The Saratoga City Ballet School is proud to be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The school was founded as the Children's Ballet Theatre School in Malta, NY by Patti Pugh Moore, in 1988. Ms. Moore was also the Founder and Artistic Director of the Saratoga City Ballet Company from 1994-May 2003. Under her nuturing eye, the school grew into one of the foremost training grounds for classical dance in the Capital Region.   Now in its 6th year under the direction of Julie P. Gedalecia and Eve D. Whelchel the school continues its commitment to providing quality instruction for young people of all ages and abilities.

Our goal is to provide artistic training of the highest possible caliber, while offering all students of the school a positive learning experience. The program begins in our Children’s Division, where young dancers learn the joy of moving to music in a creative and fun environment. In our Main Division, students start the focused work of learning this challenging art form. It takes hours and years of repetition for the body to “memorize” the steps of classical ballet. We believe in encouraging every student to reach his or her potential through positive reinforcement and personalized guidance.

The benefits of ballet training go above and beyond simply learning steps and how to move.   The study of classical ballet also develops:

• Strong, healthy and graceful bodies
• Appreciation for the arts, both as a performer and an observer
• Commitment and dedication
• Attention to detail
• Determination
• Self-discipline
• The value of setting a personal goal and working hard to achieve it

Because of the training they receive, our dancers compare with some of the top in the country. Our students are consistently chosen to participate in the New York City Ballet’s summer season at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. This past year, our students were accepted into summer programs including School of American Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Chautauqua Ballet, Harid Conservatory, Boston Ballet, Walnut Hill, and Saratoga Summer Dance Intensive. Our students were offered scholarships from Chautauqua Ballet, Walnut Hill and the Dance Alliance. Most of our advanced students excel academically and maintain high honor roll status. They have received numerous scholastic awards and have been accepted into top universities and arts conservatories.  

The Saratoga City Ballet School is a non-competition, non-recital school meaning that proper technique and form are foremost to our approach rather than costly competitions and large, recital-type performances.   From the age of 6, our students get the opportunity to perform with the Saratoga City Ballet Company in professional quality productions such as the Nutcracker.   This keeps the learning happening in the studio and the joys of performing on the stage.   With small class sizes and individual attention, our focus on quality, not quantity, is the reason we are considered one of the best schools in the area.

We hope you enjoy your time with us as much as we enjoy sharing our love of dance with you.

Julie P. Gedalecia & Eve D. Whelchel, Directors