Rebecca Massey Wiley, founder and artistic director of Piedmont Dance Conservatory and Piedmont Dance Theatre (PDT), received her training on full scholarship at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, School of American Ballet in New York City and the Hungarian National Ballet Academy in Budapest, Hungary.

In 1992, Ms. Massey Wiley became a full time company member of American Ballet Theatre in New York City. During her eight years with the company, she performed all over the world and was featured as a soloist dancer in ballets such as: Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, La Bayadere, Othello, Fall River Legend, Rodeo, Fancy Free, Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes, and Leaves are Fading. While in New York, she also made appearances with The Stars of New York City Ballet. Ms. Massey Wiley has served as a master teacher for Wake Forest University, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Dance Educators of America in New York City and Costa Rica.
 
During the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons, Rebecca served as company teacher and coach for the North Carolina Dance Theatre (NCDT) and assisted in the staging of The Nutcracker for the 2001 and 2002 productions. Ms. Massey Wiley was also ballet mistress for the NCDT’s second company. During the spring of 2004, she was invited to guest teach for American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company and currently serves as a faculty member at The N.C. School of the Arts.

During her five years as artistic director of PDT, Ms. Massey Wiley has choreographed a full length Nutcracker, created an original full length ballet entitled Pirates, and prepared an educational outreach program featuring Peter and the Wolf. Most recently Ms. Massey Wiley has been granted rights from the George Balanchine Trust to stage Serenade and Who Cares?. Under her leadership the students of Piedmont Dance Conservatory and Piedmont Theatre have had the fortune to work with artists from renowned international dance companies such as Ballet Frankfurt, Culberg Ballet, and Jose Limon to name a few.

In addition to Rebecca’s love of dance her real passion is with her husband Daniel, daughter Mila, and her two pups, Looloo and Bandit.

 

Daniel Wiley

Daniel Wiley was born in Jacksonville, FL, where he began his dance training at the Florida Ballet Training Center. In 1996 at the age of 14 he continued his training at the HARID Conservatory in Boca Raton. While attending HARID, he performed lead roles in The Nutcracker, La Bayadere, Raymonda, Flower Festival and Paquita.

After graduating from HARID in 1999, Daniel moved to New York where he began his studies at The Juilliard School under the direction of late Benjamin Harkarvy. While attending Juilliard, he worked with world famous contemporary choreographers such as Hans van Manen, Lar Lubovich, Jiri Kylian, Paul Taylor, and Igal Perry.

Mr. Wiley spent his final year at Juilliard under the direction of Lawrence Rhodes, receiving his BFA in May of 2003. Daniel furthered his studies on scholarship at American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

Upon receiving his degree from The Juilliard School, Wiley joined The North Carolina Dance Theatre (NCDT) where he served as a principal artist for three seasons (2003-2006). While there he performed works by George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, Alonzo King, Nicolo Fonte, Uri Sands, Mark Godden, and Dwight Rhoden among others. In 2004, The Charlotte Observer named Wiley Artist to Watch, and in 2005 he was honored with the Best Male Dancer award in Charlotte Magazine's Best of the Best edition.

Mr. Wiley, on his own accord, left NCDT at the end of his third season to become the Co-Artistic Director of PDC and PDT with his beautiful wife Rebecca. Currently, Mr. Wiley serves on faculty at The North Carolina School of the Arts and continues to perform as a free-lance artist.

Board of Directors

Rebecca Cottrell Gray Dyer, President Louise Robitaille, Secretary Lynn Safrit Char Soloman, Vice President Alan Sulek, Treasurer Hope Whitley, Registrar