James (Jay) Moran...Theatre Instructor
Jay has been an instructor at Stratford Academy of Dance for the past three years. He currently teaches Recreational Teen Jazz, Petite Jazz Company, Petite Tap Company, Jazett 1,2, and 3, and is the instructor/show director of our new “Saturday Matinee” Theatre Company. Jay got his start in acting at the Strand Theatre in Seymour, Ct. where he was in productions such as the “Music Man”, “Bye Bye Birdie”, and “The Wizard of Oz”. He is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University where he received his B.A. in Performing Arts. While at Southern, he performed in such works as “Present Tense” (Norman Prescott), “Light up the Sky” (Owen Turner), “Spinning into Butter” (Greg Sullivan), “Streetcar named Desire” (Young Man), and “Fame”. Jay also performed at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., as well as Hershey Park, Pa.. He participated in the CSU New York Off Broadway showcase, in the show “Mates” as the lead role of Sylvia. He received a nomination for the annual Irene Ryan Scholarship from the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts American Theatre College for this performance. James has danced throughout New England and New York areas. He has received the Danny and Betty Hoctor Award for Excellence at Dance Caravan Nationals. Jay has also performed at Playhouse on the Green in Bridgeport. He recently was in the independent film “Bobby Dogs”. James was also in the Feature Films “Camp Hope”, and “Julie and Julia”. He also performed at the Dorian Art Center in the productions of “Six Degrees of Separation” and “For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls”. James joined the staff of Stratford Academy of Dance in 2005, and was a dancer in the Competition Dance Company from 2000-2005. He is also on staff in the dance department at the Regional Center for the Arts (RCA).