Okatie Youth Ballet

About Okatie Youth Ballet

Okatie Youth Ballet (OYB), nestled in Ridgeland, South Carolina, has been a cornerstone of dance education since its founding in 2012 by Laura Peterson. With over 30 years of teaching experience and certifications in Acrobatic Arts and Alixa Flexibility, Laura Peterson, along with a dedicated faculty, fosters a love for dance in young artists from two years old through pre-professional levels. Our comprehensive curriculum offers Ballet (including Vaganova technique, Progressive Ballet Technique, pre-pointe, and pointe), Acrobatic Arts, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, and Lyrical styles. The talented instructors include Abby Rosenbaum (directing the REP Ballet competition program), Hailey Dunn, Cassidy Dunn, Shannon Mayhew, Sarah Provencher (K-12 dance educator), Reagan Wyatt (assisting with preschool arts), and senior instructor Caralynn Scott (teaching Tap and Musical Theater). OYB emphasizes proper body alignment, flexibility, and musicality, building a strong technical foundation while nurturing discipline, creativity, and confidence. Beyond technical training, OYB is a vibrant family, a welcoming second home where students forge lifelong friendships and gain invaluable life lessons. Opportunities for choreography, teaching, and leadership are cultivated, with senior students mentoring younger ones. Special programs like "Steps of Praise," "Second Saturday Workshops," and "Company" and "Repertoire Rehearsal" (by invitation/audition) further enrich the learning experience, preparing students to shine both on and off the dance floor.

Styles offered at Okatie Youth Ballet