named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Pre-Professional Dance Training
Comprehensive ballet and dance instruction for students aiming to pursue careers in professional dance, including classical ballet, contemporary, jazz, and character dance
Rochester City Ballet Affiliation
Official school of the Rochester City Ballet, providing students performance opportunities in productions such as The Nutcracker, Cinderella, and Carmen
Summer Intensive Programs
Annual summer programs featuring guest faculty from major dance institutions and companies, offering advanced training and performance opportunities
activities · 4 groups
What they do
-
Ballet and Dance Education Programs 4 activities
- Dance education for children and adultsOffers ballet classes for individuals aged 3 through adulthood, including specialized instruction for children ages 3–6 and adult ballet students, with a tiered training program ranging from one to six days per week based on student level.
- Dancer health and performance monitoringImplements a Dancer Self-Report process for advanced-level dancers training at least 18 hours per week, collecting morning and evening data on physical condition, workload, sleep, nutrition, and hydration to tailor training loads, reduce injury risk, and support wellbeing.
- Operational delivery of dance instructionConducts a regular schedule of dance classes from September through June, with registration opening in July, and includes mandatory dress rehearsals in June for student demonstrations; maintains state-of-the-art dance studios at the JCC of Rochester.
- Professional and academic preparation through dance trainingProvides comprehensive dance training that prepares students for professional dance careers and higher education, resulting in placements at prestigious dance companies such as New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, as well as university scholarship opportunities at institutions like The Juilliard School and Indiana University.
-
-
Arts Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Financial support for dance educationProvides financial assistance to aspiring dancers based on merit, character, and community involvement, including support for tuition, summer intensives, international ballet competitions, and emergency aid to prevent disruption of dance education during family financial hardship.
-
-
Organization Website and Online Platform Management 1 activity
- Student and family support servicesProvides enrolled students, families, faculty, and staff with access to weekly rehearsal schedules, convention and competition information, and event and performance details.
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Post-graduation career transition supportHosts seminars such as "After Draper" to prepare Professional Training Program dancers for post-graduation dance careers.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$739K
Contributions & grants$66K9%
Program service revenue$630K85%
Investment income$4180%
Other revenue$42K
expenses
Total expenses$731K
Program expenses71%
Admin / overhead29%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$351K
Grants paid out$63K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.20M
Cash$473K
Investments$0
Liabilities$545K
Net assets$656K
Liquid reserves7.8 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -11.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMEY LEVERETT | Secretary | 40 | $101K |
| KATHERINE ERTSGAARD | Treasurer | 20 | $30K |
| STEFANIE CHESHIRE | BOARD MEMBER | 5 | $21K |
board members · 4
- JOE DAVIS — BOARD MEMBER
- MATT THROUMOULOS — President
- MELANIE CONRADT — BOARD MEMBER
- SAMANTHA PARISI — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- American Ballet Theatre Partner — Featured Brittany Shinay, faculty member at ABT’s JKO School, as a guest speaker on professional and academic dance pathways.
- American Ballet Theatre Partner — Professional dance company that has hired graduates from the Draper Center.
- California Institute of the Arts Partner — Featured faculty member Joe Davis as a guest speaker on navigating college dance programs.
- Cirque Du Soleil Partner — Performance company that has hired graduates from the Draper Center.
- Colleen Buckley Partner — Former student and inspiration for the Bright Light Scholarship Fund.
- Draper Center’s professional teachers Partner — Professional faculty provide evaluations and instruction for students in the ballet program.
- JCC Partner — Hosts The Draper Center for Dance Education on its campus at 1200 Edgewood Avenue
- JCC of Rochester Partner — Hosts Draper Center's dance studios within its facility.
- National Ballet of Canada Partner — Professional dance company that has hired graduates from the Draper Center.
- New York City Ballet Partner — Professional dance company that has hired graduates from the Draper Center.
- Rochester City Ballet Partner — Close training and performance affiliation; Draper Center is the official school of Rochester City Ballet, with students performing in productions and joining the company.
- Rochester City Ballet Partner — Draper Center is the official school of the Rochester City Ballet, with students performing in its productions such as The Nutcracker and Cinderella.
- Sacramento Ballet II Partner — Collaborated through guest speaker Jill Marlow Krutzkamp, Artistic Director, who shared insights on second company opportunities for dancers.
- The Juilliard School Partner — Engaged alumnus Joe Davis to speak about college dance program auditions and selection.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Bodily Literacy and Self-Management in Dancer Developmentmethodology: bodily literacyBy cultivating bodily literacy and self-awareness, the center empowers dancers to make informed decisions about training and well-being, because understanding one’s physical and emotional state leads to more sustainable, self-directed artistic growth.
- Foundational Technique and Long-Term Artistic Developmentmethodology: foundational-technique-trainingBy building a strong technical foundation in ballet and fostering long-term artistic growth, the center prepares dancers for sustainable, professional-level success in dance, because early mastery of form supports both physical longevity and future elite training opportunities.
- Holistic Career Preparation Through Integrated Dance Educationmethodology: holistic career preparationBy integrating discipline, work ethic, and career planning into dance training, the center supports student success across diverse artistic and academic pathways, because dance education serves as a foundation for lifelong personal and professional development beyond performance.
- Inclusive Access Model for Diverse Learnersmethodology: inclusive_accessBy offering dance education across skill levels and financial backgrounds, the center increases equitable access to the arts, because removing financial and experiential barriers enables broader participation and community integration.