Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Cecere.
Denise, artistic director of the Northeast School of Ballet and the performing youth company, Northeast Youth Ballet was born in Melrose, Massachusetts. She began her dance training under the direction of her mother, Sandra McNaught, at the Northeast School of Ballet, formally Sandra Marie’s School of Ballet. Later she became a scholarship student at the Boston Repertory Ballet, under the direction of Samuel Kurkjian, Boston Ballet, under the direction of E.Virginia Williams and Violette Verdy, and the School of American Ballet, under the direction of George Balanchine. She performed with Boston Ballet, Ballet Theater of Boston and North Star Ballet in Fairbanks, Alaska. During her career she performed lead roles, including The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Flower Festival, many galas and contemporary works. Her guest appearances have taken her internationally. In 1991, Denise was a participant in Japan’s 1st International Choreographer’s Competition.
In 1992 Denise married Ralph Cecere. They had their first of four children, Joseph in 1994 and second son, Anthony and 1996. At this time, she stopped dancing professionally to raise her children and founded Northeast Youth Ballet. As Artistic Director, she is committed to the cultural development of future generations. It is her mission to educate, inspire and create opportunity for young aspiring dancers. Denise has endeavored to provide programs and performances designed specifically for children. NYB has a repertoire of classical, neoclassical, contemporary and modern works. She has choreographed over 30 ballets for the young company and has invited award winning choreographers to share their work with the school and company. Her collaboration with Boston Musica Viva, under the direction of Richard Pittman, has produced many full length ballets including A Boston Cinderella, Three Little Pigs, Ma Goose, Paul Revere’s Ride and most recently, The wrong Child. For the past 22 years, she has continued to display the young company’s diversity both at home and abroad.
Denise with her husband Ralph live in Wakefield MA and have four children, Joseph, Anthony, Nicholas and Christiana. She is director of the Northeast Youth Ballet, the official training school of the Northeast School of Ballet, where she has been teaching ballet technique for over 30 years. Her students have gone on to perform, teach and choreograph for world class dance organizations in the United States and abroad.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
#thestruggleisreal
Having a career in the arts is often a roller coaster ride, but having the support of a loving family, dear friends, inspiring colleagues and community… it has been a great ride!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Northeast School of Ballet (formally Sandra Marie’s School of Ballet), the official training school of the Northeast Youth Ballet, was established in 1971 by Founder and managing director, Sandra McNaught. Over the past four decades NSB has trained countless dancers who have gone on to perform with several world class ballet companies, received scholarships to colleges and universities and are teaching and choreographing both in the US and abroad.
In 1996, McNaught’s daughter, Denise (McNAught) Cecere, founded the Northeast Youth Ballet to provide performance opportunity to the growing number of students in the school. Today Mrs. Cecere directs both the school and company and continues her mother’s legacy to nurture the artist in every child and create a community that encourages young dancers to reach their potential.
Northeast School of Ballet has created many dance and outreach programs over the years. The most recent program created by Cecere is The Conservatory at NSB.is designed for career oriented dancers ages 13 to 18 who are at a crucial point in their development. This advanced level of training allows young artists the opportunity to mature before entering the inevitable challenges of professional careers and higher education in dance.
Students are involved in daily classes taught by NSB’s artistic staff, principal faculty members, and guest master teachers. They have a total of 27 hours of instruction during the week Monday through Saturday. The dancers follow a daily schedule from 8:30am-5:00pm. The curriculum provides a comprehensive dance education focusing primarily on classical ballet. Classes are taught in ballet technique, pointe, pas de deux, classical variations, men’s virtuoso technique, repertoire, modern, contemporary, jazz, ballroom, improvisational skills, and Pilates. It is imperative to have a healthy environment for all participants. As such, the program works closely with faculty and staff to meet the educational, emotional and physical demands placed on young dancers during these formative years of study. Invited faculty will also lecture during the season on injury- prevention techniques, dance history, nutrition, kinesiology, music education and guidance counseling.
The Conservatory at NSB requires an intense concentration and dedication to daily training and rehearsals in addition to supporting the dancer’s academic schedules. NSB’s employs an academic mentor to help students navigate their online studies Monday-Friday in the am. The Conservatory at NSB has been invited to travel and perform both nationally and internationally giving their students an opportunity to broaden their education through cultural exchange.
“Artists are connection ambassadors. Generation after generation, they have been brave enough to express their truths. Having the privilege to work with children for over 30 years, I believe they have the power to bring the world to a more compassionate existence through education, travel and the willingness to share their gifts with passion and integrity.” Denise Cecere
Mission statement: Northeast School of Ballet is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a creative environment and providing educational opportunities for our youth, setting the highest standards of dance and playing an active role in the cultural life of the communities we serve.
What were you like growing up?
I was the oldest of three children in our family. I have two younger brothers and no sisters. My mother had 3 brothers and my father is from a family of 3 boys also. You could say I grew up in a “boy’s world”. My mother told me as a child, I would climb the 100 year old pine trees in our neighborhood in my patent leather shoes. Growing up with all brothers, it is rare that I back down from a challenge.
Although my mother was a dancer and had started a ballet school, I was encouraged to explore all interests growing up. In addition to my academic studies, I played the piano, baseball, gymnastics, skating, swimming, water skiing, and worked in the family sub shop. If I did not pursue a career in dance, I would have loved to pursue a career in culinary arts. Like dance, sitting at a table with someone is a way of connecting.
Coming from a large Italian & Irish family, I was blessed/cursed 🙂 by listening to all the stories growing up and was encouraged to be creative, generous and always have sense of humor. My family and extended family continue to inspire me. They are musicians, dancers, painters, actors, lawyers, accountants, computer technologist, teachers, chefs, entrepreneurs, authors, criminal justice warriors and stay at home parents, raising the next generation. We were taught by example to help, share and welcome anyone at any time into our home. I’m grateful for all of them and know they are the reason why I am able to do what I do today..
Contact Info:
- Website: www.northeastschoolofballet.org
- Phone: 781 944-9100
- Email: denisececere@verizon.net
- Instagram: northeastschoolofballet, northeastyouthballet
- Facebook: Northeast School of Ballet, Northeast Youth Ballet
Image Credit:
Liza Voll
Matt Surette Productions
Northeast School of Ballet
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