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Honoring CPYB's Marcia Dale Weary


Fifty-five years ago, the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) was simply a local classical-ballet studio. But thanks to the vision and efforts of its artistic director/founder, Marcia Dale Weary, this Carlisle school has grown into an internationally recognized institution boasting more than 45 esteemed alumni from major dance companies and more than 20,000 accomplished graduates.

Dickinson College and CPYB together celebrated Weary's remarkable accomplishments and contributions during A Tribute to Marcia Dale Weary, a Commencement-weekend performance honoring one of the nation’s foremost instructors of classical ballet.

Held in Dickinson’s Mathers Theatre, the Saturday concert featured presentations of well-known works by current CPYB students, with opening remarks by Neil Weissman, provost and dean of Dickinson College, and Alan Hinteline, CPYB’s chief executive officer and resident choreographer. A reception honoring each of the 2010 Honorary Degree recipients followed the event.


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  • The program opened with the quick, light, waltz-like strains of George Balanchine's Valse Fantaisie.
    Valse Fantaisie
  • CPYB students perform George Balanchine's Valse Fantaisie. CPYB is the only pre-professional school in the country licensed to perform Balanchine's holiday classic, The Nutcracker.  
    Traditional Distinction
  • Top CPYB students have an excellent track record. According to Peter Martins, ballet master in chief at the New York City ballet, no less than 19 CPYB alums have joined his prestigious company.  
    A Star is Born
  • “Marcia Dale Weary and her Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet have produced dancers well known in the ballet world,” wrote New York Times dance critic Joseph Carman in a 2001 article. Graduates hold positions in nearly every major ballet company in the United States.
    Bright Futures
  • CPYB offers classes to ballet students of all ages, from preschool to pre-professional.
    Multiple Stages
  • Students perform in honor of CPYB artistic director/founder, Marcia Dale Weary. The recipient of the 2009 Pennsylvania Society's Distinguished Citizen of the Commonwealth Award, Weary received an honorary degree from Dickinson College in honor of her extraordinary lifetime achievements.
    Energized Performance
  • Dancers pause in elegant fifth position.
    Fifth Element
  • Dancers perform Gennadi Vostrikov's Flirtation, a spirited work set to traditional Russian folk music.
    Flirtation
  • The dancers' comfort with being onstage results from hundreds of hours of hard work and multiple performances throughout the year. In addition to performing locally, CPYB students are frequently invited to participate in national and international dance festivals.
    Easy Grace
  • Dickinson College maintains a rich artistic partnership with its neighbor, the CPYB. CPYB holds summer sessions on campus and often performs with Dickinson College student groups.
    Partners in Art
  • Summoned onstage, Marcia Dale Weary accepts recognition from her students and from Dickinson College.
    Marcia Dale Weary
The program opened with the quick, light, waltz-like strains of George Balanchine's Valse Fantaisie. Prev ImageNext Image

By MaryAlice Bitts
Photos by A. Pierce Bounds '71