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About Louis Nunnery

Louis Nunnery spent his lifetime inspiring others to greatness through the graceful art he adored.  He instructed hundreds of students in the more than 60 years he taught in Hickory.  His passion for dance now lives on through a new generation.

We are Hickory's oldest ballet school, offering classes for all ages. Louis Nunnery School of Ballet caters to all dancers, both male and female, from age four to adult. We pride ourselves on teaching techniques that get students "off the barre" and into being a part of the creative process.

 

Our emphasis is on classical ballet, taught using the renowned Russian Vaganova method.  This training system is designed to involve the whole body in every movement, with equal attention paid to the upper body, legs and feet. Vaganova believed that this approach increases consciousness of the body, thus creating a harmony of movement and greater expressive range.  

 

Whether you are just beginning dance or have years of training, you will find a class here that inspires and exhilarates you!  Come join us!

Our Instructors

Gretchen Wilson

Gretchen began her dance career at the age of nine as a student at the Louis Nunnery School of Ballet.  She trained professionally at the NC School of the Arts and her career achievements include dancing with the Tarheel Ballet, the Atlanta Ballet, and the Charlotte Regional Ballet.  Throughout the years, she maintained close ties to the Nunnery School and participated in regional and community performances with the goal to inspire a passion for dance.  She currently instructs Advanced and Adult Ballet.

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Kaylie Raddatz

Kaylie discovered a true passion for ballet at the age of 13 and has been dancing ever since. She began teaching ballet in 2010 and has been with Louis Nunnery School of Ballet since 2014.  She is also 500-RYT yoga certified through Yoga Alliance and offers yoga classes periodically.  She currently instructs Advanced and Adult Ballet.

Babbie Walker Bolick

Babbie was a member of one of Mr. Nunnery's first classes in Hickory. In high school, she was selected to study ballet at the NC Governor's School at Salem Colleg, with renowned instructors Richard Englund and Vinnie Fredericks. Her training earned her a role for many summers in the famous outdoor drama, "Horn in the West," in Boone, NC. Throughout her teen years, she assisted Mr. Nunnery with instruction of his children's ballet classes and adult ballroom classes.  As an adult, she established her own ballet schools in Lenoir, Morganton, and Granite Falls and was also on the faculty of the Suzuki School of the Arts. She currently instructs the morning Adult Ballet classes

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Gretchen Hefner

Gretchen currently instructs Ballet 2 and 3.

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Sara Sprinkle

Sara currently instructs Pre-Ballet and Ballet 1.

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Skye Sutherland

Skye currently instructs Ballet 3.

Our Owners

Tiffany Brittain

Paige Levin

Tina Taylor Miller

Gretchen Wilson

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