History

Hickory Ballet & Performing Arts provides quality instruction in ballet and related performing arts skills for Hickory and surrounding communities. Originally founded as a Classical Ballet school in 2011, Leanna Bodnar assumed leadership of the school in 2018, adding her professional theatre experience and expanding the curriculum to include a wider genre of dance and theatre classes.

Classes

Currently classes include: Classical Ballet, Pre- Pointe, Pointe, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Acro, Voice, Ballroom, Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), and Yoga.  Qualified instructors teach students ages 3 to adult. At HBPA we believe it is never too late to start and are pleased to offer our Freshmen level classes for older beginners ages 9 and up. Our new state of the art studios offer sprung flooring, marley, and full-length mirrors. Viewing cameras in each studio make class observation convenient in the lobby, on the large screen tv. 

Performance

HBPA students are given multiple opportunities to perform throughout the year.  In collaboration with the Green Room Theatre, the ballet program performs The Nutcracker annually, and an additional story ballet each spring. Performing Arts students also showcase their skills in a Junior musical in the fall and a full-length musical in the spring. 

Promoting the advancement of the arts is one of the greatest missions of our school, and students perform in a variety of outreach opportunities in Hickory and surrounding communities.

HBPA is proud to partner with other organizations in the community such as the Hickory Choral Society, Hickory Museum of Art and others.

Student Support

There are many ways Hickory Ballet & Performing Arts supports its students. We are pleased to house a full costume shop, so dancers pay only a minimal costume rental fee for all performances.

An active Parent Guild fundraises and organizes needed support squads to ensure student success.

As a member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA), HBPA is able to recognize the commitment of our students and help to distinguish them for future career and college opportunities.

One of the missions of HBPA is to make arts education affordable.  Through a blind application/selection process, partial scholarships are made available to a limited number of students. Applications are available at the front desk.

HBPA offers retail dance items for purchase at the studio including tights, dance bags, ballet, jazz and tap shoes for the convenience of students and parents.   

How can I help?

Hickory Ballet & Performing Arts is committed to providing a nurturing environment in which to teach impeccable technique and inspired artistry to this area’s next generation of dancers. We are extremely grateful for our season sponsors!  As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, we gratefully accept donations to continue to make our mission and the dreams of our students a reality.  Please consider partnering with us.