About Us

For over a quarter of a century, the CYB has proudly produced professional-quality Nutcracker and storybook ballets that merge a principal cast of professional international dancers and local students of ballet.

Our productions are designed to be accessible and affordable to a diverse audience with a particular focus on families in an effort to expand the reach of this centuries old art form and foster a life long appreciation for ballet.

One open audition for CYB's two major productions is held every September. Dancers from 3rd through 12th grade are welcome.

For Audition Forms and Information please click here.

Please contact us through this website or call us at 980.322.5522 for volunteer opportunities.

Our Mission

The Charlotte Youth Ballet enriches the community through a non-profit, innovative regional ballet company that provides dancers an opportunity to perform in professional-level productions. By merging youths and professionals, the CYB introduces ballet to diverse audiences to foster a life-long support of the arts.

Our Vision

We want to be recognized as the premier youth ballet in the Southeast, known for our community education outreach, the versatility of our repertoire, the excellence of our performances, and the ability to spearhead partnerships with other local arts groups.

We want to continue to attract, develop, and encourage the best of talents of middle and high school dancers. We are known for our committed volunteers and patrons.

Ms. Gay Porter - Artistic Director

Gay Porter is directing the Charlotte Youth Ballet for the 26th year. Prior to that she directed the Charlotte Regional Ballet from 1974-1980. Gay founded the ballet department at Central Piedmont Community College where she taught for thirteen years. She now teaches at the Charlotte School of Ballet, which she owns.

Gay was trained at the Arts Educational School in London, England. Her first professional job was at Stratford-on-Avon in a musical version of Wind in the Willows. As a member of the British Equity, she danced professionally for seven years, touring the British Isles for nine months at age 16, and danced in London's West End in the original productions of The King and I and Kismet. She danced in Spain with Festival Ballet, the Ballet de M. Grandjear, and toured Germany for four months.

Gay also danced in film and television, and swam and danced in the Esther Williams Spectacular in London. After coming to the United States, Gay danced with the Southern California Ballet. She moved to Charlotte where for six seasons she danced as a resident member of the Charlotte Summer Theater, performing in a different musical every week, all summer at Ovens Auditorium. As a director, Gay has worked with the Central Piedmont Community College and the Charlottetown Players. Her credits include The Hollow Crown, The Glass Menagerie, l'Enfant Prodigue and Trial by Jury. As a choreographer, Gay's credits include many Charlotte Opera productions, the Lollipop Concerts with the Charlotte Symphony, and over thirty ballets for the Youth and Regional Ballets.

In May 1994, Gay received the prestigious North Carolina School of the Arts Teacher of the Year Award.

Ms. Bridget Porter-Young - Ballet Mistress

The role of Clara was originally created for Bridget in Charlotte Youth Ballet's first production of the Nutcracker. Her other roles include Lead Rose and Columbine, and Bluebird pas de deux in Sleeping Beauty. She has danced with the Louisville Ballet and North Carolina Dance Theater. As a child she danced with the New York City Ballet in Harlequinade, with Baryshnikov, at the Kennedy Center, and at the White House.

Bridget has toured the U.S. in industrial shows and has performed in numerous musicals on the east coast. While living in New York, she appeared often in All My Children and The Guiding Light. Bridget has choreographed and directed a production of the Nutcracker in Pueblo, Colorado and she has choreographed variety and musical shows. She loves being Ballet Mistress and working with her mom!

The Charlotte Youth Ballet's
2009-2010 Board of Directors

Executive Board

Board Chair	Paulette Ashlin
Board Chair Elect	Liza Loeber
Past Board Chair	Beth Harrelson
Secretary	Elizabeth Banks
Treasurer	Lou Fuller
Finance Chair	Mark Katibah

Members of the Board

Shavonne Clark, Elizabeth Dewey, Joyce Dolan, Lisa Flowers,
Victoria Hartlove-Morrison, Leon Sinclair, Lidewey Skal,
Bob Stewart, Susan Thorsland, Ann Marie Young

Data Administrator - Communications

Cindy Gruber

Executive Administrator

Celeste Shuback