Central West Ballet

Currently in its 38th year of operation, Central West Ballet is the resident ballet company of the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, California. An exciting company with versatile dancers, Central West Ballet reaches a large population in California's Central Valley. Established in 1987 by founding Artistic Director Gretchen Vogelzang and Juline Schmitz, the company's artistic directorships have included Karen Burns, Bill Lark and Coleen Patterson. Since 2004, Artistic Director René Daveluy and Rehearsal Director Leslie Ann Larson have developed the company’s artistic achievements. In 2010, the company moved into its own dedicated studios, currently on Pentecost Drive, North Modesto. Additionally, the Central West Ballet Academy (established in 2014), and CWB II (a trainee company established in 2015), offers serious minded students opportunities to train with an eye toward performance. Since 2018, Executive Director Karin Reenstierna has expanded the company’s visibility as a cultural force in California’s Central Valley. Central West Ballet believes in the importance of educational outreach to expose all factions of our community to the arts.