Dickinson Expands Partnership With CPYB

Weiss building

New facet features academic-year dancers living on campus

by Tony Moore

Dickinson is pleased to announce a significant expansion of its longstanding partnership with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB), as a select group of high school-age CPYB dancers will reside on Dickinson’s campus while pursuing their intensive dance training.

A New Opportunity 

“The opportunity to expand our partnership with CPYB by housing and feeding their year-round dance students is a win/win for both organizations,” says Dave Walker, Dickinson’s vice president for finance & administration. “The college has the capacity to provide room and board to CPYB students and staff, while CPYB is now able to extend year-round training to even more talented students pursuing professional dance careers. We are very hopeful this is just the start of a long-term program that will further differentiate both the college and CPYB.”

The partnership between Dickinson and CPYB dates back to 1976, when the college first hosted CPYB’s acclaimed Summer Intensive program. In 1999, the two institutions collaborated to build the Warehouse Studios—expanded again in 2016 to add four more state-of-the-art rehearsal spaces. This new initiative marks another milestone in supporting both the college’s mission and CPYB’s global reputation for excellence in dance training.

On-Campus Living

Under the arrangement, beginning in the fall semester, about two dozen CPYB dancers will live in Buchanan Hall alongside five adult staff members who provide daily supervision. An additional 10-12 students in CPYB’s yearlong program will commute to campus for training. All resident students were admitted to the program through a highly selective audition process.

“This partnership between CPYB and Dickinson exemplifies how collaboration can benefit both organizations,” says George Stroud, vice president of student life and dean of students. “Together, we seek to create an environment that celebrates education, discipline and artistic excellence—benefiting students, faculty and the broader Carlisle community.”

To ensure a safe and structured environment, CPYB has established clear guidelines informed by decades of experience with its summer program. Dancers will reside only in Buchanan Hall, eat meals in the Dining Hall and always be accompanied by adult CPYB staff members when moving between their residence and training spaces. Additional safety measures include: 

  • a resident director and team of five staff members providing ongoing supervision 
  • overnight security coverage by a contracted third party
  • support from Dickinson Public Safety
  • dedicated housekeeping provided by CPYB 
  •  and strict access policies limiting hall entry to CPYB participants and staff only 

Dancers attending Carlisle High School arrived on campus August 18, and those participating in online or cyber-school programs are expected by early September. With this step, Dickinson and CPYB reaffirm their shared commitment to fostering talent, supporting the arts, and building collaborations that enrich both education and community. 

TAKE THE NEXT STEPS 

Published August 22, 2025