Summer Intensive
Welcome to the Civic Dance Centre, official dance school of the Scranton Civic Ballet Company. The Scranton Civic Ballet Company was founded in 1978 by Northeast Pennsylvania's most respected dance instructor, Miss Helen M. Gaus. Originally as a regional resident company, the Scranton Civic Ballet Company is at the forefront of ballet and the performing arts in Northeast Pennsylvania.
Our school makes every effort to instill in its students the discipline and knowledge needed to approach learning in a professional way, whether one's intent is to become a professional dancer or to learn the rigorous discipline of dance to carry oneself through life.
At "Civic," we believe that our role is to guide young dancers through increasingly disciplined levels of dance in a friendly, caring atmosphere. Creative energy, gracefulness, a heightened awareness of music and musicality, and a focus on technique are only some of the benefits our programs have to offer. The Scranton Civic Ballet Company is dedicated to bringing quality dance training within reach of young dancers to make dreams a reality.
The Scranton Civic Ballet Company is a non-profit organization focused on dance education and performance. It is the company’s mission to educate our members and the public in the art of dance while bringing the talents of well-known artists, choreographers, and master teachers into northeast Pennsylvania for the benefit of our students as well as our audiences.
Welcome to the Civic Dance Centre, official dance school of the Scranton Civic Ballet Company. The Scranton Civic Ballet Company was founded in 1978 by Northeast Pennsylvania's most respected dance instructor, Miss Helen M. Gaus. Originally as a regional resident company, the Scranton Civic Ballet Company is at the forefront of ballet and the performing arts in Northeast Pennsylvania.
Our school makes every effort to instill in its students the discipline and knowledge needed to approach learning in a professional way, whether one's intent is to become a professional dancer or to learn the rigorous discipline of dance to carry oneself through life.
At "Civic," we believe that our role is to guide young dancers through increasingly disciplined levels of dance in a friendly, caring atmosphere. Creative energy, gracefulness, a heightened awareness of music and musicality, and a focus on technique are only some of the benefits our programs have to offer. The Scranton Civic Ballet Company is dedicated to bringing quality dance training within reach of young dancers to make dreams a reality.
The Scranton Civic Ballet Company is a non-profit organization focused on dance education and performance. It is the company’s mission to educate our members and the public in the art of dance while bringing the talents of well-known artists, choreographers, and master teachers into northeast Pennsylvania for the benefit of our students as well as our audiences.
ROBERT ZALOGA
Assistant Artistic Director, Principal Dancer
Early Years
Robert Zaloga was born and raised in Moosic, Pennsylvania. Beginning his ballet education at age eleven, Mr. Zaloga joined Scranton Civic Ballet Company with a dream to pursue a career in dance.
The Journey
As Mr. Zaloga's training progressed, at age fourteen, he travelled away to attend his first summer intensive at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts, receiving a full scholarship. Each year following, he attended numerous other training programs which include American Ballet Theatre NYC, Boston Ballet School, and the School of Philadelphia Ballet. Mr. Zaloga studied with many famed instructors and choreographers such as Sascha Radetsky, Ethan Stiefel, Charles Askeguard, Margaret Tracey, Peter Stark, Michael Owen, Russell Clarke, Barbara Weisberger, Stella Abrera, and more.
The Partnership
"Since the day I stepped into the Scranton Civic Ballet Company at eleven years old and met Miss Helen, I knew this is going to be my forever." -Robert Zaloga
At age fourteen, Mr. Zaloga began demonstrating for Miss Helen Gaus. As years went on, he began teaching for the ballet, tap, and jazz departments. In the summer of 2020 at age 18, Mr. Zaloga was named Assistant Artistic Director of Scranton Civic Ballet Company. During his first season as Assistant Artistic Director, he staged his first ballet on the company, the premiere of La Bayadere. He has also staged and choreographed Coppelia, Paquita, and the upcoming premieres of Romeo and Juliet and Don Quixote Divertissement.
Additional Work
Mr. Zaloga is a guest artist at the Wyoming Seminary Dance Company under the direction of Mrs. Bernardine Vojtko. While dancing with the Wyoming Seminary Dance Company, he received the Barbara Weisberger Dance Award (Founder of the Pennsylvania Ballet. Mr. Zaloga served as a guest choreographer for the Kiss Theater Company of Wilkes Barre's production of Newsies in 2021.
Principal Roles
Appalachian Springs - Pas de Quarte
La Boutique Fantasque - Pas de Deux
Cinderella - Prince Charming
Cinderella Divertissement - Prince
Coppélia - Franz
Invitation to the Dance - Pas de Trois
El Jardin Espańol - Madriliene Pas de Deux
Midnight Masquerade - Prince
Helen Gaus' The Nutcracker - The Nutcracker, Cavalier, Snow King, Dew Drop Cavalier, Coffee, Trepak, Soldier Doll
The Sleeping Beauty - Prince Désiré, Puss-In-Boots, Bluebird
Swan Lake - Prince Seigfried
Stars and Stripes - El Capitan
Originated Principal Roles
Amour et Printemps - Pas de Trois
La Bayadere - Solor
Beauty and the Beast - The Beast
Le Corsaire - Ali
Don Quixote Divertissement - Basilio
Paquita - Lucien
Romeo and Juliet - Romeo
Serenade for Strings - Pas de Trois
The Sleeping Beauty Children's Ballet - Prince Désiré
Viennese Waltz - Principal
Wunderbar - Principal
Choreographic & Staged Work
SCRANTON CIVIC BALLET COMPANY
La Bayadere
Cinderella
Coppélia, The Wedding Scene
Don Quixote Divertissement
Heartland
Midnight Masquerade
Paquita
Romeo and Juliet
The Sleeping Beauty, Act III
Wunderbar