With a vision for preparing students for 21st-century careers in dance, Founding Artistic Director Lorraine Spiegler launched the CityDance Conservatory in 2007. Through her unique eye for identifying talent and her passion for revealing the strengths of young dancers, the Conservatory quickly established itself as a leader in professional dance training. Today the Conservatory persists with its core belief that excellence is achieved when each student’s talents are nurtured, valued, and challenged.

CityDance Conservatory reimagines dance education and training through its pioneering approach:

  • individualized programming, rooted in each child’s needs, aspirations, and talents
  • a diverse training and performance curriculum that holds all dance genres in equal value
  • world-class faculty and in-house choreographers, as well as national and international guest artists
  • a learning environment that embraces caring relationships and positive student expectations

Conservatory graduates have gained acceptance to some of the country’s most prestigious collegiate dance programs, including Juilliard (two graduates in the class of 2023). Current students have won Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) Hope and Grand Prix awards at New York City Finals and received invitations to perform at YAGP’s international galas. They have also received scholarships to top summer dance programs such as Nederlands Dans Theater Summer Intensive, American Ballet Theatre, Batsheva’s Summer Course, Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Ballet West, Jacobs Pillow, and The Royal Ballet. Our alumni perform with professional companies worldwide, including Gibney Dance, The Washington Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Mark Morris Dance Group, L-E-V, and Staatsballett Berlin.

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In the studio and on the stage with CityDance Conservatory

“The teachers, aside from encouraging and enriching my love of dance, have also exposed me to so many different aspects and opportunities that will help prepare me for a future in dance.”

Bianca Cala

Conservatory Dancer

“I graduated in 2013 and I am now in Berlin working at the Staatsballett and also working on my own projects. After CityDance, I went to New York and trained at Juilliard for 4 years, and then after that, I was in Montreal dancing with RUBBERBAND. CityDance prepared me for everything – a wide variety of techniques, performing anywhere and working with anyone. It was a lot of work and I feel like I am resilient because of this work. It’s really special.”

Dana Pajarillaga

CityDance School & Conservatory, Class of 2019, The Juilliard School Graduate, Staatsballett Berlin

“I appreciate that CityDance is committed to maintaining a personalized program that strives to meet the needs of every dancer. The dancers in and outside of my classes have talent and artistry pouring out of them; it is so beautiful to watch and learn from those around me. This passion and drive we all share for our art brings a unique and contagious energy to the room. I feel energized and inspired to learn and improve whenever I come to class.”

Maeve Friedman

CityDance School & Conservatory Dancer

“The devotion of both the teachers and students makes everyone want to try harder and dance the best they can.”

Hunter Tayman

CityDance School & Conservatory Dancer

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