Dayton Ballet Association

Dayton Ballet School was founded by Josephine and Hermene Schwarz in 1927 and is the oldest dance school in Dayton, Ohio and one of the oldest in the United States. It is the only ballet school in the Miami Valley associated with a professional dance company. The school teaches students of all ages and abilities, from young children through career-minded teenagers to older adults who dance to stay healthy and active. Training is organized into five tracks: a Children's Division for ages 3-7 with Creative Movement for preschoolers, Pre-Ballet for kindergarten age and Preparatory Ballet for those who have completed pre-ballet; a Student Division; a Pre-Professional Division; the Dayton Ballet School Ensemble; and an Open Division. Children's classes concentrate on musicality, imagination, group interaction, ballet etiquette and terminology, and the basics of ballet technique and body positions. The school also runs summer programs and presents performances, with online registration and published tuition for the 2026-2027 year.