With a watchful eye on the overall health of a dancer, the Ballet School of Kingston was founded for the purpose of offering the highest level of classical ballet training to the students of the Hudson Valley. From expressive preschoolers discovering the first joys of movement to the serious student pursuing a professional career in classical ballet, the school maintains its dedication to providing its students the opportunity to pursue these goals in a safe and experienced environment.
The Anne Hebard School of Ballet established itself as the preeminent ballet studio in the Hudson Valley with its founding in 1973 by Anne Hebard, Life Member of the Royal Academy of Dance in England. Generations of area students have benefitted from the extensive knowledge and master teaching of Ms.Hebard, who is recognized by the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts.
In 2017, after over 50 years of teaching, Ms. Hebard stepped back in her role as director of the school, entrusting the future of the school to Melissa Bierstock, a student of Anne Hebard’s for over twenty years. Ms. Bierstock has been teaching all levels of classes at the Anne Hebard School of Ballet for the last fifteen years and is proud to build upon the legacy of the school and carry it forward for future generations.
Under Ms. Bierstock’s direction, the newly named Ballet School of Kingston builds upon its long established tradition of the careful training of dancers. Our commitment to communicating correct placement and proper technique is achieved through a deep understanding of anatomy, kinesiology and the physics of dance. Training to be a dancer takes years of physical commitment and mental focus and within the bounds of that discipline come lifelong benefit- regardless of whether a student chooses to pursue a professional career in dance. Poise, coordination, patience, mental awareness, the ability to think quickly and work with others; all are benefits of the discipline of training in ballet. Imagination, expression and musicality are encouraged from a very young age and fostered through performance. Self-directed drive and encouragement help to build self esteem and equip young students with the tools they need to succeed in life.
Performance Opportunities
Students of the Ballet School of Kingston, once eligible, are given the unique opportunity to audition, rehearse and perform alongside professional dancers creating full-length productions with Kingston's Catskill Ballet Theatre, under the Artistic Direction of Anne Hebard. CBT's productions include Alice in Wonderland, Dracula, A Midsummer Night's Dream, choreographed by the Joffrey Ballet's Davis Robertson and our annual favorite, The Nutcracker, performed for over 35 years at the historic Ulster Performing Arts Center. Students from the ballet school benefit in countless ways from the invaluable experience of working with choreographers and dancers from around the country and around the world.
“Enjoy the process of learning to dance. The process of our profession, and not its final achievement, is the heart and soul of dance.”
— Jacques d’Amboise