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Welcome to the Academy of Ballet

Academy of Ballet offers a complete program for any dancer.

At the Academy of Ballet, we specialize in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, and Hip Hop, offering high-quality training in a positive, family-centered environment. Our mission is to nurture strong dancers, kind humans, and a lifelong love of the performing arts.

Our Story

Founded in 1985 in Enumclaw, WA by Sandra and Glen Hasstedt, the Academy transitioned to Buckley, WA in 2015 when Bethany Payne became Artistic Director and Owner. With nearly four decades of history, AOB continues to grow while staying true to its tradition of excellence.

Performances & Programs

AOB proudly presents two major productions each year—our magical Winter Show and our annual End-of-Year Performance.
Our dance season runs September through June, giving dancers a structured, enriching year of training with summer months off to rest and recharge.

Competition Team

In September 2024, we launched our brand-new Competition Team, and our dancers made an incredible debut—earning three 1st-place awards and placing Top 5 at every competition in their first season.

Our competition program focuses on:

Lyrical & Contemporary
Group routines & trios
A supportive, drama-free team culture
Strong technique, artistry, and confidence

If you’re interested in joining our Comp Team, we’d love to hear from you!

Season Highlights

This season, we celebrate:

6th Annual Winter Show – December 2025
41st Annual End-of-Year Performance – June 2026

Our Home

We are proudly located in downtown Buckley, WA.

We hope you choose the Academy of Ballet as the place to learn, grow, and fall in love with the beautiful art of dance.

A Note from Our Artistic Director & Owner:

Hello AOB dancers and families!
As I enter my 11th year as owner, my mission remains the same: to provide the highest quality instruction, choreography, and performance opportunities, while also nurturing skills and values that last a lifetime. One of my greatest joys is the connections built here at AOB.

I love that dancers who have been with us for years feel comfortable coming to me to talk about dance, life, or anything in between. Each and every student holds a special place in my heart.

At AOB, we truly are one big family.

I am thrilled to share that we have 6 teachers joining us this season! Head over to our Meet Our Team page to get to know them.

As a small but mighty studio, it’s just me behind the scenes handling inquiries, calls, and day-to-day operations. If you don’t hear back within a few days, please feel free to email us at academyofballet@hotmail.com for a quicker response.

I’m beyond excited for Season 41, and I hope you are too! Here’s to a beautiful year ahead.

With love,

Bethany Payne
Artistic Director & Owner, Academy of Ballet

Join Us now!