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Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet churns out top dancers

Carlisle is known for its rich automobile history, but that’s not all. For the past 50 years, the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet has been churning out ...

Carlisle is known for its rich automobile history, but that's not all.

For the past 50 years, the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet has been churning out some of the top professional dancers in the ballet world.

The first classes were taught down the road, in an old sheep barn and today, the location on High Street is home to hundred of dancers.

"This is where some of the best ballet in the world, starts. And not a lot of people know about that," said Chief Executive Officer, Nicholas Ade.

Ade says about a third of the 230 year round students are from out of state... like, Adrian Durham, who's from Lake Charles, Louisiana.

It's those who've reached the professional level that encouraged him to make the move up to the Keystone State.

"It's definitely something to look up to because I've heard of all these dancers and I never would've thought they came from a place like this... a town in the middle of Pennsylvania that's turning out some of the best dancers in the ballet world," said Durham.

That's the same reason why so many young girls and boys lace up their slippers, sometimes dancing for 7 hours a day.

"I wouldn't want to trade my training and memories and experiences for anything else," said Abby Jayne DeAngelo.

Abby Jayne DeAngelo has been dancing at CPYB for 12 years.

Her family has opened their doors to kids around the country, who are working towards the same goal as their daughter.

"Girls live with us for years and summers which is really cool to build friendships. They grew up different places and being able to share this with them is very neat," said DeAngelo.

Dancers are separated into classes by level, not by age.

But it seems to work.

20-year-old Adrian has moved up 4 levels in 1 year.

He's reached what's referred to as the "elite" level of ballet.

"You could take it as discouraging, saying, "oh my god! there's this young kid that can do everything I do but  then it's like why can't I take it to the next step, everyone has something to offer. It's definitely motivating, you're around people on the same mission as you," said Durham.

The younger students have the same thought.

"I can look up to them, they can be my inspiration," said Lily Krisco, from Elizabethtown, Lancaster County.

Perhaps, it's the roots of this place that make it so successful.

Alecia Good-Boresow started dancing at CPYB when she was 5.

Her ballet career led her back home.

Now, she shares her knowledge of the sport as an instructor.

"I just love being able to give back to what I learned here and sharing it with the students," said Good-Boresow.

Unlike most schools, CPYB doesn't conduct auditions.

"You have to come here with the focus and the drive and really the passion to learn and develop your skills as a dancer," said Good-Boresow.

Everyone is accepted into class, but not everyone can keep up.

"If you're willing to do the work, the door is open to you," said Ade.

The school has grown so much over the years, that it's expanding.

The new additions opened June 1st to students, who are preparing their June Series.

For ticket information go here.

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