About Us
Ballet Academy of Silicon Valley is where your child will be nurtured, inspired, and cultivated to their fullest artistic potential.
Your dancer will be immersed in a holistic approach of instruction to meet their needs in a non-competitive community. They will feel supported and accepted, so they may grow with confidence in their pursuit of the arts.
Our Mission
Ignite the brilliance of every dancer while inspiring the pursuit of excellence.
Your dancer will receive a high quality education through curriculum-based instruction and training. They will have the opportunity to participate in superb professional quality performances and collaborate with other arts organizations within our community.
Founder Paula Valentine with her class, Morgan Hill Ballet Company 1977
Our Story
Ballet Academy of Silicon Valley was first founded by Paula Valentine, Director Emeritus, in 1977 under the name of the Morgan Hill Ballet Company, as a way to give dancers more performing opportunities and to raise money for scholarships and charity. Upon Paula Valentine’s retirement in 2004, the studio was turned over to Juliet Smith, which then became known as South Valley Dance Arts (SVDA), a new name that reflected our commitment to bringing quality, art, and training to the entire South Valley. As a community-oriented, non-competitive dance studio and company, SVDA instilled a tradition of dedication to outreach, scholarship, service, and excellence.
Juliet Smith teaching at SVDA, 2005
In 2019, SVDA merged with Ballet Academy of Silicon Valley (BASV) and ownership and directorship was then passed to Marisa Visnaw. In addition to upholding the values already in place from its predecessors, BASV introduced the Cecchetti method of classical ballet training to the studio curriculum. The Cecchetti syllabus develops technique, strength, and artistry to the very highest levels, and gives dancers at BASV the opportunity to take graded exams to earn internationally recognized certifications of their training. Ballet Academy of Silicon Valley aims to uphold the traditions created by the legacy of both SVDA and Morgan Hill Ballet Company and remains dedicated to the community-oriented missions of our predecessors.