The Ballet Arts Academy at the Old Waldorf School

Ballet Arts Academy at the Old Waldorf School was established in 2005 by Jayne Stefani-Keating for the purpose of providing the community with a dance environment devoted exclusively to the study of classical ballet. In addition, the Academy offers complementary enrichment activities that provide an enduring appreciation for music, art and aspects of stage production and performance. The primary focus is educational offering a comprehensive course of instruction in classical ballet that follows the Vaganova method of training, service to the community through educational outreach and scholarships, and enrichment by engaging local and regional artists, musicians, dancers, poets, actors, theatre technicians, and master teachers for workshops and seminars which will be available to our students and members of the community.

The Ballet Arts Academy intends to build for all students an awareness of the relationship between the discipline of ballet and the cultivation of poise, self-confidence and an enduring respect for artistry and the joy of dance. Training at the Academy will also ensure a strong technical foundation for those wishing to advance to a pre-professional level of dance. The Academy is a 501c(3)a non-profit organization.

Artistic Director and Ballet Mistress. Jayne Stefani Keating is originally from Sacramento, California where she received her early training in classical ballet. She performed principal roles in full-length ballets as a soloist in the regional company under the direction of Barbara Briggs. In New York she continued her training. She has taught classical ballet for over 25 years and participated in teacher training workshops and seminars devoted to the study of the Vaganova syllabus with master teachers, including John White, Jurgen Schneider and Janina Cunova.

After moving to upstate New York she established, with Paul Sanasardo, the Susquehanna School of Ballet and served as its ballet mistress and artistic director. She has choreographed original full-length ballets for her students, frequently collaborating with area musicians, guest artists and professional dance companies and has been the recipient of grants awarded by the New York State Council on the Arts and the Upper Catskill Community Council for the Arts. She also served as resident choreographer for Orpheus Theatre productions.

In addition to traditional studio lessons she has directed summer dance workshops for Hartwick College, has been a visiting artist in the public schools, introducing boys and girls to dance through group classes and lecture demonstrations, was a dance auditor for the New York State Council on the Arts, and has studied flamenco in Madrid and Cordoba, Spain.

After living in Lugano, Switzerland for eight years and founding the ballet program at the American School in Switizerland (TASIS) in nearby Montagnola, Ms. Stefani-Keating and her husband returned to the United States and settled in southern Maryland in 2001.

Ballet Instructor and Academy Administrator. Ms. Stanley began her dance training with Deena Shroyer in Kansas City, while working as a registered nurse certified in critical care and holding a Bachelor of Arts in Government and an Associate Degree in Nursing. She continued her training with Ms. Stefani-Keating after moving to Maryland.

Ms. Stanley’s expertise in the areas of rehabilitation and health care, classical ballet technique, and costuming and design, form a virtual bouquet of talents which benefit the Academy and the quality of training and care BAA students receive in classes and in performance.

As a dancer, Ms. Stanley continues to take classes and has participated in the Adult Summer Intensive held at the Richmond Ballet.