CLASSICAL BALLET OF WNY
About Us
Mission Statement
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At Classical Ballet of Western New York we are dedicated to offering a comprehensive ballet education that profoundly enriches the lives of our students. As a pillar of our local community since 2002, our mission is to cultivate the physical, intellectual, cultural, emotional, and social growth of each student through the disciplined art of dance. We strive to create an environment where young dancers can thrive, develop their talents, and build a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
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Our History
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The Lockport City Ballet was established in the historic city of Lockport in August 2002 by former professional ballet dancers William Gentes and Susannah Dwyer. In the Summer of 2004, the organization expanded to establish a second location, Classical Ballet of Western New York, in Williamsville.
The Nutcracker was first performed by our students alongside guest artists at the historic Palace Theater in Lockport in December of 2002. Every year students from both studio locations look forward to collaborating in bringing this beloved Christmas tradition to the stage.
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In June 2003, the inaugural Spring Performance took place at Lockport High School, providing students with a platform to showcase their growth and achievements to their loved ones and the community.
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Additionally, our students have participated in educational lecture demonstrations held at schools, libraries, and fairs. This offers valuable insights into the artistry and beauty of classical ballet and aims to enrich and educate the community.
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We are grateful to offer our students the opportunity to study with international guest teachers. Some of these have included:
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David Richardson, former New York City Ballet dancer and ballet master for American Ballet Theater
Marvin Askew of Buffalo City Ballet
Yumiko Tekeshima, former Principal Dancer at Dutch National Ballet and Dresden Semperoper Ballet, and founder of international dancewear brand Yumiko
Students of Ms. Dwyer and Mr. Gentes have gone on to dance professionally with Semperoper Ballet in Dresden, Germany, Pennsylvania Ballet in Philadelphia, Washington Ballet, River North Dance Chicago, Nashville Ballet, Minnesota Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, and The National Ballet of Canada.​
Their students have attended numerous summer intensive ballet programs, including The School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre School, Boston Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet School, Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle, the National Ballet School in Toronto, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, New York State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA) in Saratoga Springs, Chautauqua Institution's School of Dance, Miami City Ballet School, Houston Ballet Academy, and The Royal Ballet School in London​.
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Additionally, students of Mr. Gentes and Ms. Dwyer have competed in the Youth America Grand Prix ballet competition, with some students qualifying for the New York City finals.