Sarah Purvis

Director and Ballet Instructor

Sarah received her early training from the Erie Civic Ballet School under the direction of Arlene Ashton Hay, Robert Steele, and Sharon Filone. As a dancer, she performed with the Lake Erie Ballet Company in Classical Symphony, Concerto Barocco, Coppélia, Giselle, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker. Her choreographic projects include Untitled Baroque, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, It’s Still Rockin’ Roll To Me, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Peter Pan, The Sleeping Beauty, The Wizard of Oz, Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Cinderella, and The Nutcracker. Sarah’s teaching/rehearsal experiences include the Lake Erie Ballet School (9 years), Villa Maria Academy’s Dance Department (16 years), Salt & Pepper Mine Company (1 year) Lakettes Gymnastic Academy (7 years), New Castle Regional Ballet (3 years), and Erie Dance Conservatory, now in its 19th season. In 1994, Ms. Purvis was the only former student chosen to teach at the Lake Erie Ballet School while completing her degree from Mercyhurst College in 2002. Sarah is currently the Artistic Director of the Erie Contemporary Ballet Theatre. Ms. Purvis has held the positions of President-Elect, President, and Past-President of the Erie Dance Consortium, the 2009, 2011, and 2013 Co-Chair of the Erie Festival of Dance, and held the position of Treasurer, Vice President, and President of the prestigious Regional Dance America/Northeast, a national organization of dancers, teachers, and choreographers.

Gabrielle Taylor

Office Manager

Gabrielle Taylor is an Erie native, Mercyhurst Prep Alumni.  She brings over 5 years of experience managing an employee workforce in an office setting and has worked for both Private Sector and Non-Profit organizations helping with both expansion and marketing. Gabrielle offers a strong drive for excellence and brings with her a strong business acumen. She received her education from Purdue University and believes in producing results. She has a love for dance and the arts and looks forward to allowing both worlds to merge.