Our Mission

To provide quality training in a nurturing atmosphere, encouraging personal accomplishment and a life-long appreciation of dance. Training encompasses both pre-professional and recreational curriculum.

Portland Dance Academy, home of the Pacific Festival Ballet, has been part of the Portland area for more than 25 years. One of the leading dance schools in the region, we offer ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip-hop, pilates, yoga, afro-carribean, salsa, flamenco, and Irish.

Our teachers have over 100 years of cumulative experience to bring the most diverse and professional instruction in the Metro area. Our yearly programs include Summer Intensives for ballet, Summer Dance Camps, Master Classes with renowned teachers in ballet, tap and jazz, a Spring Recital, and of course, "The Nutcracker" during the holiday season.

We are fortunate to have John Gardner as our director. He shares a lifetime of experience with his staff and students. Mr. Gardner has danced with American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, and Hamburg State Ballet. A native Portlander, he returned in 1982 to start the dance academy and followed with a company, Oregon Festival Ballet now called Pacific Festival Ballet.