Movement never lies. It is a barometer telling the state of the soul's weather to all who can read it. ~Martha Graham
School
The Berrend Dance Centre is home to the Olney Ballet Theatre (OBT), a non-profit, performing arts, educational organization. The OBT, originally founded by Jane Bittner as the "Olney Children's Ballet Theater," is known for its spectacular story ballet productions and has been entertaining children and adults in the Washington Metropolitan area for decades. Utilizing the talents of both young and mature dancers from the community, OBT has staged productions such as Journey Through Oz, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Peter and the Wolf, and The Nutcracker.
Now in its twenty-fifth year, the Dance Centre (formerly, "Jane Bittner's Dance Center") has gained the reputation of being one of the Washington Metropolitan Area's finest dance schools. The Centre is now under the direction of Patricia Berrend, former Associate Director of The Washington School of Ballet. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from her 28- year association with The Washington School of Ballet as well as from her professional dance career and involvement with the local dance community. Her exceptional ability as a teacher has been nationally recognized by such institutions as the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars and the National Foundation for the Arts. Ms. Berrend's former students are members of dance companies world-wide and, with her coaching, have received numerous prizes and awards in the most prestigious international ballet competitions.
The Dance Centre offers a full and varied curriculum for students at all levels, an excellent faculty and small class sizes, encouraging the development of talent, confidence and self-discipline through individual attention.
