History of The Belmont School of Ballet
The Belmont School of Ballet began in 2006 as an extension of the Charlotte School of Ballet which was founded in 1968 by Gay Porter. The Belmont School of Ballet offers the highest levels of instruction in classical ballet, tap, and jazz. Teachers are qualified and experienced in teaching both children and adults. Classes are offered for students aged 3 to adults. The ballet curriculum is based on both the syllabus of the Royal Academy of Dance, London, England and the Cecchetti Council of America. Classes are also offered in pointe, variations, tap, jazz, modern, and Pilates. Performing is an important aspect of dancers’ training. We seek opportunities to perform throughout the community as well as full-length story ballets. Ballet instruction offers students skills that can be used throughout their lives. Poise, grace, discipline, and self-confidence are invaluable assets.
Gay Porter
Artistic Director Emeritus
Gay was trained in London, England at the Arts Educational School. Her classmates included Ben Stevenson, former Artistic Director of the Houston Ballet and David Howard known as “Teacher of the Stars” in New York and London.
After an extensive career in England, Spain, France and Germany, Gay came to the United States where she danced in California before coming to North Carolina.
As a choreographer Gay has worked with the Charlotte Symphony, the Charlotte Opera, the Singing Christmas Tree, Central Piedmont Opera and Theatre, Actors Theatre and the Charlotte Youth Ballet.
Gay is a full teaching member of the Royal Academy of Dance, London, England and holds the Advanced Teachers Certificate of the Cecchetti Council of America.
North Carolina School of the Arts honored Gay as: “Teacher of the Year” in 1994.
Gay is the founder and Artistic Director of the Charlotte Youth Ballet. It is the premier performing company for young dancers in the area.
Gay has directed and choreographed full length productions of Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Nutcracker and Coppelia for the company. She has also created original ballets such as The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Thumbelina, and Pinocchio which she had also set on companies throughout the United States.
Bridget Porter Young
Artistic Director
As a child, Bridget was selected to dance with New York city Ballet and Baryshnikov for the Washington Season. During this time she was invited to perform at the White House for President Carter.
She has danced with Louisville Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre and Ocala Ballet.
She toured the United States performing industrial shows and spent many summers performing in summer stock including roles such as Jeannie in Brigadoon, and Dream Laurie in Oklahoma. She also appeared on All My Children and Guiding Light while living in New York.
Bridget has choreographed many short works, ballets and musicals including South Pacific, The King and I, Once Upon a Mattress, Barnum and Big River. She also choreographed and directed The Nutcracker for Pueblo Ballet.
Bridget holds the Teaching Certificate of the Royal Academy of Dance, London, England and is a Licentiate of the Cecchetti Council of America. She is the Artistic Director for the Charlotte Youth Ballet, and the Chair of the Cecchetti Council of America, Southeast Committee.
Skyla Caldwell
Instructor
A.R.A.D (Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance), trained at the Charlotte School of Ballet under Gay Porter Speer and The Point Park Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA, as a scholarship student under the direction of Roberto Munoz. She has danced for Charlotte Ballet as an apprentice under Salvatore Aiello and Jerry Kumery. Caldwell has also danced at the National Ballet of Cuba under Laura Alonzo in Havana, Cuba, and is associated with the Royal Academy of Dance in London. Caldwell has also danced with the Moving Poets Theater of Dance for eight years and is currently Ballet Mistress for The Union County Youth Ballet in Monroe, NC.
Skyla currently teaches Advanced Intermediate Foundations at Belmont School of Ballet on Monday evenings.
Bethany Williamson
Instructor
Bethany Williams brings more than a decade of dance education and performance experience to the studio. A former student of both Gay Porter and Bridget Porter-Young, Bethany’s training is rooted in the traditions and teaching methods that have shaped generations of dancers in the Charlotte area.
She is ABT Certified and teaches both Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and Cecchetti technique, along with Modern. Bethany has also served as an outreach instructor with Charlotte Youth Ballet, sharing her experience and passion for dance with students throughout the community.
Her teaching reflects a strong foundation in classical technique, thoughtful instruction, and a genuine commitment to helping dancers grow through their training.
Maddie Wright
Instructor
Maddie Wright is a dance educator and choreographer with more than 14 years of teaching experience. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from The Ohio State University and has trained and taught extensively in ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Jazz.
Maddie has spent her career teaching dancers of varying ages and experience levels, developing age-appropriate curriculum, and creating a strong technical foundation while encouraging artistry and individual expression.
She has taught ballet, jazz, and contemporary through BalletMet’s Educational Outreach program, bringing dance education to high school students through semester-long courses.
As an instructor and choreographer, Maddie has also created recital and performance choreography and worked extensively with young dancers in both recreational and advanced settings. Her approach combines thoughtful technical instruction with musicality, creativity, and a genuine understanding of how dancers develop as artists.
