Since 2004, René Daveluy has led Central West Ballet, a young company based in Modesto, California, to great acclaim. In just two years, under his directorship, Central West Ballet has enhanced its production values. With unique ballets such as The Red Shoes, Juline, Ritual Syncopations, Festive Overture, Peter & the Wolf and Fencing Concerto, Central West Ballet is looking forward to an exciting new era with the opening of the Gallo Center for the Arts, a multi Million dollar state of the art performance center. Mr. Daveluy’s boundless energy as a catalyst has produced impressive fundraising, unique creations and the support of an entire community to back up Central West Ballet. A natural speaker and entertainer, Mr. Daveluy has brought to the ballet a much needed rediscovery of the art of dance to individuals, businesses and a palpable excitement from the audience at the theaters. With a successful two years in artistic achievements and elevating the artistic growth of Central West Ballet after two decades of existence, the sheer enthusiasm which has driven René Daveluy’s entrepreneurial approach has given a renewed energy on the artistic scene in Modesto.

Born in Montréal, René Daveluy first trained in ballet under with Marie-Rose Chammah at the affiliated schools to Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. Later training with masters such as Daniel Sellier and Vincent Warren, Mr. Daveluy also trained privately with Ballet Masters Andrée Millaire and Laurence Haider. In 1990, Mr. Daveluy furthered his training with Violette Verdy, who restaged on him Balanchine’s Tchaïkovsky Pas de Deux. He then trained for a short intensive period at the School of American Ballet under the eye of Stanley Williams.

In 1992, René Daveluy joined the Ottawa Ballet directed by Frank Augustyn. There, Mr. Daveluy distinguished himself in such roles as The Teacher in Flemming Flindt’s The Lesson, in Balanchine’s Apollo and as Iago in José Limon’s The Moor’s Pavane. Mr. Daveluy then spent 9 years with Ballet West in Salt Lake City under two directors; John Hart and Jonas Kåge. Mr. Daveluy has made his mark 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, and as The Prince in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella. He has also been a lead dancer in the best of the contemporary répertoire, such works include Hans van Manen’s Solo and Black Cake, Paul Taylor’s Company B, William Forsythe’s Artifact II and Val Caniparoli’s Lambarena and Book of Alleged Dances.

As a choreographer, René Daveluy won a prize from the Du Maurier Arts in Montréal for his One Man Show Daveluy Danse Brel to the songs of legendary balladeer Jacques Brel. Mr. Daveluy holds an award for outstanding choreography from the 2004 Youth America Grand Prix. He also has choreographed Trombone Concerto for the Utah Ballet and Summer Rhapsody for the Utah Regional Ballet. With Jan Clark Fugit in Salt Lake City, Mr. Daveluy successfully co-choreographed the full-length ballets Coppélia and Peter & the Wolf, both of which are in Central West Ballet's repertoire. His prolific creations for Central West Ballet include The Red Shoes, Juline, Fencing Concerto, Festive Overture and Nature’s Rite. In 2006, René Daveluy received the Award for Excellence in Dance from the California Stanislaus Arts Council.