Neglia Ballet is celebrating its 20 year anniversary. In that time the dance company has become the premiere conservatory in Buffalo, training dancers in the art of classical ballet. While retaining top talents in Buffalo, many of their ballet students have gone on to dance professionally at some of the most respected companies in the US. Along with the conservatory, Neglia’s own dance company has been producing a number of highly regarded ballet productions, which has helped to put Buffalo on the map for top notch classical ballet.
Neglia was formed after Buffalo native Heidi Halt, a former dancer at the Cincinnati Ballet, decided that she wanted to help create a conservatory in Buffalo that would rival the best in the country. Teaming up with her husband Sergio Neglia, a professional dancer who hails from Argentina, the two quickly became a tour de force in this city, by pooling their talents and energies in an endeavor that continues to grow to this day. In a Buffalo Rising article written by Angela Hastings, Sergio was quoted as saying “Forty years ago Buffalo was a well-established dance capital. Famous dancers came. I want to bring that back.”
Since forming, Heidi and Sergio have set out to find dancers with great potential as well as dancers who had already made their mark. In the process, Neglia has become regarded for its caliber of dancers, and its masterful productions that include Baba Yaga, Romeo and Juliet, Spartacus, Don Quixote, as well as original mixed repertory works.
Currently, auditions are underway for the upcoming show Baba Yaga, and after that auditions for The Nutcracker (at Shea’s with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra) will commence. Neglias’ classes vary in age and ability (see here for all classes).
Neglia Ballet | 1685 Elmwood Avenue | 716.447.0401 | www.negliaballet.org
Photo: M&M Photography