In his dancing career, Mr. Daveluy distinguished himself as The Teacher in Flemming Flindt’s The Lesson, Iago in José Limon’s The Moor’s Pavane, and in Balanchine’s Apollo (Ottawa Ballet under Frank Augustyn), as Oberon in Ashton’s The Dream, as Romeo in Michael Smuin’s Romeo & Juliet, as Armand in Val Caniparoli’s The Lady of the Camellias, as the Prince in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, as Dr. Falke in Ronald Hynd's Rosalinda, in Balanchine's Four Temperaments (Sanguinic) and Lead in Divertimento #15, as the Lead in Brian MacDonald's Time Out Of Mind, as a Lead in Hans van Manen’s Solo and Black Cake, as the Bugle Boy in Paul Taylor’s Company B, as a Lead in William Forsythe’s Artifact II and as a Lead in Val Caniparoli’s Lambarena and Book of Alleged Dances (Ballet West under directors John Hart CBE and Jonas Kåge).

René Daveluy

Artistic Director

Since 2004, René Daveluy has propelled Central West Ballet to new heights. His solid background in dance was infused by mentors such as Ludmilla Chiriaeff, Frank Augustyn, John Hart, Violette Verdy, Andrée Millaire, Daniel Sellier, Vincent Warren, Laurence Haider, and Canadian Painter Christian Thibault. René Daveluy has worked on originality and creative ideology to lead the way.

As a choreographer, René Daveluy won a prize from the Du Maurier Arts for his One Man Show Daveluy Danse Brel, and for Central West Ballet, has created numerous works including Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Coppélia and The Nutcracker. In 2006, René Daveluy received the California Stanislaus Arts Council Award for Excellence in Dance.

Leslie Ann Larson

Ballet Mistress

A Ballet Mistress with versatility and high standards, Leslie Ann Larson has brought Central West Ballet's performances to high technical quality levels since 2004. Ms. Larson has set works such as Songs by renowned choreographer Val Caniparoli and also staged many full lengths such as Swan Lake, Romeo & Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Cinderella, The Nutcracker and Coppélia.

Ms Larson has also set many single act ballets and creations such as Les Sylphides, a new version of The Red Shoes and other works by René Daveluy's such as Solitary Workers, the Existence Project, 1001 Nights, House of Folk, Of Faeries and Elves, A Ballet for Marie, Festive Overture, Canvas Emotions and Nature’s Rite.

Ms. Larson received excellence in training from Fleming Halby (Royal Danish Ballet), Charles Bennett (American Ballet Theatre), with the great Flamenco Artist Sara De Luis and with Francesca Corkle and Trinette Singleton (The Joffrey Ballet).

In her dancing career, Ms. Larson distinguished herself in Leonide Massine’s La Boutique Fantasque, Antony Tudor’s The Lilac Garden, Agnes De Mille’s Fall River Legend, Kurt Joos’ The Green Table and Bronislava Nijinska’s Les Noces and Les Biches (Oakland Ballet under Ronn Guidi), as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, the Lead in Antony Tudor’s The Leaves are Fading, The First Sylph in Peter Schaufuss’ La Sylphide, Adele in Ronald Hynd’s Rosalinda, in Balanchine’s Who Cares?, The Four Temperaments and Western Symphony, in Hans Van Manen’s Polish Pieces, Val Caniparoli’s Lambarena and Book of Alleged Dances, Christopher Bruce’s Ghost Dances, and as The Roasted Swan in John Butler’s Carmina Burana (Ballet West under directors John Hart CBE and Jonas Kåge).