09/06/2022
Endless opportunities here at California Dance Academy. We are so excited to have Peter LeBreton Merz come to teach a ballet intensive for our competition students. Peter LeBreton Merz is known as a master teacher of ballet for his enthusiastic and encouraging approach to ballet training. Former students of his are currently dancing in companies across the world, including Ballet West, LINES Ballet, The Bayerische Staatsballet, Kansas City Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, and Texas Ballet Theater. He has choreographed over 40 original ballets across the USA and internationally. His award-winning choreography relies heavily on his background in classical ballet, but is informed by his passion for contemporary dance forms. As a performer he worked with the Dayton Ballet, the Louisville Ballet and the Cincinnati Ballet. In 2002, he served as the Artistic Administrator for the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS. In 2004, he joined the faculty of Point Park, where he was an associate professor of dance and Head of Ballet. He was the director of Ballet West Academy from 2015-2020, overseeing that Academy’s growth to four campuses and over 800 students. He has served as a judge and Master Teacher for Youth America Grand Prix, the American Dance Competition, the American Ballet Competition, and many other organizations. He has twice been named Outstanding Choreographer by the Youth America Grand Prix, and was also honored to be named Outstanding Teacher by that organization in 2014. He holds a BFA in Theater Design and Production from the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music, and an MBA in Sports, Arts, and Entertainment Management from Point Park University. He owns the Academy of Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance in Asheville, NC with his wife, Cynthia Ridler.
![Our amazing senior liam;)] no words would be enough to describe how proud we are to have been able to watch him and help...](https://img4.glartent.com/953/512/1210112529535126.jpg)
