The American Academy of Ballet

06/12/2026

06/12/2026

Pre-show warm-ups with Donatella 🩰

📸 Amanda Ryan Photography

06/11/2026

We are so proud of all of our dancers who participated in the 2026 Echos of Light performance. You were truly spectacular! Brava to all of you for sharing your talent and making this performance so special. ✨

📸 Amanda Ryan Photography

06/10/2026

Dance with us this summer ☀️

Registration is open for our Five Week Summer Dance Program.

Classes include ballet and pointe, lyrical, jazz, hip hop, acro, stretching, variations, and more.

Monday, July 6 through Saturday, August 8

Register today at aab.dance/class

06/06/2026

Guess what?! It’s recital weekend! 🎉

Thank you for rehearsing with us today. We can’t wait for you to see all of the dancers’ hard work come to life on stage tomorrow! 💃🩰🌟

📸

06/05/2026

Mark your calendar for the 2026 Nutcracker Auditions!!! ✨🎄

It’s that magical time of year, when dancers dream of sugarplums dancing in their heads!

Join the American Academy of Ballet for Western New York’s longest-running production of The Nutcracker. This cherished holiday tradition is open to all dancers ages 5 and older.

🩰 Audition Dates:
📅 Saturday, August 15 — Ages 5–10
📅 Sunday, August 16 — Ages 11+

🎭 Performance Date:
📅 Saturday, December 5, 2026

New to our studio? We highly recommend participating in our summer classes or August Intensive to help prepare for auditions.

For audition times, performance levels, and additional information, visit:
🌐 AAB.dance/auditions

06/03/2026

We’re excited to announce the sale of our new vests! 🎉

They will be available Saturday during studio rehearsal. Sizes available include:

* Adult Small
* Adult Medium
* Adult Large

Be sure to get yours before they’re gone—supplies are limited!

We look forward to seeing everyone at rehearsal!

05/22/2026

⭐️SENIOR SPOTLIGHT⭐️

Kayla began dancing at the age of seven. She trained in various types of dance but quickly developed a special passion for the artistry and elegance of ballet. To Kayla, ballet is not merely based on perfect technique or performing on stage; but about expression and storytelling. When words fall short, ballet has always given her a way to express herself through movement. Growing up, she continued to rely on ballet as place of comfort, strength, and solace.

Kayla took her first class at AAB two years ago and will forever be touched by the warmth and kindness she was shown from the very beginning. She has fallen in love with the studio and is so thankful to have joined the AAB family. Kayla will attend Binghamton University with a major in Human Development, hoping to become an elementary teacher one day. She also plans to join the university’s dance company where she can continue her passion for dance. Although she is headed off to college, Kayla plans to return to AAB and remain connected to this wonderful dance community.

Finally, Kayla would like to express how incredibly grateful she is to Ms. Donatella for the endless encouragement, support, and generosity she has shown her over the past two years. The memories Kayla has made at AAB will always hold a special place in her heart and she will never forget the kindness she received from Ms. Donatella. As Kayla steps into this next chapter, she is going to lead with the grace, discipline, and courage she has learned through dance.

05/21/2026

🌟 We still need backstage volunteers! 🌟

We are looking for volunteers to help support our youngest dancers, from Fairy Tale Dance through Ballet A (ages 3–9). Your help makes a huge difference in creating a smooth and positive experience for our little performers! 💕

Interested in helping? Please complete the Google form on our website or reach out with any questions. Thank you for supporting our dancers! ✨

https://www.aab-buffalo.com/performance

05/17/2026

✨SENIOR SPOTLIGHT✨

Abby began dancing at American Academy of Ballet at the age of three, where she quickly developed a love for dance and the friendships and experiences that came with it. Throughout her years at AAB, she especially enjoyed learning from Ms. Maris and appreciated all that she taught her both in and out of the studio. Abby has always danced for the joy of it and has treasured her years performing in the Nutcracker.

This fall, Abby will attend Roberts Wesleyan University, where she has been accepted into the Honors Program. She plans to major in Elementary Education with a concentration in Psychology and looks forward to combining her passion for working with children with her love of learning.

Abby is especially grateful for the support and encouragement Donatella has given her over the last two years. Her guidance, positivity, and dedication helped make Abby’s final years at American Academy of Ballet enjoyable.