From toddlers eager to twirl across the studio to adults looking for a new passion, dancers of every background will now have the opportunity to train with professional artists as of September 8, when Rochester City Ballet (RCB) opens the doors to all ages and abilities with The School of Rochester City Ballet.
Registration is officially open for a wide variety of classes, including Vaganova technique-based ballet, contemporary and jazz, Pilates and even music theory designed specifically for dancers. What sets the programming apart is its faculty: The School of Rochester City Ballet is the only such spot in Rochester led entirely by professional dancers.
Although this is the school’s inaugural 2025–26 season, RCB dancers are hardly new to teaching. Many have taught in studios across Rochester for years, balancing rehearsal and performance schedules with teaching multiple days a week. That collective experience, coupled with the company’s mission to make ballet more accessible to the community, provided the spark for creating a dedicated school.
For students, the opportunity to train directly with dancers who are at the peak of their careers is unique and exciting. Ballet master, company dancer, and now school director John Deming believes this model offers something uniquely valuable.
“Students get to learn visually, seeing their teachers demonstrate steps and corrections at a professional level,” he said. “Our faculty are very in tune with the emotion of learning this art form — the passion, frustration, heartbreak, and the breakthroughs that make it all worth it.”
Beyond daily training, students will also have the chance to perform alongside company members in major productions like “The Nutcracker” and “Cinderella.” This integration of studio and stage is central to the school’s vision.
“By learning from professionals who bring their stage experience directly into the studio, students will experience a direct bridge between training and professional performance,” said RCB artistic director and company dancer Shannon Purpura.
Classes are designed to inspire and nurture students of all skill levels, from beginner to pre-professional. By making world-class training accessible, the school aims to not only encourage and guide the next generation of professional dancers, but also expose more of the Rochester community to the artistry of ballet.
RCB expects both the company and the school to benefit from being closely intertwined. This dual structure is common among professional ballet companies nationwide, ensuring organizational stability while deepening community engagement.
For many years, what is now the Draper Center for Dance Education was connected with and housed within RCB. With Draper’s relocation to the Jewish Community Center in 2024 as a separate 501(c)(3) organization, the School of Rochester City Ballet feels like a natural step forward.
For Purpura, the launch of the school represents both an artistic investment and a commitment to the city of Rochester.
“By connecting students directly with the company, both in the studio and on stage, we’re not only preparing dancers for the future,” she said, “but also strengthening the company’s role as a cultural leader.” schoolofrcb.com
