Bayside Youth Ballet, Inc. was established in 1993 as the resident company of Diggs School of Dance for the young people of the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck.
The Company is a nonprofit organization, which presents lecture demonstrations in local schools, community education forums, and full length Ballets which all focus on dance as a performing art. Community classes in a variety of dance styles are offered, continuing the legacy of Diggs School of Dance.
BYB presents ballet and jazz productions to students in area schools, offering them a culturally enriched and applied learning experience.
Company members perform before community and civic groups, in community care facilities, and churches, bringing the art of dance to local audiences.
BYB also collaborates with other performing and visual arts groups in the area, stimulating an interest and appreciation of dance, music, art and drama for residents and visitors of the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck.
Membership in Bayside Youth Ballet is through audition only, and they are generally scheduled in the Winter and Spring of each year. For more information please call (804)694-5900.
Our History
In the fall of 1992, Bayside Youth Ballet was founded by Debbie Diggs, owner of Diggs School of Dance, to provide young dancers with enhanced instruction and extra performance opportunities. Dancers auditioned for membership as an apprentice or senior dancer and set to work on the first performance on May 1, 1993. Over the years BYB has brought the gift of dance through lecture demonstrations and community performances. In 1996 BYB performed its first full length ballet, “The Snow Maiden.” This ballet was performed annually for several years before the company began showcasing excerpts from classical ballets and original choreography. In 2011 BYB returned to a story ballet performing “Peter and the Wolf”. Since that time, the company has presented The 12 Days of Christmas, Les Patineurs, Journey to the Land of the Sweets, as well as other excerpts from major classical ballets.
Bayside Youth Ballet, serving the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck regions of Virginia, has a long history of community involvement and exceptionalism through dance and leadership. Community service and outreach are an integral part of the membership experience, and are reached through benefit performances and community projects. BYB has fundraised and performed for a variety of needs ranging from local families to Operation Smile. In 2009 BYB started its first annual “Summer Dance Experience,” a free summer dance camp taught and led by BYB dancers under the supervision of the faculty of Diggs School of Dance.
In 2025, BYB entered a new phase by offering community classes. The mission is to continue the legacy of excellence set forth by Debbie Diggs and Diggs School of Dance by offering classes in ballet, modern, and jazz styles in the wake of Debbie’s retirement.
BYB continues to look to the future as it continues to enhance the community through dance. The mission of Bayside Youth Ballet is to provide superior instruction, exceptional curriculum, nurturing environments, and rigorous performance standards for aspiring young dancers. As a result, many of the dancers have pursued a career in the performing arts field and dance education.
Currently, alumni are faculty members of Bayside Youth Ballet as well as dancing and choreographing for companies in New York and international dance companies. Several alumni have or are currently pursuing a degree in dance from colleges and universities.
The Board of Directors
The company is governed by a Board of Directors established to assist the company in realizing its mission and positively contributing to the quality of life in local communities:
Ann Andrews, President Ashley Mullis, Secretary Laura Lloyd Edith Turner
Nikki Gallaher, Volunteer Coordinator Danile Giesy, Artistic Director
