Piedmont Ballet Academy hosted its annual Spring Recital on Saturday, May 28 for the first time since the start of the COVID pandemic at the Valley Center for the Performing Arts at Holy Names University.
The recital featured performances from all of the students, from the pre-ballet five-year olds to adults, including Piedmont High School seniors Maggie Sullivan, Caroline Collins, Maya Kumar, Sophia Heistand, Cecelia Johnson, and Lauren Quick.
Young dancers perform on stage for the first time
Advanced dancers performed Paquita Excerpts, choreography adapted by Amy Bouris 
Aftershadows, choreography by Paula Goodman as adapted by Andrea Gaudet, performed by Level 5 dancers. Rebecca Baysinger, Caroline Collins, and Helen Pollak 
Front row: Margit Carter, Cecelia, Johnson, Rose Levine, Gabriela Kong, Sophia Heistand, Kaeli Huh, Olivia Youssef, Lauren Quick
Back row: Maggie Sullivan, Caroline Collins, Helen Pollak, Klaire Cherryholmes, Leila Kumar, Rebecca Baysinger, Maya Kumar, Oona Swartz
Many of the more advanced dancers have been studying at Piedmont Ballet since they were young, starting in the pre-ballet program at age 4 or 5. This Annual Recital is the culmination of months of choreography and practice, and was an opportunity to witness how beautiful, and how athletic, this art form is.
Director Neela Reed continued classes online during the pandemic, and the dancers demonstrated their dedication to their craft by continuing to learn and advance their skills, even in that format. Their talents were on display as the curtain went up and the music started — impressive performances all around.
Piedmont Ballet Academy offers summer classes and camps, and a fall class array. Visit www.piedmontballetacademy.com or contact Artistic Director Neela Reed at (510)658-6166 or ms.neela@piedmontballetacademy.com for more information.