Artistic Leadership
Marcia Dale Weary, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s Founding Artistic Director, is celebrated by critics and peers alike as one of the nation’s foremost instructors of classical ballet. She began her teaching career in Carlisle, PA, in 1955 after her own studies with Thalia Mara and Arthur Mahoney at the School of Ballet Repertory in New York City. Under her leadership, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet has produced thousands of exquisitely prepared, classically trained dancers, including Ashley Bouder, Carrie Imler, Adam Hendrickson, Tara and Zachary Hench, Sean Lavery, Tina LeBlanc, and Vanessa Zahorian, just to name a few. Currently more than 65 alumni occupy positions in highly regarded ballet companies such as New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and Pennsylvania Ballet.
Ms. Weary’s unequaled dedication to her school, students, and instructors, and her unique teaching style have brought CPYB to the top of the dance field. The New York Times stated Ms. Weary produces “dancers well known in the ballet world.” According to DanceTeacher magazine, she “produces students who have the whole package–attention to detail, early technical development, and a broad socialization into the arts.” Ms. Weary and CPYB have been featured in leading newspapers and magazines, television news and features, and in the award-winning documentary film presented on national public television “Children with a Dream.”
She has been the recipient of many awards and distinctions over the past two decades including the 1992 Distinguished Service to the Arts Award for Central Pennsylvania; the 2000 Carlisle Regional Arts Award, of which she was the first recipient; the 2007 Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for the Arts for Outstanding Leadership and Service to Youth; and the 2009 Distinguished Citizen of the Commonwealth award. In May 2010 Central Penn Business Journal recognized Ms. Weary for her leadership, integrity and accomplishments with the Women of Influence Award. Most recently Dickinson College awarded Ms. Weary the honorary Doctor of Performing Arts degree in recognition of her contributions to the performing arts.
Darla Hoover, CPYB Associate Artistic Director, was trained at the renowned Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary and completed her studies on a full scholarship at the School of American Ballet. In 1980, after choreographing a solo for her in the New York City Opera production of Bourgeois Gentilhomme, George Balanchine invited Darla to become a member of his New York City Ballet. From 1980-1991, Ms. Hoover appeared as a featured soloist in ballets such as Balanchine’s La Valse, Chaconne, Harlequinade, Ballo della Regina, as well as Peter Martins’ Eight Easy Pieces, Rossini Quartets, Sonata di Scarlatti, and Jerome Robbins’ Fanfare.
Ms. Hoover has now focused her attentions to teaching and staging ballets. In addition to her positions as the Associate Artistic Director of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Associate Artistic Director of Ballet Academy East’s graded children’s program in Manhattan, Ms. Hoover guest teaches all over the world. Working as a distinguished répétiteur, Ms. Hoover stages works for the George Balanchine Trust and for Peter Martins, Ballet Master-in-Chief of the New York City Ballet. Recent stagings have included George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™, Raymonda Variations, Serenade, Divertimento #15, Valse Fantaisie, Allegro Brillante, Stars and Stripes and Rubies as well as Peter Martins’ Eight Easy Pieces and Fearful Symmetries.
Alan Hineline, CPYB Chief Exeutive officer (CEO) and Resident Choreographer. Mr. Hineline brings a rare blend of business acumen and artistic expertise to one of the nation’s leading schools of classical ballet.
Hineline comes directly to CPYB after serving as artistic director and chief operating officer (COO) of Ballet Philippines in Manila. With his extensive arts management experience, he has outlined a strategy to expand CPYB’s image, while continuing to develop financial support of the organization’s educational, performance, and outreach initiatives. Dedicated to represent CPYB and help establish partnerships with individuals and organizations, he has become an active participant in the region’s artistic and social communities.
A sought-after choreographer and ballet master, Hineline’s work has appeared in the repertories of many companies in North America and has been received enthusiastically in performances around the globe. In 1997, at the invitation of Founding Artistic Director Marcia Dale Weary, Hineline was named as resident choreographer for Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. During the last 13 years, he has created numerous ballets for this nationally and internationally recognized school and company. Additionally, his body of work can be seen in the repertories of American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, Pennsylvania Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, and The Juilliard Dance Ensemble, among many others. His work has been performed at the New York International Ballet Competition, the Aoyama International Ballet Festival in Tokyo, and the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS.
As a teacher, Hineline has instructed every level of dancer, from beginner through professional. He is part of CPYB’s faculty and has been a guest faculty member for, among others, Ballet Academy East and The Juilliard School. Along with these fine schools he has taught at the Jackson International Ballet competition, Aoyama Ballet Festival, and Jacob’s Pillow Summer Dance Festival.
Hineline’s career as a dancer has spanned a broad spectrum of traditions and styles. He trained primarily in Ohio with Dance Theatre Dayton and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, and afterward with Milton Myers and David Howard. His company affiliations ranged from classical with Eglevsky Ballet and Nashville Ballet, to modern with Joyce Trisler Danscompany and Michael Mao Dance to post-modern with Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians.
Hineline sits on the national advisory board of Regional Dance America. He is the founder of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s choreographic initiative, ChoreoPlan. Among his many awards is the Choo-San Goh Award for Choreography from the Choo-San Goh and H. Robert Magee Foundation, as well as multiple National Choreography Awards from Regional Dance America.
