Sara Ives

Artistic Director

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Ms. Sara Ives is the Owner and Artistic Director of Downtown Dance Conservatory and has over 15 years of experience teaching ballet throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Originally from Puerto Rico, she graduated as valedictorian from the Julián E. Blanco School of Ballet before continuing her training at The Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet Society and earning an Associate of Arts in Dance from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

Following graduation, Ms. Ives joined Orlando Ballet's Apprentice Program, where she performed works by the late Fernando Bujones. Throughout her professional career, she has danced with several ballet companies, including Ohio Dance Theatre, Brandywine Ballet, and The Florida Ballet, performing both corps de ballet and soloist roles in productions such as The Nutcracker, Concerto Barocco, Who Cares, Valse-Fantaisie, Alice in Wonderland, Splendid Gershwin, and many others.

Ms. Ives is a Nevada Arts Council Teaching Artist and has created inclusive dance workshops for children ages 4–10 in partnership with the Las Vegas Natural History Museum. She has also served as Assistant Stage Manager for The Smith Center's Camp Broadway and previously served as Artistic Director of Henderson Youth Ballet, a pre-professional ballet company.

Certified in the Vaganova Ballet Method (Grades 1–3), Ms. Ives is passionate about providing high-quality dance education in a positive, nurturing environment where every student can grow in confidence, artistry, and technique.

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