Charlottesville Ballet Academy
Charlottesville Ballet Academy (29North Location), 1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 203, Charlottesville, VA 22901
About
Charlottesville Ballet Academy is the official training school of Charlottesville Ballet and offers dance education in all dance genres, including performance opportunities for young dancers alongside the professional company. The program includes specific classes and initiatives such as Once Upon A Ballet, Adaptive Dance, the Chance To Dance (C2D) outreach program for grades K–5, Movement For Parkinson’s weekly class, and the Silver Swans program for seniors age 50 and better. CB Moves community programs are provided at no cost, and the organization also offers free programming for schools, libraries, and the community.
• Ages: 1.5–18 years old
Charlottesville Ballet Academy is part of Charlottesville Ballet, a professional ballet company, dance academy, and nonprofit organization founded in 2007 with a mission for dancer wellness. Charlottesville Ballet Academy opened in 2011 as a nonprofit center for dance education serving ages 1.5 through adult. Charlottesville Ballet is the only full time professional dance company in the Charlottesville area and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Charlottesville Ballet states its mission as: “To elevate the art of dance through wellness, performance, education, and community outreach.” The organization carries out this mission through eclectic live performances, educational children’s events, collaboration with local artists, and community engagement throughout Central Virginia. Programming from the professional company includes a Family Series designed just for children, mixed-repertory performances, sensory-friendly shows, and the annual holiday production of The Nutcracker, with performances and events in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and throughout the Central Virginia area.
Community involvement includes the Chance To Dance (C2D) outreach program for grades K–5 that partners with local public schools, Once Upon A Ballet and other free programming for schools, libraries, and the community, and CB Moves community programs provided at no cost. Adaptive Dance provides an opportunity for children with Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, or other developmental and intellectual disabilities to explore dance with a supportive and knowledgeable team. Movement For Parkinson’s weekly class is open to anyone without cost and focuses on creating community for people with movement disorders and their care partners, and Silver Swans is a collaborative program with The Center at Belvedere for seniors age 50 and better.
The leadership team includes Co-Founders and Directors Sara Jansen Clayborne and Emily Mott Hartka, Principal of Charlottesville Ballet Academy Heather Rogers, Company Manager Lori Jablonski, Development Manager Claudia Strawderman, CB Moves Coordinator Kathryn Tokar, Director of Finance Ali Brent, Operations Manager Cordelaine Klyne, and Marketing & Communications Manager Brianna Copeland. Charlottesville Ballet has no rigid physical aesthetic for its dancers and states that all body types are celebrated, and its Trainee Program welcomes dancers as they transition from advanced students into professional artists.
Last updated January 18, 2026.
• Ages: 1.5–18 years old
Charlottesville Ballet Academy is part of Charlottesville Ballet, a professional ballet company, dance academy, and nonprofit organization founded in 2007 with a mission for dancer wellness. Charlottesville Ballet Academy opened in 2011 as a nonprofit center for dance education serving ages 1.5 through adult. Charlottesville Ballet is the only full time professional dance company in the Charlottesville area and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Charlottesville Ballet states its mission as: “To elevate the art of dance through wellness, performance, education, and community outreach.” The organization carries out this mission through eclectic live performances, educational children’s events, collaboration with local artists, and community engagement throughout Central Virginia. Programming from the professional company includes a Family Series designed just for children, mixed-repertory performances, sensory-friendly shows, and the annual holiday production of The Nutcracker, with performances and events in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and throughout the Central Virginia area.
Community involvement includes the Chance To Dance (C2D) outreach program for grades K–5 that partners with local public schools, Once Upon A Ballet and other free programming for schools, libraries, and the community, and CB Moves community programs provided at no cost. Adaptive Dance provides an opportunity for children with Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, or other developmental and intellectual disabilities to explore dance with a supportive and knowledgeable team. Movement For Parkinson’s weekly class is open to anyone without cost and focuses on creating community for people with movement disorders and their care partners, and Silver Swans is a collaborative program with The Center at Belvedere for seniors age 50 and better.
The leadership team includes Co-Founders and Directors Sara Jansen Clayborne and Emily Mott Hartka, Principal of Charlottesville Ballet Academy Heather Rogers, Company Manager Lori Jablonski, Development Manager Claudia Strawderman, CB Moves Coordinator Kathryn Tokar, Director of Finance Ali Brent, Operations Manager Cordelaine Klyne, and Marketing & Communications Manager Brianna Copeland. Charlottesville Ballet has no rigid physical aesthetic for its dancers and states that all body types are celebrated, and its Trainee Program welcomes dancers as they transition from advanced students into professional artists.
Last updated January 18, 2026.
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