PaAcademyOfBallet.com
Title
Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet
Description
John White and Margarita de Saá established the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet in 1974. Their main purpose was to provide the best dance education possible for students of all ages. A key element of this purpose is to provide essential training for talented students with professional aptitudes and an interest in pursuing careers in classical ballet. Many graduates have danced professionally with companies throughout the world, and several have won high honors in both national and international competitions.
The Academy is also a school for non-professional students of all ages who wish to receive the very best dance training. All students, regardless of age and previous training, receive the same high quality dance education whether they are enrolled in the Regular or the Adult Division. All teachers have been trained to teach the Vaganova method of ballet instruction, ensuring continuity as students advance to new classes and change teachers.
Academy founders, John White and Margarita de Saá, were leading dancers with the internationally recognized Ballet Nacional de Cuba, having danced many principal roles in the company's repertoire. After retiring from the stage, the directors began their teaching careers. Mr. White as a ballet master with the company, and Ms. de Saá as an instructor in the new national school, Cubanacan. Both received instruction by visiting Soviet ballet masters who remained in Cuba for two years to establish the Vaganova method. Mr. White and Ms. de Saá bring important international dance experience to the Academy.
