“I always hoped that my decision to start the Ballet Workshop would continue to impact groups of children I would never see”. -Sylvia J. Wanner

The official academy of Port Angeles City Ballet

| SYLVIA JOYCE WANNER SCHOOL |

The Sylvia Joyce Wanner School is a pre-professional ballet training academy for students, ages 3-18. Beginning in 1970, as “Ballet Workshop”, and renamed in 2023 (after our founder), the SJW School exists to provide and uphold a standard of dance education excellence on the Olympic Peninsula. Under the leadership of Artistic Director, Kate M. Robbins, students thrive in an elite atmosphere dedicated to the success of each student. SJW is focused on both the physical and psychological needs of our ballet students and provide complete guidance for graduates seeking either a career in dance or entry into a national level college dance program.

  • The SJW School follows a specific graded curriculum, based primarily on Marca Dale Weary’s syllabus of CPYB. A blend of Vaganova and French styles are introduced in the senior years. Classes are defined by lower and upper school levels:

    JUNIOR LEVELS: My Ballet Book, PreBallet, Primary 1, Primary 2, Junior Foundations

    SENIOR LEVELS: Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced

    PROGRAMMING: Classical Ballet Technique, Character Dance, Pointe, Men’s and Women’s Variations, Pas de Deux, Modern, Pilates and Tap. There is no audition for entry into the SJW School - all students are assessed by faculty upon application, and then placed according to their ability level upon admission into the academy.

  • The SJW School welcomes students of all ability and commitment levels through our doors - from recreational to pre-professionally focused. Two streams of study are available to dancers who wish to study either part-time on a term-by-term basis, or more frequently year-round.

  • The SJW School is proud to the be the official academy of Port Angeles City Ballet, providing opportunities for all of its academy dancers to perform in PACB productions. Senior students of the school may also aspire to PACB Trainee and Junior Artist positions. These positions are by invitation only from the director and subject to additional rehearsals.

  • Recent former graduates who have sought professional or college careers in dance are currently dancing with companies such as Ballet Idaho, Colorado Ballet, and USC Santa Barbara Dance Program. SJW also celebrates its many graduates who have studied from 3-18 years-old and gone on to academic pursuits after graduation. The student body of SJW is enriched by the diversity of young artists and individuals who enter our programming and participate in the many performing and choreographic opportunities.

  • Children must be at least 3-years old and fully potty trained to enroll in “My Ballet Book” Program. For more information on SJW’s innovative “My Ballet Book’ for ages 3-5, see next toggle below.

  • My Ballet Book (MBB) is a specialized ballet program designed by SJW Faculty. It can be studied for 1 or 2 years and covers three semesters of progressive curriculum for ages 3-5.

    Each class consists of a warm-up that the children eventually memorize and know by heart, followed by an interactive book reading where the dancers act out the story using their imagination and ballet steps/positions. No technique is emphasized at this level. Listening skills, spatial awareness, respect for other dancers personal space, and following the teachers movements to learn the framework of a ballet class, are the focus of this level.

    Term 1 books are general dance oriented, and Term 2 & 3 books reinforce more specific ballet terminology that the students . At the conclusion of each class, dancers receive a sticker for completing their session, a recognition system which is continued into our PreBallet level to encourage developing focus, rewarding work ethic and encouraging enjoyment of ballet lessons.

    Dancers who complete atleast one yearof study are found to have enhanced attention-span and understanding of ballet decorum going into PreBallet.

  • Ballet programming is not open for adult enrollment at SJW.

    ADULT MODERN

    Seasonally, SJW offers an Adult Modern class - please email us to be notified about this class.

    ADULT PILATES

    SWJS Pilates Director Libby Scofield runs a private practice for adults out of SJWS facilities. To register for her adult program: libby.scofield@gmail.com

FAQ’s for Parents

  • SJW places all students on the basis of ability, not by age. If your dancer is over 12 years of age, we do recommend that they have some background in ballet or gymnastics if they are hoping to be placed in a level relative to their age group. New applicants over the age of 12 (with no dance background) will be placed in a beginner level in order to build their foundation. They will not be placed in a level with classmates their age who are technically more advanced. SJW promotes dancers year-round on a “as ready” basis, and does not require students to stay in one gradelevel for an entire year if they show technical readiness to progress to the next grade.

  • SJW’s FALL TERM begins the second week of September and ends the last day of PACB’s Nutcracker. WINTER TERM begins the first day of the PASD January calendar, and ends the first day of PASD Spring Break. SPRING TERM begins upon the conclusion of the PASD calendar Spring Break and runs until mid-June, typically the weekend of or after PAHS graduation.

  • Yes. SJW students are annually eligible for various merit form of financial support. Five junior students and five senior students are selected each December to receive merit-based Winter Scholarships. At the year-end June showcase, five merit-based scholarships are presented anually. Opportunities for need based financial aid are evaluated on a term-by-term basis.

ACADEMY FACULTY

Kate M. Robbins

Kayla Oakes

Anna Pederson

  • Ms. Robbins assumed tenure of Port Angeles’ Ballet Workshop Productions in 2015, and is the founder of PACB. Under her direction, PACB has inherited five full-length ballets produced by BW Productions, including “The Nutcracker”, “Swan Lake”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Don Quixote” and “Coppelia”.

