Maryland Youth Ballet

Maryland Youth Ballet offers classes in ballet, stretch, Floor Barre®, and Virtual Stretch, along with ballet performances and classical ballet training. The program includes live accompaniment in classes and provides professional-caliber performance opportunities. Studio space is also available to rent, and an online boutique offers logo gear such as T-shirts, hoodies, vests, and more in person at the studio as well as online.

• Ages: 2–18 years old
• Schedule: Drop-in classes are offered 7-days a week year-round.

Since 1971, Maryland Youth Ballet has been preparing young dancers for a career in the performing arts, after beginning in founder Hortensia Fonseca’s basement in the 1960s and becoming a non-profit organization in 1971. In 1976, Michelle Lees was brought on as Associate Artistic Director, later serving as Artistic Director and Principal before retiring after 42 years, and Olivier Munoz led Maryland Youth Ballet for 4 years. Since 2007, Maryland Youth Ballet has been located in Downtown Silver Spring, and it annually trains 1,000 children and 600 adults. The current Artistic Director & Principal is Deidre Byrne, who is a certified teacher in the ABT® National Training Curriculum, Primary–Level 5, and Maryland Youth Ballet’s Honorary Advisory Council is made up of individuals chosen for their professional experience and dedication to ballet and dance.

Maryland Youth Ballet’s mission is to provide classical ballet training to prepare young dancers for careers in the performing arts, classes for both recreational and professional adults, affordable professional-quality ballet performances, exposure to ballet for financially disadvantaged minority children, training scholarships for those with dance potential, and opportunities for young children with physical disabilities to experience dance movement. The organization states that it supports the inclusion of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) culture and artistry in its organization and throughout the dance community, and it stands in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and especially its Black students and employees. Maryland Youth Ballet presents award-winning ballet performances and is an equal opportunity employer. It welcomes students ages 2–18 to dance with them for the 2026–2027 school year, and an Audition or Beginner Check is required for students new to Maryland Youth Ballet ages 8 and older. Complimentary or pay-as-you-can Virtual Stretch is offered for those navigating job loss.

Last updated July 21, 2026.