Lumière Ballet was founded in 1995 and incorporated as a not-for-profit organization with a mission to preserve the legacy of past generations and move ahead with effort and originality.

Earlier this month, this mission was brought to Bay Shore, as the premier school of ballet and performing company relocated to St. Peter-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.

The professional faculty, led by Svetlana Caton and Venti Petrov, is a direct link to the Russian School, which brought the famous Vaganova and Balanchine legacy to America. Caton and Petrov engage their students in formal ballet training and incorporate challenging performing opportunities, giving students the tools to pursue their dreams in the world of ballet while also developing personally and professionally for success in any field.

For the past 20 years, Lumière Ballet was located in an industrial area on Corbin Avenue between the Tanger Outlets and the Deer Park train station

“We were stuck because we had a fantastic state-of-the-art studio, but it was not a location welcoming for families and young people because it was an industrial area, and that itself was changing, too. Our neighbors were changing, everything was changing,” explained Caton. “So we had to move, but we were a little stuck because the resources of relocating were quite imposing.”

Caton felt discouraged upon beginning the search for a new location two years ago. Though once she hit it off with Brian Clark, warden of St. Peter-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, and the staff of the on-site school, Kingdom Education Center, Caton knew the location was a perfect fit.

“This location and move was beyond ideal for us,” said Caton. “There are not enough words to say how this is a very positive move.”

On Sept. 5, the Lumière Ballet held a grand-opening party to celebrate the relocation to 500 West Montauk Highway in Bay Shore. A lovely event with a great turnout, families were present with young ballerinas excited to start ballet in the new studio.

“Lumière Ballet stands for excellence and touches every facet of life in our communities,” explained board member Lindsay Henry. “It is an amazing opportunity for young people to get on a path of disciplined hard work and performance that will ultimately inspire them to be successful throughout their lives.”   

To learn more about Lumière Ballet, visit lumiereballet.com.

To see a talented Lumière Ballet performance for yourself, see “The Nutcracker” at the Boulton Center in Bay Shore on Dec. 15 at 4 p.m. For tickets, visit www.boultoncenter.org or call 631-969-1101.