The History PASCP—Nittany Ballet & CPYO 

Before the Performing Arts School of Central Pennsylvania existed in its current form, the organization grew out of The Arts Conservatory, which was founded in 2004 by Andrea Hill and Alex Hill. Andrea led the dance side of the organization, while Alex led the music side.

The music program operated as the Central Pennsylvania Youth Orchestra, known as CPYO, which was started in 1991. The ballet program, which started in 1994, used the name Ballet Theatre of Central Pennsylvania, performing The Nutcracker for the first time in 1996. (We are celebrating our 30th year!) Then in 2007, the ballet program performed a “Central PA version of The Nutcracker with live orchestra for the first time in Eisenhower Auditorium.

For the Central PA version of Nutcracker, photos of Centre Furnace Mansion where taken and sent to Grosh Scenic Design in Hollywood to be painted into a back drop. That drop (pictured here) has been used for other Nutcrackers around the country.

The Performing Arts School of Central Pennsylvania (PASCP) was established in 2011 and gained not-for-profit status in 2013 with both the ballet program and CPYO continuing under the PASCP umbrella.

In 2017, the ballet school and performing company were given the name Nittany Ballet; we are celebrating our 10 year anniversary this season! This created the structure used today: PASCP as the umbrella not-for-profit organization, Nittany Ballet as the ballet division, and CPYO as the orchestra division.