Mission Statement
Welcome to Westchester Ballet Company (WBC), an esteemed nonprofit youth ballet based in Ossining, New York. Established in 1950 by renowned ballerina and choreographer Iris Merrick, WBC is one of the oldest regional nonprofit ballet companies in the United States. Our company consists of approximately 100 talented young dancers, 6 to 18 years of age, who are chosen through open auditions held annually in and around Ossining, New York.
The way we experience the world and enjoy cultural and entertainment activities has significantly changed since we started in the mid-1900s. However, we believe in the importance of uniting people through shared artistic experiences. We also believe that it is crucial to protect and hand down the traditional knowledge and wisdom of classical ballet.
We not only focus on nurturing and presenting dance as an art form but also strive to make it accessible to all. This means we aim to provide affordable or even no-cost access to our performances and give school-aged children who are interested in dancing with WBC the opportunity to do so without financial burdens. Our goal is to eliminate financial barriers and make dance more diverse, while also creating meaningful opportunities for young individuals and fostering positive social change in our community.
