The Perla Ballet

A place to BE. 
A place to BECOME.

Established 2014

Creating a Place to Become

Your Donations Make It Happen:
- We are raising money to help with our subfloor in our new rehearsal rooms for The Perla Ballet!

Community Impact:
- St. Augustine and the surrounding areas
- Over 500 families served and over 800 students
- 40+ performances for the community and counting
- Thousands of audience members 
- Over $50,000 in scholarship awards to Perla students in over 10 years

Your contributions help make stories like Kimmy's (below) continue by the dozens and hundreds!

Together with The Perla Ballet membership fees, donations go toward Annual Costs for operating programs and productions, as well as our current campaign to outfit our rehearsal spaces.

The Need to Become

Young people are looking for CONNECTION, EXPRESSION, and PURPOSE. 

Every young person should have the opportunity in their community to find their SELF-AWARENESS, SELF-DISCIPLINE, and to find and contribute to their “TRIBE”.

In a world full of instant distraction and comparison, dance offers COMMUNITY, COLLABORATION, CREATIVE COMMUNICATION, and a special source of SUPPORT and SELF-DIGNITY.

It guides them on a strenuous but rewarding path of discovering the power of diligence to yourself and the people around you!

A Dancer's Testimony

Kimmy Cernese, The Perla Ballet graduate of 2023:

"The Perla Ballet was more than just a dance studio for me, it was a second home. It became the place where I not only trained as a dancer, but also grew into the person I am today. 

The Perla Ballet gave me the kind of training that instilled discipline, artistry, and a deep respect for the craft. But beyond technique and performance, the studio nurtured my passion and gave me the confidence to believe in my potential. The opportunities I was given, from performances to intensives to mentorship, allowed me to immerse myself in the dance world from a young age and really understand everything it had to offer.

It was at Perla that my love for dance truly bloomed. The dedication of the instructors, the support from my peers, and the inspiring environment created a foundation that I’ll always be grateful for. Every correction, every rehearsal, every moment of encouragement helped shape me into the dancer I am today. 

I owe so much to The Perla Ballet. It didn’t just teach me how to dance. It taught me how to work hard, stay grounded, and chase what I love with everything I have."

Mission Statement

The Perla Ballet exists for the growth of individuality and artistry in youth.

Our goal is to be a source of high quality dance training and productions in the community that impacts our awareness of art’s ability to see life more clearly and beautifully.

Commitment to Quality

Professional Dance Training - Diverse faculty from a range of disciplines and professional backgrounds.

Full-Length Repertoire - Multiple seasonal full-length productions produced by the faculty and performed by the students with professional guest artists.

Industry and Personal Mentorship - Individual access and interaction with advice from faculty with over 125 years of combined worldwide teaching and performance experience.

Community Outreach - Dozens of local performances for events, schools, nursing homes, and more.

National Recognition and Network

We have been a proud member of the prestigious Regional Dance America Southeast (RDA/SE). Regional Dance America, RDA, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to empower pre-professional dance in communities across America through education, scholarship, connection, and performance opportunities. They offer regional and national networking between directors, choreographers and dancers.  In addition, they provide educational and scholarship opportunities for dancers and choreographers.