Wall of Fame

Founded in 1954 by Audrée Estey, Princeton Ballet School (PBS) is one of the oldest and esteemed non-profit dance schools in the country. Our commitment to excellence, renowned faculty, affiliation with a professional ballet company – American Repertory Ballet (ARB), state-of-the-art facilities, and dedication to live music are just a few characteristics that set us apart from other ballet schools.  

To recognize the organization’s 50th anniversary in 2004, PBS began to formally recognize notable alumni by inducting them into a Wall of Fame. This initiative, led by ARB alumna and then PBS Dean of Students Lisa de Ravel, began with eight inductees, and in 2006, six more dancers were selected for this special honor. 

PBS now celebrates its 70th anniversary milestone, and soon, yet another new generation of alumni will be added to the Wall of Fame! While we are proud of each and every student that has danced in our studios, the space on our “wall” is limited and dedicated to those alumni who have had exceptional careers in the performing arts industry and beyond. We invite you to stay tuned! 

2004 Inductees

Lisa de Ravel

Lisa de Ravel is the Founder and Lead Educator of Vitality and Grace Fitness, a wellness space where adults rediscover […]

Carol Estey

Bebe Neuwirth

Bebe Neuwirth was raised in Princeton, NJ and began her dance training at age five at Princeton Ballet School. Known […]

Kraig Patterson

Kraig Patterson was born in Trenton, NJ. He was inspired to pursue a career in dance after performing in high […]

Dodie Pettit

Dodie Pettit, at age 12, was a Charter Member of the Regional Ballet Company founded in 1962 and then became […]

Karen Russo Burke

Lynda Sing

Jim Vincent

Jim Vincent studied at Princeton Ballet School and became the Artistic Director of Nederlans Dans Theatr in 2009. He previously served […]

2006 Inductees

Tim Acito

Sean Mahoney

Sean Mahoney came to Princeton Ballet School at age eleven, after two years of study at Knecht’s Dance Academy. He was […]

Erin Mahoney-Du

Phyllis Papa

Phyllis Papa began her dance studies at Royal Ballet Academy and became a charter member of the new Princeton Regional […]

Diane Partington

Annie Woodside Gribbins

Alumni of Princeton Ballet School have gone on to dance with many professional companies including:

Alvin Ailey American Dance Company

American Ballet Theatre

American Repertory Ballet

Ballet West

Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Co.

Boston Ballet

Colorado Ballet

Complexions

Dance Theatre of Harlem

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

Kansas City Ballet

Louisville Ballet

Mark Morris Dance Company

Martha Graham Dance Company

Miami City Ballet

Momix

Netherlands Dance Theater

New York City Ballet

New York Theatre Ballet

North Carolina Dance Theatre

Oregon Ballet Theatre

Pacific Northwest Ballet

Paris Opera Ballet

The Parsons Dance Company

Paul Taylor Dance Company

Pennsylvania Ballet (now Philadelphia Ballet)

Pittsburgh Ballet Theater

San Francisco Ballet

STREB

The Suzanne Farrell Ballet

Twyla Tharp

The Washington Ballet

Plus Broadway, TV, and Movies!

Additional notable alumni include:

Christine Cox | Ballet X Co-Founder, Executive and Artistic Director

Angelica Generosa | Principal Dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet | She is from South River, New Jersey. She studied on scholarship at the School of American Ballet and Princeton Ballet, and she attended summer courses at the School of American Ballet, Chautauqua Summer Program, and New Jersey Ballet. She also studied with Gina Forcella in Sayreville, New Jersey. Angelica joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as an apprentice in 2011. She was promoted to corps de ballet in 2012, soloist in 2016, and principal in 2020. Angelica was the recipient of the Youth American Grand Prix Regional Hope Award in 2005, and she was a YAGP New York finalist in 2007. She also was the recipient of the School of American Ballet Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise. Angelica has performed as a guest artist with the Vail International Dance Festival, American Academy of Ballet, and Ballet Hawaii. She has performed at the Chautauqua Dance Alumni Gala and Gala de ballet de Buenos Aires.

Sarah Hay | Started her dance training at Princeton Ballet School, and from here, went on to study at School of American Ballet and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of American Ballet Theatre. She danced with North Carolina Dance Theater, then Pennsylvania Ballet, before moving to Germany to join the Dresden Semperoper Ballet and work with William Forsythe. She is the lead in the TV series Flesh and Bone.

Michael Mindlin | Dance Supervisor for the Broadway production of Hamilton and the National Touring production of Aladdin | Michael’s choreography has been featured in productions of Gypsy (North Carolina Theatre), Xanadu (ReVision Theatre), Beauty and the Beast (Northern Stage), Awesomer and Awesomer (The Triad Theatre), All Hail The Queen (The Cutting Room) as well as several BC/EFA benefit concerts. As a performer, Michael has appeared on Broadway in Aladdin, Bring It On, Mamma Mia, 9 to 5, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Unity Phelan | Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet | Started her dance training in early childhood at Princeton Ballet School. At the age of 14, she became a student at School of American Ballet. She was an Apprentice to New York City Ballet for the 2012-2013 year, and joined the company the following year. That year, Dance Magazine featured her as one of the five up and comers in the NYCB corps. Pointe Magazine named her one of the ten most promising corps dancers in the United States.

Samuel Pott | Martha Graham Company, Now founder and Artistic Director of Nimbus Dance

Penny Saunders | Choreographer | Saunders won the International Commissioning Project which launched her choreographic career, creating pieces for Hubbard Streets’ main and second company, Cincinnati Ballet, Whim W’Him, Oklahoma City Ballet, BalletX, Sacramento Ballet, The Royal New Zealand Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Diablo Ballet, Dayton Ballet, among others. Saunders is honored to be the Resident Choreographer at The Grand Rapids Ballet where she has created many new works including her first full-length work, The Happy Prince and Other Wilde Tales.

Ashley Wegmann | Ballet Met, Atlanta Ballet

We want to hear from you!

Which PBS Alum who has gone on to have an illustrious career in dance should be included in the next group of inductees?  Email your suggestions to Lisa Patterson, Director of Development, at [email protected].

If you are a Princeton Ballet School or American Repertory Ballet Alum, please contact [email protected]  to tell us your latest news and updates.

To make a contribution in support of Princeton Ballet School, go to https://arballet.org/support/support/.

Thank you!