Ballet &
Dance Blog

As a parent unfamiliar with the dance world, but having a daughter who so clearly and naturally had a desire and need to dance, I felt ill-equipped with how to foster it. A friend recommended we call Draper to see if they had what she needed, and we have not looked...

For the past 3 years our daughter has attended The Draper Center, beginning with creative movement and now pre-ballet.  During this time my husband and I have seen not only an increase in her personal development but most importantly her enjoyment of the...

My husband and I are thrilled with the dance education the Draper Center provides our daughter and son. The attention to technique and detail is exceptional. There aren’t one or two fantastic dancers in each class. The classes are full of excellent athletes and...

Both of my daughters (ages 8 and 5) have attended Draper for a little over a year and their growth within that time has been amazing to witness. Not only have they grown in their technique, but they have learned to be a part of a community of dancers where everyone is...

Draper Center has provided my daughters, Jordan and Jocelyn, with exceptional training and invaluable opportunities. They have learned the importance of discipline, collaboration with others, and time management. They have been afforded performance opportunities that...

When our competition dance studio closed suddenly, I was faced with the daunting task of selecting a new studio from the many great places for kids to dance in Rochester. My daughters were beginning a solid skill set in jazz, tap, hip-hop and ballet. The quality of...

I brought my daughter to Draper Center when she was 6 years old. Up until that point, it seemed that she spent more time in dance classes waiting for kids to pay attention than she did actually learning something. I knew right away that this studio was different....

Before finding Draper my three girls attended other local dance studios. None of them compare to the quality of instruction we have experienced at Draper. The instructors take the time to teach each child proper technique while building the child’s confidence. Draper...

Draper Center has been everything and then some for our daughter as she has refined her technique with the help of the awesome and caring instructors. They have guided her and challenged her on every level possible. They have continually encouraged her to keep pushing...

All of the training I received at Draper Center for Dance Education allowed me to fulfill my dreams as a professional dancer and artist. The staff helped to shape not only my technique but my own unique artistry that set me apart from the other dancers in my...

I had a great time at Draper Center for all of the seven years that I trained there. What I am most grateful for is the amount of stage experience I received while I was dancing at Draper Center. Not only did the teachers help improve my technique, but they forced you...

Draper taught me so many things, not only did Draper give me the ballet technique that I so desperately needed in my training, but it taught me discipline, hard work and dedication. Hayley Meier, River North Dance Chicago

Meeting Jamey Leverett, the artistic director at The Draper Center for dance, was truly a life altering experience for our son. Jamey’s passion for the art of dance, her attention to detail, and the ability to see the potential in a dancer is so apparent as you watch...

Draper was a transformative experience. My experience there enabled me to become a more adept contemporary dancer, cultivating my knowledge and skill in classical ballet. The technical training, level of expectation, and incredible talent of the dancers promotes an...

The training I received at the Draper Center has provided me with a strong technique, giving me freedom to focus on artistic development. It gave me the experience of working in the corps de ballet and exposed me to many different forms of dance such as, modern,...

I’m the proud parent of a senior in the Professional Trainee Program at Draper. My daughter has wanted to dance ballet since she was two. We did many other programs before we enrolled at the Draper Center. When my daughter was 12 she attended Draper’s Summer...

My 14 year old daughter has been studying ballet and other dance forms since she was 5 years old, including three years in the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater school and summer intensives at Point Park, Ballet Chicago and the Joffrey. She intends on becoming professional in...