Charla Genn began her professional career in South Africa with Johannesburg City Ballet and Cape Town City Ballet; has danced as a soloist and principal dancer with Bat-Dor Dance Company (Israel) and the Eglevsky Ballet, under Edward Villella. After two years as ballet mistress and principal dancer with New York Festival Dance Theater, she became its Associate Artistic Director.
In 1985, she co-founded Ballet Manhattan with her husband, Paul Croitoroo. As Ballet Manhattan’s Artistic Director and principal dancer, she performed in the major theaters and opera houses in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Peoples Republic of China, and throughout Europe, Canada and the USA. Ms. Genn also served as Rehearsal Director and Assistant to Septime Webre when he directed American Repertory Ballet.
Currently, Ms. Genn instructs professional ballet company classes in New York City at American Ballet Theatre, Dance Theater of Harlem, Ballet Hispanico, the Metropolitan Opera, The Juilliard School, Les Ballet de Trockedero and at Steps on Broadway. In addition, she works as guest ballet master at Dance Theater of Harlem. She also coaches professional ballet dancers, which include dancers from the San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Berlin Ballet,The Norwegian Ballet, The Washington Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, Dance Theater of Harlem and The Dutch National Ballet. Ms. Genn is also a Dance Rehabilitation Specialist who works one on one with professional ballet dancers recovering from injuries and surgery.
Ms. Genn has been a guest teacher for The Royal Ballet School, The Hong Kong Ballet, The Washington Ballet, Alberta Ballet, Ballet Rambert, Munipal Ballet of Lima, Batsheva Dance Company, Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Body Traffic, LA Dance Project, South African Ballet Theatre, Cape Town City Ballet, The Hong Kong Academy, Japan Ballet Society, Royal Academy of Dancing Summer Schools, and Richmond School of Dance and Pro Arte Center in Vancouver.