CRYB names new school director
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Following the retirement of Monika Alch, longtime Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet artistic director and school director, after more than three decades of leadership, the CRYB has named Samantha Barczak as its new school director.
Barczak worked alongside Alch throughout the past year.
An Upstate New York native, Barczak received the majority of her early dance training at Myers Ballet School before continuing her studies on scholarship at The Rock School for Dance Education, American Ballet Theatre and the New York State Summer School for the Arts. She began her professional career as a freelance dancer, performing as a guest artist with companies including Dayton Ballet, Northeast Ballet Company, Long Island Ballet Theatre, BalletFleming, and Contrast Dance Theatre. She also served as Ballet Mistress and Repetiteur for choreographer Christopher Fleming’s ballets throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
In 2009, Barczak became a principal dancer and outreach coordinator with The Rebecca Davis Dance Company before joining Pennsylvania Ballet as a company member in 2011. During her performing career, she danced featured roles in works by George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, Matthew Neenan, Christopher Wheeldon and others, including principal roles in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Jewels, The Four Temperaments, Raymonda Variations, Petite Mort, and Swan Lake.
Barczak has served on the faculty of numerous regional schools and is committed to sharing her professional experience while inspiring the next generation of dancers.
“As we begin this exciting new chapter, we are thrilled to welcome Samantha as School Director,” said Elizabeth Bush, executive director of the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet. “Her exceptional professional background, dedication to high-quality dance education, and enthusiasm for working with young dancers make her an outstanding leader for our school. Samantha brings fresh ideas while honoring the traditions that have made CRYB a cornerstone of arts education in our community.”
Barczak will also be instructing intermediate and advanced ballet. , is an outstanding faculty whose combined experience represents decades of excellence in ballet performance and dance education.
Registration for CRYB’s 2026-2027 season opens during the last week of July with an open house from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6. Students ages 6 and up interested in performing in CRYB’s beloved annual production of The Nutcracker can participate in Nutcracker auditions on Sunday, Aug. 30. Audition information and schedules will be available through the CRYB office and website.