The Dutchess Dance Company
The Dutchess Ballet Company was founded by Valerie Feit in 1994. Katie Bissinger is the Artistic Director and Executive Director of the Company, now called the Dutchess Dance Company ("DDC"). The DDC is dedicated to providing a variety of educational and performance experiences to dancers.
Operations of the Dutchess Dance Company are separate from Ballet Arts Studio. Membership in DDC is by invitation, and members of the DDC pay annual membership fees.
About the DDC
Ballet Arts Studio and the Dutchess Dance Company have provided educational guidance for students and emerging artists who have been accepted to the following nationally recognized schools, colleges, universities and dance companies.
Dutchess Dance Company member dancers work with professional choreographers and perform in various venues. DDC members also work and perform with community organizations. Performance portfolios developed by DDC members are often featured parts of college applications.
Professional Work
American Ballet Theater Dayton Ballet Company Les Grands Ballet Canadiens Pennsylvania Ballet Company North Carolina Dance Theater 42nd Street on Broadway Joffrey Ballet Smuin Contemporary Ballet Pacific Northwest Ballet The State Street Ballet Kansas City Ballet
The 2022-2023 Dutchess Dance Company Photo by Flynn Larsen
Professional Schools
The School of American Ballet
The Ellison Ballet
Ballet Academy East
The American Ballet Theater School
American Ballet Theater Summer Programs
Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet
SLK Ballet New York City
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
The Juilliard School
The Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet
The Miami City Ballet School
The Ailey School ^
Houston Ballet School
Ballet Met
The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory
Kaatsbaan International Dance Center
The Miami City Ballet Summer Program
The San Francisco Ballet Summer Program
The Boston Ballet School Apprentice Program
The Rock School [Pennsylvania Ballet]
The Berlin State Opera Ballet School
Jacob’s Pillow Dance Summer Programs
The New York State Summer Schools of the
Arts, Ballet, Modern and Theater Divisions
Walnut Hill School for the Arts
The State Street Ballet Colleges
Barat Conservatory
Barnard College *
Boston College
Brandeis University
College of Saint Rose
Columbia University
Connecticut College
Duke University *
Goucher College ^
Hamilton College
Ithaca College (Doctoral Program)
Mary Mount Manhattan College *^
Mercyhurst College
University of Maryland ^
University of Michigan
University of Massachusetts
University of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State University *
Point Park College ^
NYU Tisch School for the Performing Arts
Sarah Lawrence College
Smith College
SUNY Binghamton, Buffalo, Geneseo,
New Paltz, Purchase ^
University of the Arts ^
Vanderbilt University *
Vassar College *
Wake Forest College
* high school valedictorian
^ on scholarship
The 2023-24 Company
