Our Mission
The Central New York Academy of Dance is an elite training institution dedicated to providing diverse, high quality, passionate dance education to our local community. We strive to create a supportive environment in which our students always feel safe and at home, and that encourages our dancers to reach fearlessly for their dreams. At ACNYAOD we understand that dance is so much more than just dance - it's also the friendships made, confidence gained, life lessons learned and invaluable skills earned that truly make dance so powerful. We push our students to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to something bigger than they are, and to find new and exciting ways to use their art form to positively impact the lives of others. Dance education at CNYAOD isn't just about building better dancers - it's about building better human beings.
Students are welcome at the studio from age 2-adulthood with specialized creative movement and introductory arts programs for toddlers and preschoolers included. CNYAOD follows American Ballet Theatre's National Training Curriculum as the foundation for all technical and artistic progression in the academy. Our training schedule is based in classical and contemporary ballet technique with students also having access to weekly classes in jazz, tap, and modern. We run a free weekly conditioning class for our intermediate and advanced students and bring in a wide variety of guest instructors for masterclasses and specialized workshop experiences!
In addition to traditional group dance classes we also offer private coaching options for targeted growth areas. Private lessons are offered to both regular students and dancers from other local institutions. Performance opportunities throughout the year will range from classical ballet concerts to our exciting end of year recital experience, with performance and artistic coaching as an integral element of our educational philosophy.
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For our adult community we offer both an adult ballet and barre fitness program with expanding options as we continue to grow. Our birthday party packages bring some dance fun to your child’s day with special choreographed routines, games and dance themed takeaways. Studio space will also be available to rent per hour for various performing arts and fitness needs in our CNY region, and additional services are something we love to explore.
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We are so thrilled to be joining the artistic community of Central New York! Please feel free to send us an email or give us a call with any questions you might have. We can’t wait to see you soon at CNYAOD!
Our Story
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The Central New York Academy of Dance was founded in 2018 by local instructor and former dancer Eileen Witt. Eileen trained locally in Rome, NY, studying classical ballet, pointe, jazz, modern and tap during her near two decades of training. As a teenager she pursued dance pre-professionally at renowned institutions like the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts, the American Academy of Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet School where she had opportunities to study under world class names like Violette Verdy, Eleanor D'Antuono, Jacques d'Amboise and many others. Eileen went on to dance in college at the University at Buffalo before graduating with her Bachelor of Arts degree in May of 2013.
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Although she had a strong passion for performing, Eileen found an incredible sense of purpose in beginning to teach dance after graduating from UB. She expanded her teaching career to several local studios across Central New York in her early twenties and took an interest in learning all she could about ballet theory and dance pedagogy. In 2014 she was accepted to the prestigious American Ballet Theatre's Teacher Training Program and became certified to teach ABT's National Training Curriculum.
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As her teaching presence grew and became her true passion, Eileen knew it was time to make dance education her full time career. As a former dancer she understood the importance of a strong technically trained foundation in a student's long-term career and made it her mission to create a school that would provide all the necessary tools a dancer would need to succeed professionally. She also felt strongly about the positive influence dance can have on the lives of children, remembering the immeasurable impact her dance training had on her performance in school, in building her self-confidence and instilling in her an ambitious sense of dedication and drive.
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In establishing the Central New York Academy of Dance, Eileen's mission was to bring together her love and passion for dance with the invaluable life skills and lessons learned through dance training. Her hope for the school is that it becomes a place for both pre-professional students to gain the technical proficiency and performance artistry they need as well as a home for local students to pursue a love for the performing arts.
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