Ms. Lydia

Ms. Roberts Coco began her training under the direction of Thaddeus Hayes in Norfolk, Virginia.  She briefly trained with ODU Ballet and Tidewater Ballet.  She began her professional training with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center under a full scholarship.  Ms. Robert Coco was invited to become a member of the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble; Ailey’s junior company where she danced for three years.  She then went on to perform with the Jamison Project under the direction of Judith Jamison for one year.  Ms. Roberts Coco was also invited by Judith Jamison to dance with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.  She toured internationally as a principal dancer with the AAADT for seven years.  Her credits include leading roles in Pas De Duke, Night Creature, Fix Me Jesus from Alvin Ailey’s signature piece Revelations, Suite Otis and many others.  With her partner Desmond Richardson, Lydia traveled abroad to perform Pas De Duke (a ballet created for Mikhail Baryshnikov and Judith Jamison choreographed by Alvin Ailey) for various guest performances.

After retiring from AAADT in 1997, Ms. Roberts Coco taught ballet, modern and jazz, at the Russell School of Ballet (home of the Fairfax Ballet in Fairfax, Virginia).  She was on faculty with Virginia Ballet Theatre for three years where the enrollment in Modern tripled.  She has choreographed pieces for VBT II and Virginia Ballet Theatre.  Most recently, Ms. Roberts Coco has been touring with Athletes for Kids as a faculty member.