Director of the American Academy of Ballet which she founded in 1965. Maris received her training at George Balanchine's School of American Ballet in New York City. Over 95 of her students have gone on to dance professionally in every major Ballet Company in the United States, Canada, Europe, and on the Broadway Stage.

Ms Battaglia is the associate artistic director of the Chautauqua Institution's summer dance program, where she has been both ballet mistress and choreographer since 1989. She was invited to sit on the dance panel of the New York State Council of the Arts in 1994, where she served an unprecedented 4 years.

On July 21, 1997, Ms Battaglia was the recipient of the Artist Excellence award, which is presented once each year to an outstanding dance teacher in the United States. In 1999 she was introduced into the W.N.Y. Dance Hall of Fame.

Associate director of the Academy, received her training at the American Academy of Ballet. Throughout those years she received many awards and scholarships from prestigious companies such as Dance Theatre of Harlem, New York City Ballet, and Harkness Ballet. At an early age she received the honor of dancing with the Bolshoi Ballet Company. At age 18 Ms Klocke joined the Pennsylvania Ballet Company. Her repertoire included many of Balanchine's ballets such as Concerto Barocco, Serenade, Allegro Brillante, Four Temperments, Raymonda, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Graduation Ball and countless others including John Butler's Carmina Burana. After 8 years at Pennsylvania Ballet her professional career continued with the Ohio Ballet where she danced a varied repertoire including Joffrey's Cakewalk, American Ballet Theatre's Pas Des Desses and Paul Taylor's 3 Epitaphs. In 1990 Ms. Klocke returned to WNY and joined the teaching faculty at the American Academy of Ballet where she teaches Advanced and Variation classes.

Trained at the School of American Ballet and The Julliard School in New York City. Upon her return to Buffalo, she joined the faculty of the American Academy where she taought for seven years. In 1977 she opened her own studio. She rejoined the faculty of the Academy in 2004.

Born in Sicily, Ms. Accardi began her ballet training at the age of nine. Upon moving to the USA, she was offered a full scholarship at The School of American Ballet. Ms, Donatella danced professionally with Tulsa Ballet Theatre and with the Boston Ballet. She has been on the faculty of the Ballet School of Stamford, The Pulse Performing Arts Studio, and has been a guest teacher at the Rock School, the Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and the Mark Morris Studios.

Began his formal training in the music department of SUNY at Albany, then went on to study dance at Skidmore College. He also studied jazz at the Luigi School in New York as well as modern dance with Ethel Winter of the Martha Graham School. Mr. Marino performed with the Skidmore Dancers, Saratoga Ballet Company, Schenectady Civic Ballet, Buffalo Repertory Ballet Company, and Camelon Dancers. In addition to teaching clasical Vagonava technique in ballet at Niagara University, he has coached figure skating for the Buffalo Skating Club. Mr. Marino is also a pianist and composer.

Graduate from the University at Buffalo with a BFA degree in Dance. She has extensive training in Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, Modern, Tap, and Hip Hop. Rebecca has trained with Leonard Castilone, Tom Ralabate, Bill Thomas, Buffalo City Ballet, Carlisle Pennsylvania Ballet, Gus Giordano, Paul Taylor, Doug Varone Dance Company, ABT's Studio Company, and Joe Tramaine. Rebecca has performed with Princess Cruise Lines on the Regal and Costa Victoria. She has performed in Las Vegas at the MGM, Bally's, The Tropicana, Ceaser's Palace, and has filmed commercials at the Rio Hotel and Casino. Rebecca has worked live with 'Charo' on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon and has traveled through China with EASTWORLD ENTERTAINMENT in 'Iron Beats'. In addition, Rebecca is the founder of Xtreme Talent Dance Convention and the Director of Infinity Dance Project, Inc.

Originally from Buffalo NY, where she studied dance for 15 years at the American Academy of Ballet with Maris Battaglia. Rachael is a 2010 graduate of SUNY Potsdam/Packer Dance, Configuration Dance Theater and Danny Grossman Dance Company. She is currently a member of Lehrer Dance and teaches Hip Hop & Modern classes at the American Academy of Ballet.

Received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from the State University of New York at Buffalo where she completed an internship in Dance Therapy and was a performing member of the Zodiaque Dance Company. Ms. Karen continues to attend teaching seminars, has been published in Dance Teacher Magazine, and serves as an alumni ballet instructor for SUNY at Buffalo summer dance programs.