    Ms. Robbin’s extensive teaching & staging background was shaped by the long-term mentorships of Sadler Wells/Royal Ballet artist Glenn Gilmour, Shanghai Ballet School director Chen Jian Nian, and CPYB founder Marcia Dale-Weary. After dancing with Goh Ballet & Ballet British Columbia, Ms. Robbins founded the award-winning VJPD Ballet in Vancouver, Canada, winning consecutive YAGP awards for coaching & school direction from 2011-2015. Graduates from her programs continue to be recognized at Jackson IBC, ADC-IBC, and Prix de Lausanne. Ms. Robbins is a regular guest instructor and repetiteur at private academies & colleges throughout Asia & North America, staging ballets & sharing her expertise on European training syllabi and repertoire.  She is also a member of the University of Washington’s Global Executives EMBA program and is a two-time Gemini nominee for her work in Canadian film & television.

  • Following her tenure as Executive Director of Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts, Kayla Oakes currently serves as the Director of Education & Artistic Engagement for Field Arts & Events Hall in Port Angeles, WA.

    A teaching artist herself, Kayla holds a BFA in Dance from the University of California at Santa Barbara and maintains a unique artistic lens which compliments over 10 years of administrative leadership experience in the performing arts industry. She’s held artistic and operational positions at various organizations and institutions including Boise Contemporary Theater, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Ballet Idaho Academy, Boise State University, Eagle Performing Arts Center, Balance Dance Company, the Port Angeles City Ballet and Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts. Through these diverse experiences, Kayla has established an extensive background in nonprofit management, program development, curation, event planning, communications, education outreach, community relations, fundraising and grant writing.

    A passion for inclusive and accessible education drives Kayla professionally and she continues to teach modern dance technique for The Sylvia Joyce Wanner School while also serving on the Board of Directors for both the Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts and the Port Angeles Education Foundation.

  • Anna Pederson has been dancing for 27 years, and teaching/choreographing for 15 years. She grew up training in commercial jazz, tap and ballet in California, and began pursuing a musical theater career in 2012, where she quickly landed leading roles and positions as a choreographer.

    Ms. Pederson has choreographed and directed for Peninsula College, Port Angeles Community Playhouse, Olympic Theater Arts, Port Angeles High School and Ghostlight Productions, working on such shows as: A Chorus Line, Mamma Mia!, Anastasia, Frozen Jr and White Christmas. She is currently the Resident Choreographer for Ghostlight Productions and the Operetta Director for Sequim High School. She taught for The Ballet Workshop from 2017-2021 and has appeared onstage as the lead mother in The Nutcracker, the Queen of the Dryads in Don Quixote and the Queen in Sleeping Beauty. Her passion lies in teaching all dancers and performers the joy that can be found in movement and how to express that through excellent storytelling onstage.

  • Libby’s journey as a movement instructor and educator began in 2006 when she became certified in Pilates Mat/Apparatus. Since then she has continuously expanded her expertise through additional certifications in various specialties. Her extensive knowledge in core, pelvic floor health and function, gait analysis and joint health and function allows her to address the unique needs of her clients, and enables her to provide comprehensive support for individuals seeking to improve their overall movement patterns.

    One of Libby’s greatest strengths is her ability to work with clients of diverse ages and backgrounds. From young dancers & athletes aiming to enhance performance to older adults seeking to improve balance and mobility, she has successfully guided individuals towards their specific goals. Her knowledge and techniques have proved effective in helping dancers recover and regain their strength after various injuries or surgeries. She is delighted to be joining the SJWS faculty as the director of the Pilates Program.

  • Tiffany Gillespie has been the head of Junior School Faculty since 2014, after receiving teacher training from Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education with a minor in Dance, as well as an M.Ed. in Christian School Administration. Ms. Gillespie has taught both dance and academics at elementary schools in Spain & Papua New Guinea, and has held the tenure of principal at Olympic Christian School, since 2018. She is the head junior repetiteur for PACB’s “The Nutcracker” and stages all primary level work for SJW’s annual “Scenes de Ballet”.

  • Born in Israel, Ms. Nelson is a Seattle native, trained under Suzuko Rewie, Rachel Tudor, Stephen Wynne, and Ravenna Tucker of ABT, Joffrey Ballet & NYCB. She received her B.F.A. in Ballet/Choreography from Belhaven University where she also received the 2005-2006 Bezalel Class Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement for her choreographic endeavors.

    Ms. Nelson has choreographed, directed and performed all over the world with companies such as TALK Dance, Shachah Touring Company, City Opera Ballet and Redd Legg Dance Company. From 2008-2016 Nelson also co-directed full-length musicals, choreographed and held title Musical Choir Director with Sky Valley Education Center, Taproot Theatre and more, headed the Sky Valley Education Center’s Dance Department, and directed the KHDP’s After School Dance Program in the Seattle area.

    In 2008, Ms. Nelson formed the non-profit dance collective The Katy Hagelin Dance Project, receiving continuous high praise reviews from Seattle Dances and Seattle Weekly. She has modeled for renowned photographer Marina Shipova and was featured on the front cover of Swanky Spellbound in London. Most recently Ms. Nelson starred in multi-award winning pianist and composer Jennifer Thomas’s new upcoming short dance film ‘UNDERWATER CARNIVAL RIDE’ to be released at the end of 2023. She also is premiering her new media company STRAWBYR media & dance films in 2023 and beyond.

    Ms. Nelson became affiliated with The Ballet Workshop in 2022 and is thrilled to be joining the SJWS and PACB staff for this coming season.

Libby Scofield

Tiffany Gillespie

Katrina Nelson