Diana Byer To Host Teaching Cecchetti Morning Classes Via Zoom

Master teacher Diana Byer has announced new Morning Advanced/Professional online classes from through June 5 via Zoom, as a part of her recently launched Teaching Cecchetti, a new channel meant to educate dancers via social media.

Through posting engaging and relevant content, Teaching Cecchetti highlights forgotten steps, Cecchetti fundamentals, and teaching methods passed down from Margaret Craske, Diana's mentor and a direct pupil of Enrico Cecchetti. New morning classes for advanced and professional dancers will be offered Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 10am-11:45am and Thursday (Pointe) from 10am-11:15am. All classes are $15, with a discounted rate of $13 for IDNYC members.

Curious minds will see the Cecchetti classroom in action, and experienced dancers can revitalize their own training in seconds. Rooted in a rich tradition passed down from Enrico Cecchetti to Margaret Craske to Diana Byer, Teaching Cecchetti reframes modern ballet technique through the Cecchetti style, where technique isn't just an end goal, but a vital tool in shaping thoughtful, expressive artists. The Cecchetti method strikes a balance between structure and expression, focusing on understanding rather than mere execution and skill over raw talent. Diana Byer continues Margaret Craske's mission to cultivate artistry, musicality, gesture, and skill in the next generation of dancers.

"We are committed to sharing insights into how and why we teach dance-highlighting the importance of individualized instruction, safe training practices, and the integration of artistry into daily classroom work. The mission goes beyond preserving the Cecchetti method; we aim to make it relevant and valuable for today's dancers, educators, and artists as they navigate the ever-changing world of dance," said Diana Byer.

Classes are also available in-person at the NYTB Studios, 131 East 10th Street (entrance on East 11th Street just west of Second Avenue).

Follow @teachingcecchetti on Instagram and Facebook for style, musicality, and skill taught through the modern eye of Diana Byer.

Diana Byer is a highly sought-after teacher with over 45 years of experience working with ages eight through professional. A pupil of Margaret Craske for 20 years, Diana Byer is a direct link to the Cecchetti lineage. Her classes support holistic training, evaluating each student as an individual. Students have gone on to perform with major ballet companies around the world, as well as on Broadway and in film.

Diana's classes can be found online through Dancio and The Diana Byer Legacy Project: Preserving Cecchetti As Taught By Margaret Craske. Produced in collaboration with Jacob's Pillow, this collection brings to today's dancers the tradition of Cecchetti through the modern eye of Diana Byer. Her classes bring fresh insight to a technique that dates back to ballet's roots in classicism and make it accessible and relevant to all bodies and ages of the present.

She founded New York Theatre Ballet, a company celebrated for its artistic integrity and its commitment to preserving important works while nurturing new voices. She also created NYTB's LIFT program, providing inclusive training and performance opportunities for underserved and homeless children and championing accessible, high-quality ballet education.

Alex Angrist is a recent graduate of Northwestern University and is a long-time pupil of Diana and New York Theatre Ballet. As a student, she performed in numerous productions, ranging from children's roles in Keith Michael's The Nutcracker to appearances with New York Theatre Ballet and The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. After training with Diana in the Cecchetti style for over a decade, she is committed to uplifting Cecchetti technique and solidifying the Cecchetti legacy in the larger dance pedagogy world.

She currently works at Situation Interactive as a Project Coordinator supporting advertising campaigns for some of Broadway's most popular shows, including The Lion King, Aladdin, Wicked, Maybe Happy Ending, and Titanique. Her fifteen years of training with Diana cultivated a strong passion for the arts, which continues to inform her work in arts and entertainment marketing.