About Draper Center for Dance Education
Draper Center is Western New York’s premier dance academy. Come see why we’re considered one of the most distinguished dance training & ballet schools in the United States.
Located in Monroe County, we are the official training school for Rochester City Ballet, Rochester’s premiere professional ballet company. We offer a wide variety of educational dance programs including kid’s dance classes & adult dance classes. The school prides itself on providing the highest level of classical ballet and dance training, while adhering to a curriculum that teaches formation of character and stresses standards of excellence applicable to all areas of life.
We make dancers. We make careers.
Many Draper graduates have joined notable professional companies throughout the United States and around the world, including New York City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, National Ballet of Canada, Kansas City Ballet, Ballet Met, Nashville Ballet, Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, National Ballet Of Sweden, Finnish National Ballet, Alonzo King’s Lines, Cedar Lake Dance, Hubbard Street, River North Chicago, Cirque Du Soleil, Rochester City Ballet and many more. You can also find Draper Center alumni on Broadway and touring shows throughout the United States.
The curriculum and environment at Draper Center provides students with the tools, discipline, and work ethic to be successful in whatever career they pursue. Many Draper Center alumni have gone on to pursue professional careers in the medical field, law, and science, as well as dance education and administration.
Draper Center students are often the recipients of prestigious college and university scholarships for both academics and dance.
Draper Center History
In 1986 Timothy Draper recognized that the Rochester community was in need of a professional dance school – a place for students to receive a strong foundation in classical ballet while studying other forms of artistic dance. He founded what is now The Timothy M. Draper Center for Dance Education to meet that need.
In 2004, after the passing of Timothy Draper, Jamey Leverett took over as Artistic Director of Draper Center. Leverett and Executive Director Kathy Ertsgaard led Draper Center into a new era, moving the school into its new facility and continuing to perfect a curriculum and teaching style that has garnered many awards and national recognition as one of the top dance training schools in the United States.
Ballet & Dance Blog
latest articles…
Draper Center for Dance Education Joins the JCC Campus
ROCHESTER, N.Y., May 1, 2023 - The Timothy M. Draper Center for Dance Education will be moving to the JCC’s 1200 Edgewood campus this spring. Draper Center for Dance is the newest tenant to join the JCC Campus, which last year announced a plan to convert its footprint...
Empire Dance Challenge 2023 Success!!!
This past weekend so many of our dancers competed in the Empire Dance Challenge. All the dancers did an amazing job and we are so proud of them. In case you missed it here are the highlights. Mini Solos Rhauri Samuels Elite Platinum, Judges Award, 3rd Place...
Draper Center receives $5,000 for Ballet Jump Start!!!
Draper Center for Dance Education has received a $5,000 grant from Rochester Area Community Foundation for its Ballet Jump-start! programming. Through the Ballet Jump-start! programming, Draper Center provides free dance classes to all 3 and 4 year olds in Monroe...