downtown Rahway. The current artistic director, Ms. Armanii, was a long time student and mentee of Ms. Lee’s before stepping into the honored role of ownership in 2020. Ms. Armanii graduated from Rutgers University with a BA in Anthropology and Dance. She is also a certified teacher of special education for public schools. Ms. Armanii has used her training, performance experience, and education background to sharpen her vision of evolving RDT’s purpose and reach.
At RDT, every student has equal opportunity to dance and to train at a high level. Our students study ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, modern, hip-hop, afro-modern, contemporary, and pas de deux. Dance is a great way for young people to learn how to express themselves, and it’s an educational tool for developing critical thinking and motor skills.
RDT serves the community as a bridge between beginner level dance and professional careers. Our students have attended programs such as Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey, and Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts. Graduating students have attended BFA programs such as Fordham, UArts, Montclair, and Rutgers. You can find our students dancing for professional companies, NBA teams, music videos, international tours, and as founders of their own companies.
