Tempo Di Marcia
A book chronicling the history of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and its founder, Marcia Dale Weary
WELCOME VISITORS
Stories from the History of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet
The Italian word marcia, in the music dictionary, means to dance – in march tempo. The proper name – Marcia – in real life, refers to the person who formed a dance school in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Marcia Dale Weary, therfore was well named for her life’s work.
Tempo di Marcia, the book authored by Craig Jurgensen, offers an insightful account of the history and teachings of Marcia Dale Weary (1937 – 2019 ), founder of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in 1955. The growth and development of CPYB was further nurtured and nourished by many other dedicated persons, including: Barbara Weisberger (one of George Balanchine’s first students), Andre de Ribere (confidant of Mr. Balanchine), Ken Laws (Dickinson Professor and converted ballet teacher), Bob Gregor (first Board President), Richard Cook (first CPYB choreographer), Darla Hoover (CPYB student, member of New York City Ballet Company, Balanchine repetiteur, and Marcia’s successor as Artistic Director in 2019), and Alan Hineline (CPYB choreographer and CEO in 2009 ). This is the only book of its kind to document the formation and the preeminence of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.
TEMPO DI MARCIA
Recognized as one of the foremost ballet teachers of our time, Marcia Dale Weary has earned a national reputation for excellence. For more than five decades, Marcia’s vision and determination have nurtured an extraordinary school, a professional-quality company, and a roster of unforgettable young performers, many of whom have gone on to celebrated professional careers. Recipient of a prestigious Governor’s Award for the Arts for Outstanding Arts Leadership & Service to Youth, she is a true Pennsylvania artistic treasure.
- Philip Horn, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Council on
the Arts
TEMPO DI MARCIA offers a striking testimony of one highly creative person’s achievement to prepare expertly young people for ballet. It deftly affirms that education in the best sense – even that which targets an activity so specific as ballet – represents equal portions of professional discipline and life lessons.
- William G. Durden, past President of Dickinson College,
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Craig Jurgensen beautifully captures the people and the spirit of one of the mid-Atlantic’s cultural gems. A truly enjoyable read. Bravo!
- Stuart Malina, Music Director, Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, and TONY Award Winner (2003)
About The Author
Craig Jurgensen, M.D.
Craig Jurgensen began his writing career in 1958 when he edited his high school yearbook titled The Pensman. He wrote thousands of medical biographies and many scientific documents during a forty-year career as a clinical neurologist. Dr. Jurgensen took up book writing after his retirement in 2008, and so far, has written: Tempo di Marcia, Stories from the history of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet; 20/tWeNTy,
Marcia Dale Weary
March 31, 1936 – March 4, 2019
Obituary
Marcia Dale Weary passed away at the age of 82 on March 4, 2019. Marcia was born on March 31, 1936, the middle daughter of Dale and Melva Weary. She was survived at the time by her sisters, Sandra Weary and Rosemary Lyn Weary. Marcia initially founded the Marcia Dale School of Dance in 1955, where she taught classes daily and developed a teaching curriculum that is now trademarked and renowned in the industry for turning out exceptional dancers. Her vision was to give every child the opportunity to have access to exceptional ballet training. In 1974, the Marcia Dale School of Dance became the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, a nonprofit school and performance company. Today, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet is an internationally recognized school of classical ballet. Thousands of young people have passed through its acclaimed studios. Alumni have been professional dancers in the top ballet companies of the world, including American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, National Ballet Theater of Canada, Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance, and Hamburg Ballet (Germany), to name a few. Marcia was hailed as one of the greatest ballet teachers of the time. She forged the path from a local dance school to a global institution. Her unequaled dedication to her school, her students, and its instructors, plus her unique teaching style, brought Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet to the top of the dance field. In 1989, the New York Times wrote, “Weary is considered one of the country’s foremost ballet teachers, having produced dancers well known in the ballet world.” According to Dance Teacher Magazine, “Marcia has produced dancers who embody the whole package—with attention to detail, early technical development, plus a broad socialization into the arts.” Marcia never wavered from her vision to provide rigorous dance training for serious students and to enhance the cultural climate of the Central Pennsylvania region through ballet performances. Marcia remained active in CPYB throughout her entire life, teaching more than 25 classes per week well into her 80s. Marcia once said, “At every possible opportunity, I hope to instill in children a love for the arts and for classical music. Along with that, I hope to help them develop self-confidence, generosity, and the ability to focus.” There is no doubt that Marcia accomplished all of this and more in her life, dedicated to teaching and to dancing. Her legacy lives on in all of the lives she has touched and in the strong organization that is the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. CPYB is well positioned to continue to inspire, educate, and impact the lives of its students, the community, and the world at large. The Sentinel, March 11, 2019, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet
Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, founded in 1955 by Marcia Dale Weary, is known throughout the world for providing the finest in classical ballet training. CPYB’s exceptional faculty, individual attention, and nurturing environment train not just the dancer, but the whole person.
“I wish all people could experience the beautiful world of ballet!”
Marcia Dale Weary, Founder and Artistic Director of the CPYB
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