Rebecca Wiley, Founder and Director of Piedmont School of Music & Dance, received her training on full scholarship at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston-Salem, N.C., School of American Ballet in New York, N.Y. and the Hungarian National Ballet Academy, Budapest, Hungary. In 1992, Ms. Wiley became a full time company member of the American Ballet Theatre, New York, N.Y. During her eight years with the company, she performed throughout the world and was frequently featured as a soloist performer. While in New York, Rebecca also appeared with The Stars of New York City Ballet.
Ms. Wiley has served as a Master Teacher for Wake Forest University, Charlotte Ballet, American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company and has served on faculty at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston-Salem, N.C. In addition to her role as Director of PSMD, Ms. Wiley also serves as the Founder and Director of Piedmont Dance Theatre (PDT), offering her students many production opportunities.
During Ms. Wiley’s 16-year career as Director of PDT, she has established a strong community following, and the company’s annual Nutcracker production has become a holiday favorite. In addition to The Nutcracker, she has created and directed multiple full-length ballets including Cinderella, Snow White, Peter Pan, A Pirates Tale and Peter and the Wolf. Through grants and community partnerships Rebecca has provided the citizens of her community an opportunity to see a ballet each summer free of charge and ensures all Kannapolis City School third graders can attend the Nutcracker free of charge.
Under Rebecca’s leadership, the students of PSMD have achieved great success and joy through dance. Whether her students have gone onto professional dance careers, attended college for dance or simply enjoyed dancing for the sake of dancing, Ms. Wiley celebrates and honors each young man and woman she teaches for their job well done.