​Born in Vietnam and raised in California, William began his ballet training with Kenneth Delmar and with Maria Vegh at the Marin Ballet School. He received a full scholarship to continue training at the San Francisco Ballet School, where he also performed with the company.

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He danced professionally as a guest artist with Universal Ballet in Seoul, South Korea. He then danced with Miami City Ballet under the direction of Edward Villella, a former Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet and protégé of George Balanchine. He also danced with Milwaukee Ballet and taught on the faculty of the Milwaukee Ballet School, and then with BalletMet in Columbus, OH. Because of his professional career with these companies, he had the opportunity to tour throughout the United States, Europe, and South America.

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After retiring from dancing, William taught and choreographed at Chautauqua Institution's School of Dance. Mr. Gentes has been a guest teacher and choreographer for Ballet Western Reserve in Youngstown, Ohio, and a guest teacher at SUNY Brockport, Little Red Dancing School in Rochester, NY, Dance Masters of America, New York State Ballet, and the University at Buffalo. He was an adjunct professor, teaching advanced ballet at the University at Buffalo dance department.

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William and his wife Susannah founded Lockport City Ballet in Lockport, NY in August of 2002, and opened a second location, Classical Ballet of Western New York, two years later.

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