About Us

Our Mission

Foundedin 1997, the New American Youth Ballet is dedicated to make classical ballet accessible to children of all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds, by offering lessons and performing opportunities by donation. The youth in the Battery Park community and downtown is the heart of our mission. With no audition required, students experience the joy of dance and music by their involvement in full-length classical ballets. Our goal is to enhance the student’s self-image through instruction that nurtures the whole child and by offering a healthy, uplifting and non-competitive environment. We cannot change the past, but together, we will change the future.

About New American Youth Ballet

The New American Youth Ballet is a registered 501(c) 3 not-for-profit school and company founded in 1997, filling a void in dance by making ballet accessible to children of all socio-economic backgrounds. Presently few ballet schools perform regularly with their students in full-length classical ballets. NAYB allows dancers at all levels the opportunity to perform.

The New American Youth Ballet has generated tremendous interest of the lower Manhattan community by offering a school with performing opportunities that is affiliated with a company division. The students from the school get various performing opportunities throughout the year, to work closely with the company during these occasions. Our students learn how to behave in a professional theater environment from a very young age. (Starting at age 2!)

From its inception, New American Youth Ballet has embraced its responsibility to inspire, empower and unite young people from all backgrounds through innovative educational programs that involve them in the creative process. Recent events underline the need to continue and expand the educational programs New American Youth Ballet has been delivering for the last five years. We focus on developing human potential and heightening awareness of the underlying unity all people share.

We serve as a community resource and a majority of our students are from lower Manhattan. We continue to invite and welcome students from other sections of NYC to participate in our classes and performances. It is our hope this will broaden our audience and have a positive affect on the downtown economy.

New American Youth Ballet performances offer live theater at an affordable price. Our audiences range from the local residents of lower Manhattan who just need a night out, to the families and children who are the focal point of our teaching programs.

The New American Youth Ballet is dedicated to introducing classical ballets to community youth. Our company division involvement with the school enhances the level of our productions and allows the children to learn from professional dancers in a positive nurturing environment. To offer our dancers both emotional and artistic support is a priority.

We welcome your support, involvement and contributions. All donations are tax-deductible and sincerely appreciated.

The Carousel Cities Youth Ballet / New American Youth Ballet - Performance and History Timeline

1993 | Carousel Cities Youth Ballet founded by Bonnie Fernandez and Elizabeth Fernandez in Binghamton NY. Presented: The Nutcracker - The Conklin Ave. Baptist Church and St. Michaels Binghamton, NY Class locations: Bonner Community Center, Conklin Ave. Baptist Church

1994 | Presented: The Pavlova Show - Main Endwell High School, Endwell, NY Summer Ballet Program and Performance for Town of Union Parks and Recreation Department, The Nutcracker-Vestal High School, Ballet Gala Cub’s 1st Recital - Clayton Ave. School, Vestal NY
Class locations: Conklin Ave. Baptist Church, Volunteers of America, 1st Presbyterian Church of Endwell

1995 | Presented: International Ballet and Buffet - Roosevelt School, Copula – Vestal High School, Vestal, NY, Summer Ballet Intensive Showcase – CCYB Studio, Binghamton, NY, The Nutcracker - The Forum Theater, Binghamton, NY,
Class location: 1043 Front Street –Though community donations, we had our own studio!

1996 | Presented: Don Quixote’s Impossible Dream – Helen Foley Theater, Binghamton, NY, Summer Ballet Intensive Showcase – CCYB Studio, The Nutcracker with conductor David L. Agard and the BC Pops Orchestra – The Forum Theater, Binghamton, NY
Class location: 1043 Front Street

1997 | Presented: The Sleeping Beauty with conductor David L. Agard and the BC Pops Orchestra – The Forum Theater, Binghamton, NY, A Summer Ballet Intensive Program in Carnegie Hall, NYC, Inspiration of The Dance – Weil Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall NYC, Beginning of The New American Youth Ballet, founded by Bonnie and Elizabeth Fernandez – NAYB in residence at Carnegie Hall The Nutcracker with conductor David L. Agard and the BC Pops Orchestra – The Forum Theater, Binghamton, NY
Class locations: Carousel Cities Youth Ballet: 1043 Front Street, Binghamton, NY
New American Youth Ballet: International Ballet Dance Center At Carnegie Hall, NYC

1998 | Presented: Swan Lake with conductor David L. Agard and the BC Pops Orchestra – The Forum Theater, Binghamton, NY, The Nutcracker of the Stars with conductor David L. Agard and the BC Pops Orchestra and International Ballet Gold Medallist: Rasta Thomas – The Forum Theater, Binghamton, NY, Christmas Celebration at Carnegie Hall collaboration with NAYB & CCYB, International Ballet Dance Center At Carnegie Hall, NYC
Class locations: Carousel Cities Youth Ballet: 1043 Front Street, Binghamton, NY
New American Youth Ballet: International Ballet Dance Center At Carnegie Hall, NYC

1999 | Presented: Miracles and premier of The Helen Keller Ballet with conductor David L. Agard and the Carousel Cities Youth Ballet Pops Orchestra – The Forum Theater, Binghamton, NY, The Millennium Holiday Show with The Mason Warrington Orchestra The Forum Theater, Binghamton, NY,
Class locations: Carousel Cities Youth Ballet: 1043 Front Street, Binghamton, NY New American Youth Ballet: International Ballet Dance Center At Carnegie Hall, NYC

2000 | Presented: Daniell Wright Benefit Show with The Mason Warrington Orchestra – Johnson City High School, A Summer Ballet at Carnegie Hall – International Ballet Dance Center at Carnegie Hall, NYC, Nutcracker Holiday MagicThe Mason Warrington Orchestra The Forum Theater, Binghamton, NY
Class locations: Carousel Cities Youth Ballet: The Decker Mansion, Binghamton, NY
New American Youth Ballet: International Ballet Dance Center At Carnegie Hall, NYC

2001 | Carousel Cities Youth Ballet becomes New American Youth Ballet, operating primarily in NYC. Presented: Hope for the Holidays Benefit Show with The Mason Warrington Orchestra, The Village Light Opera Group, Jeff Harner, The Copacabana Cast - Pope Auditorium, Fordham University, NYC
Class location: International Ballet Dance Center At Carnegie Hall, NYC

2002 | Presented: Don Quixote – Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center, NYC, A Summer Ballet Showcase – Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University,
NYC - Class locations: Sept.-May: Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center, June – Aug.: The Soundings Building in Battery Park, Sept. – The Regatta Building in Battery Park

2003 | Presented: Coppelia, The Nutcracker, also featured in Tribeca Film Festival, and Battery Park Spring Festival, Produced original Educational Children’s Video

2004 | Premiered Kid’s Speak out today at Tribeca Film Festival, Featured in Tribeca Family Festival Performance, presented Swan Lake at Tribeca Performing Arts Center