Western Ballet’s Mission Statement

Western Ballet is 501(c)(3)  non-profit organization that makes the art of classical ballet performances and education accessible and affordable to the general public, including low income families and underrepresented organizations.

Western Ballet History

Western Ballet was founded in 1976 by dancer, choreographer and instructor, Richard Gibson, because of the great need at the time in the Silicon Valley area.  After Richard Gibson, the school was directed by Alessandra Di Pierro for the next 20 years where she secured the reputation of the institution by establishing it as one of the prominent ballet schools in the Bay Area.  Mark Foehringer followed as Artistic Director of Western Ballet from 1999 to 2006 continuing to produce full length story ballets, including Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, and Cinderella.  Western Ballet had an interim director, Gonzalo Espinoza from 2006 to 2007, which led to the current artistic administration by Alexi Zubiria.  Mr. Zubiria introduced the new Nina Novak Ballet Scholarships and financial aid programs for families in financial need.  Under Zubiria the school continues to grow as a highly desirable establishment and culture for youth students who aspire to a professional career, as well as for those who want to receive the same professional level education but are pursuing a different path.

The adult education has also flourished with Western Ballet, becoming a popular dance center in the Bay Area.  It offers the largest selection of adult ballet classes in the San Francisco Peninsula and South Bay. The program includes first time education classes for adults, starting at the Absolute Beginner level, and progressing through intermediate and advanced level classes.   Western Ballet hires current and former professional dancers as the faculty to teach and guide the adult students.

Western Ballet also serves as an important sanctuary to many professional dancers providing them the ambiance, space, and classes to train and grow as artists.  At Western Ballet a professional dancer has the opportunity to find work, to network with other professionals, and to update their own techniques and knowledge of the dance business.

From the start the mission of the institution has been to make the performing art of classical ballet accessible to the general public. As a non-profit institution, Western Ballet provides the community with a “clean well-lit place” to dance from young children to aspiring professionals to adult students. Western Ballet is a safe environment for students of all ages. Its current facilities have four studios available for classes.   One of the studios is often used as a black box theater for chamber shows and recitals.  Western Ballet is an open and welcoming environment for professionals a newcomers. Silicon Valley travelers and visitors  from all over the world always find their ways to Western Ballet for a meditating ballet class to rhythm of a skilled instructions the group dynamics provided by the class.

Western Ballet is a 100% non profit organization that operates 363 days per year.  It is expected to be open round the year providing dance education to the Silicon Valley community. Western Ballet’s future lies on the effort and support of its members.