About Us

Colton Ballet School

Our Name

Colton Ballet School

In 1964 Ron Colton came to Augusta from a full dance career with the New York City Ballet after years of touring the United States, Europe and Japan. The newly formed Augusta Ballet Board of Directors secured Ron to create a ballet company. He said, “But first we must establish a school of excellence. There is no company without a school.” The Colton Ballet School has been in existence training professional dancers, knowledgeable dance enthusiasts and cultured citizens for over sixty years. Colton’s vision and insistence on excellence continues today as his most enduring legacy.

Welcome to the Colton Ballet School and congratulations on your choice of dance schools. The Colton Ballet School, established in 1964 as the Augusta Ballet School, is the finest school of excellence in the Augusta area. Many graduates have gone on to become professional dancers locally and throughout the country. The Colton Ballet School is the official school of Colton Ballet Company, an apprentice training program for serious, advanced students of the school who show the potential and commitment necessary for a career in dance. Colton Ballet Company is a non-profit company that performs The Nutcracker each year as well as a spring repertory production.

The School is a professional training entity focusing on dance as an art form rather than as a means of recreation. It was created from the shared vision of Ron and Zanne Colton. The School offers training with professional instructors in ballet using a graded syllabus. Besides being gifted teachers, all faculty members have years of experience as professional dancers. All are exceptional teachers, molding novices into accomplished dancers. The faculty includes Artistic Director, Zanne Colton, who teaches all levels of training. Bon Ellis, also the Business Administrator, teaches the Advanced division; Rosalind Avrett Jones who teaches Primary & Elementary Division classes; Carlee Snyder Chastagner teaches in the Primary and Advanced Divisions and the Company classes. Caitlin McCormack Phibbs teaches both Modern and Adult Ballet.

Due to the noncompetitive nature of the School’s teachings, the students learn to support each other and make great friends. The students learn teamwork and dedication when they are chosen and accept a role in Colton Ballet Company’s annual performances of The Nutcracker presented during Thanksgiving Weekend. All students, Grade I ballet and above, are offered parts in the performances. The children learn that every role is vital to the overall performance. They are taught that the show would be diminished without the littlest angel or tiniest toy soldier. It is refreshing in this day and time to witness so many young people displaying commitment and caring, which are traits that are fostered at the Colton Ballet School.