Eastern Virginia School for the Performing Arts

Sandra Balestracci is co-founder and co-director of the Eastern Virginia School for the Performing Arts. EVSPA was an outgrowth of her ballet studio, which she had founded in 1983. Her teaching career began at the age of 16 with the inheritance of a dance studio in her home town of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Only two years later, her teaching was interrupted with her invitation to appear as a soloist at the prestigious Radio City Musical Hall. Throughout her incredible professional career, Ms. Balestracci continued her teaching at the Neubert Institute at Carnegie Hall and internationally. During this time she began directing musical recordings designed for classical ballet classes. Ms. Balestracci has taught as an adjunct professor at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. She has taught for summer programs at the University of South Carolina, Ballet Seiskaya in New York along with colleagues Edward Villella, Eleanor D’Antuono, and Anna Marie Holmes, always being noted for her outstanding technical expertise in classical ballet. In 2000, Ms. Balestracci was invited to teach for Debbie Allen in Fort Worth, Texas for the Debbie Allen Institute, part of the Kennedy Center’s Imagination Celebration. Ms. Allen gave Ms. Balestracci a personal letter of reference and an endorsement for students to study with her. Ms. Balestracci was the first dance teacher in the state of Virginia and second in the country to receive acceptance to the Registry of Dance Educators.

Ms. Balestracci continues to inspire, encourage and raise students to professional levels in dance. She garnered the "Outstanding Teacher Award" at the 2002 International Youth American Grand Prix Ballet Competition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and again in 2005 at the YAGP Competition in Torrington, Connecticut. In 2003, five of her students were selected to compete in the YAGP finals in New York City. Many of her students have been accepted into major dance companies or have been awarded scholarships to major summer dance programs.

Ms. Balestracci was saluted for her celebrated career as a professional ballerina and hailed for her outstanding accomplishments as one of the outstanding instructors in classical ballet. She has received major citations including awards from the New York City Opera, presented by Peter Marks, Artistic Director for the Virginia Opera as well as the City of Williamsburg, presented by Mayor Jeanne Zeidler.

She has directed music for ballet classes with noted pianists Elaine Chelton Mastrogiacomo, principal pianist for the New York City Ballet and Sophie Velberg from American Ballet Theatre. Her Compact Discs are sold internationally and she plans to release a new compilation with international pianist Gulnara Salimova, formerly with the Atlanta Ballet.

Ms. Balestracci has performed extensively in New York City and has also toured throughout the United States, Europe and South America as a guest ballerina with concert ballet companies. She was also principal ballerina with many of America's major opera companies, including the New York City and San Francisco Operas. Ms. Balestracci achieved immortality for her "one hand lift" when she stood, on pointe, in the palm of her partner's hand.

In addition, choreographers have used her exciting qualities in other areas. Agnes de Mille personally selected Ms. Balestracci as her principal dancer in the Lincoln Center revival of OKLAHOMA. She receive a citation from Radio City Music Hall for her portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in Peter Gennaro's production of HERE'S CHARLIE. This was the first such award ever presented to a performer in the music hall's history. Ms. Balestracci began her dance studies in Boston and continued her formal dance training at the American Ballet Theatre School in New York. She had the privilege of working with such eminent teachers as Harriet Hoctor, Mme. Ana Roje, Mme. Nemtchinova, Mme. Swoboda and Mario Ignicsi.