Western Pennsylvania Youth Ballet Takes Position in Oakmont

Michael T. Villella of New Kensington recalls always goofing around and dancing, so when he was 17 years old, he started taking ballet lessons.

"I was training with kids who were 6, 7 and 8 years old at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet," he said. "I would travel to Carlisle once a week to train. I spent three years there."

During his time training, Villella, 24, said he knew he'd become an instructor one day. But when the opportunity to dance professionally came up, he couldn't turn it down.

"I went to New York after my third year of training to audition and I was surprised to get a few offers," he said. "I wanted to be a teacher, but I had to pursue the dancing first."

Villella went on to perform with the Ballet Austin II in Austin, Texas, and the Oklahoma City Ballet in Oklahoma City, Okla. Now, he's opening the Western Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in Oakmont.

The ballet school will be located at 508 Allegheny River Boulevard, Suite 202, above the . Villella said he hopes to open between Jan. 15 and Jan. 22.

"I like the structure and the rules of ballet," Villella said. "On a technical aspect, it's either right or wrong."

He said he noticed a lack of professional ballet training in the area, so he wanted to pursue his teaching career here.

"No one is coming out of local schools saying, 'I'm going to get a job in ballet,'" Villella said. "The kids I trained with were so mature and they knew what was expected of them. I want to be able to provide a class where they have something to strive for."

For now, Villella will be the only instructor. He said he is starting slowly and keeping class sizes small to give each student the attention and teaching needed to learn proper ballet.

"Classes with five to eight kids is ideal because you need to show them what to do," he said. "You have to mold their feet for them."

Scheduling will be up to the students and the parents, Villella said. Private classes also would be available for students who aren't comfortable in group, need extra lessons or are advanced.

The Western Pennsylvania Youth Ballet website is www.wpyballet.com. For more information about the school, class schedules or registration, call 724-316-1104 or email wpyballet@gmail.com.