Artistic Direction
Mary LeGere, Artistic Director
Megan Marvel, Associate Director

Board of Directors - Officers and Members-At-Large
Sabrina Francis, President
Michael Bowman, Vice President
Richard Proctor, Treasurer
Robert Schantz, Secretary
Elizabeth Crowder
Susan Carlin Galdy
Ilse Ipsen
Joan Nicholas-Walker
Brenda Watson

Board of Directors - Auxillary Members
Trish Bynum, Guild President

Raleigh Dance Theatre, affiliate company of the Raleigh School of Ballet, was founded in 1984 by Ann Vorus to provide performance training for qualified area dancers.  Under her artistic direction the company grew tremendously and gained local as well as regional recognition for its artistic excellence.  RDT's milestones include Giselle in 1991 with the North Carolina Symphony in its inaugural Ballet Series and in 1993, acceptance into the pretigious Southeastern Regional Ballet Association as a performing member company.

In 1992 Mary LeGere was named Associate Director and in 1994 Artistic Director, when Ms. Vorus resigned to concentrate on directing The Raleigh School of Ballet. As the company continued to develop, its name was changed to Carolina Ballet and the Board of Directors launched a campaign to develop a fully professional ballet company. The close of the 1996-97 season marked the final stage in achieving this goal. Highlights of this period included performing George Balanchine's "Raymonda Variations" and gaining honor status recognition from the Southeast Regional Ballet Association.

The artistic staff and dancers who were instrumental in Carolina Ballet's success have reestablished Raleigh Dance Theatre. Now in its sixth year with Mary LeGere as Artistic Director, and Jennifer Clagett Sommers as Associate Director, RDT serves its original mission to provide performance training for young dancers while promoting and fostering the art of dance within the community. To expand its outreach program, RDT has worked with the Pines of Carolina Girl Scout Council giving them an opportunity to earn a Brownie "Dancercize Try It" or a Junior Girl Scout "Dance Badge."

Ann Vorus, Founder
Ms. Vorus founded The Raleigh School of Ballet in 1981 and Raleigh Dance Theatre in 1984. She trained with Robert Barnett, Dorothy Alexander, and MerriLee Smith at the Atlanta School of Ballet with additional study at the American Ballet Theatre School and the Joffrey Ballet. Ms. Vorus danced as a soloist with Atlanta Ballet and taught on the faculty of the Atlanta School of Ballet prior to moving to Raleigh. In 1991 she created The Dancing Princess which has become a Raleigh Dance Theatre holiday tradition. Please read more about Ann Vorus here.

Mary LeGere, Artistic Director
A native of Rotterdam, NY, Ms. LeGere began her ballet training at age 9. In 1976 she won a scholarship to the School of the Pennsylvania Ballet where she studied with Barbara Weisburger, Benjamin Harkavy, and Lupe Serrano. In 1980 she joined the company and in 1986 was promoted to soloist. While with the Pennsylvania Ballet, she danced principal roles in Balanchine's Nutcracker, Serenade, Stars and Stripes, Four Temperaments, and Concerto Barocco. In addition, she was featured in works by Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham, Lynn Taylor Corbett, and Peter Martins. In 1990 she retired with an acclaimed performance as Myrta in Giselle. After moving to North Carolina with her husband, Ms. LeGere became Associate Director of Raleigh Dance Theatre in 1992 and was in place to become Artistic Director in 1994 when Raleigh Dance Theatre founder Ann Vorus resigned to concentrate her energies directing the Raleigh School of Ballet. It was under her tenure that the company changed its name to Carolina Ballet and reached the final step in becoming a professional ballet company. Choosing no longer to direct Carolina Ballet, Ms. LeGere is once again directing the reestablished Raleigh Dance Theatre, where she continues to uphold the tradition of high standards and excellence. Ms. LeGere has choreographed several works for Raleigh Dance Theatre which have been chosen to be performed at the SERBA annual festival. Please read about SERBA 2000, which was hosted by RDT. Ms. LeGere lives in Durham with her husband and two children.

Jennifer Clagett Sommers, Associate Director
Ms. Sommers holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance, Performance, and Choreography from Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts. Trained in ballet, modern, dance history, anatomy, and kinesiology, she brings a rich store of knowledge to her students and colleagues. In addition to completing her degree, Ms. Sommers studied with noted teachers in France and Canada. Her teaching experience includes a teaching fellowship at Smith College as well as instruction at all levels in various studios in New York and Massachusetts. Among her dance honors ia a scholarship to the prestigious Jacob's Pillow Choreography Workshop, where she worked with Bessie Schonberg. Ms. Sommers performed with Artifact Productions, Smith College and Penn Dance, and Albany Bershire Ballet where she also served as ballet mistress. Since relocating to the Research Triangle area, Ms. Sommers has performed with Laura Dean Musicians and Dancers, Carolina Ballet (performance broadcast by North Carolina Public Television), and StreetSigns Center for Literature and Performance.