The Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet is a pre-professional dance company. The 40+ classically trained male and female dancers, ages 8-18, perform original ballets choreographed and staged by professionals, under the artistic direction of Artistic Director Mia Klinger Welch.

CVYB dancers are trained at the Klinger Excellence in Dance Studio in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.  This studio offers an extensive array of ballet, jazz and Pilates classes and provides instruction at both community/recreational and professional levels for dancers age 3 through adults.

The Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet exists:

1. to provide professional level training and performance opportunities to talented young dancers.
2. to educate young audiences in the art of ballet through original children’s ballets performed by children, for children.

Nan Klinger was chosen as one of forty ballet teachers nationwide to participate in a Ford Foundation Project with the New York City Ballet. This work with New York City Ballet and Balanchine inspired her to begin her own youth company.
Akron’s original pre-professional youth ballet, the Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet, was founded by Nan Klinger in September 1975. It was the first youth ballet in Ohio and is the fourth oldest in the United States.  Since its first performance in 1976, the CVYB has brought professional quality original children’s ballets to students and the public in Northeast Ohio for 30 years!

The CVYB has three main events every year: The first, the American Girl Fashion Show, occurs in Nov. and includes a short performance by CVYB dancers at intermission. The second series is "The Nutcracker: Act Two" which is held in December. This traditional Nutcracker performance is followed by a series of interactive dance education workshops allowing audience members to experience the use of costumes, Pointe Shoes, makeup and more! Our last performance series is in March and is held at the historic Akron (Ohio) Civic Theatre. The magical surroundings of this 1920’s atmospheric theater add special flavor to the CVYB’s productions. Our energetic troupe also tours each season throughout Northeast Ohio, performing to over 9,000 audience members in schools and civic groups, as part of CVYB On Tour. These performances are coordinated with the teachers and a suitable objectives-based curriculum guide is provided.

The CVYB also has performed repeatedly at the First Night celebration, the New Year's Eve celebration of Akron, Ohio, the Children's Concert Society Series at Akron Civic Theater and at the Discovery Series at Cleveland Playhouse Square.  International appearances includes the International Children’s Festival Tour in Taiwan and multiple appearances at the International Youth Ballet Festival (photos) in Geneva, Switzerland.Lastly, the CVYB has recently returned from their New York Debut, a rare honor for a youth ballet company! Their appearance at Symphony Space Theater at 95th and Broadway will be a cherished memory for some time to come.  Make sure to see the photos of this exciting event!

Should you desire more information about having the CVYB perform please contact us at Booking

No. Occasionally an older adult has filled a walk-on role of a grandfatherly or grandmotherly character, but all lead and corps roles are danced by the talented and dedicated young members of the Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet. Young audiences are inspired by their peers on stage!

Dancers are chosen in annual open auditions in May of each year, judged by independent dance professionals. Casting for each new dance is determined by the visiting choreographer.

The repertoire of the Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet includes 32 original dances, including three modern dances and twenty-seven children’s ballets, all choreographed and cast by professional choreographers for performance by the CVYB. In addition, the CVYB has performed one George Balanchine ballet, with special permission from the George Balanchine Trust.  Each year the CVYB has two to four dances in its active performance repertoire. This year the CVYB will reprise an original ballet, Miss Spider's Tea Party™, choreographed by James Sewell. This ballet is based on David Kirk's beloved children's book Miss Spider's Tea Party©. Also in the process of being created is a new classical ballet by dancer and choreographer, Karen Gabay.  Additionally, Tom Evert’s I Love Shapes, originally premiered by the CVYB in 1989, will also be performed.

The CVYB is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization. It has no paid employees, and our artistic staff receives only modest annual stipends. Our volunteers (many of them parents of the dancers) donate thousands of hours running the organization, fund-raising, doing all the publicity, marketing, and scheduling, as well as production work from designing and making costumes and props to backstage support during performances. We are proud to operate at a level of professionalism that consistently amazes the choreographers and professional organizations with whom we work. Artistic Director Mia Klinger Welch provides artistic direction. Miss Mia recruits talented choreographers, directs rehearsals, and oversees all staging and artistic elements. She is assisted by Lori Klinger, Artistic Director for Reach Out And Dance® and Kara Stewart, Artistic Associate and Project Administrator.

Even with an innovative artistic staff, talented dancers, and outstanding volunteers, the CVYB would not have succeeded for so long without the exceptional support of the Ohio Arts Council, a state agency that supports public programs in the arts, the Akron Community Foundation, and many other wonderful local and national foundations, corporate sponsors and underwriters, and loyal patrons. We are immensely grateful to receive their support and applaud their willingness to invest in the development of children as performing artists and in young audiences.

We appreciate the extensive community support that allows the CVYB to not only prepare the dancers of tomorrow but also provide exciting and inspiring performances in both Ohio and the world.  If you would like to join our sponsors in supporting our vast array of activities, please contact the CVYB at (330) 996-1100, see support and giving or email us about lending your financial support!