Peter Hershey

Peter Hershey received his early training at the Seiskaya Ballet Academy in St. James, New York. He went on to attend both the School of American Ballet and The Juilliard School, also studying under New York-based teachers Francis Patrelle and Johan Renvall.

As a member of Ballet San Jose, Peter was best known for dancing the role of Johnny in Dennis Nahat’s Blue Suede Shoes. His repertoire also included principal roles in Rodeo and The Nutcracker, along with roles in works by George Balanchine, Merce Cunningham, Jessica Lang, Donald McKayle, Dennis Nahat, Twyla Tharp, and Stanton Welch. Additionally, as a member of Menlowe Ballet and Company C Contemporary Ballet, Peter was featured in works by Charles Anderson, Val Caniparoli, Maurice Causey, Gregory Dawson, Susan Jaffe, Michael Lowe, Charles Moulton, and Yuri Zhukov.

Peter has been teaching ballet in the San Francisco Bay Area for over twenty years, and is currently Director of Ballet at Dance Connection Palo Alto. As a teacher, he is regarded for his attention to speed and movement dynamics, along with a unique musical sensibility.