A Visionary Beginning: Iris Merrick, Founder

Westchester Ballet Company was founded in 1950 in Ossining, New York, by Iris Merrick — a visionary educator and artist who transformed the cultural landscape of Westchester. A former student of the legendary Michel Fokine and an early performer on Broadway, Merrick believed that every child deserved access to the discipline, beauty, and joy of ballet.

“I started the ballet school so they (children) would know what it is like in the theater,” she once explained. Her dream was to use ballet as a tool not just for artistic development, but for personal growth and community building. She was also among the first in the country to found a regional ballet company focused on young dancers, proudly stating, “I was the first in America to start a regional ballet company, in 1951.”

For over three decades, Merrick directed WBC with passion and ingenuity — staging original productions, training young dancers, and fostering a tradition of excellence rooted in accessibility. After her retirement in 1980, she remained active in the dance world, continuing to teach and inspire well into her later years. Her vision lives on in every WBC performance and every dancer who has passed through its doors.

A Lineage of Artistic Leadership

Following Merrick’s retirement, the company entered a new era under the guidance of Romanian ballerina Gabriela Ionita, who served as Artistic Director from 1981 to 1986. A former principal dancer and ballet mistress at the Bucharest Opera Ballet, and a graduate of the prestigious Vaganova Academy in Leningrad, Ionita brought renewed classical strength and artistic discipline to WBC.

Having arrived in the United States as a political refugee, Ionita was deeply committed to using her art to serve others. “My dream is to help people,” she said. “It’s almost an obsession with me, so I put all my soul into my work.”

Recommended by Iris Merrick herself, Ionita honored WBC’s mission while adapting to a new context, where many students danced not as future professionals, but out of love for the art. She embraced this difference with care and dedication, continuing the tradition of The Nutcracker and mentoring a new generation of dancers with compassion, rigor, and vision.

In 1986, Beth Fritz-Logrea and Jean Logrea took on the artistic leadership of Westchester Ballet Company, ushering in a new chapter. Both were former principal dancers with the Graz Opernhaus Ballet in Austria, bringing with them not only a wealth of stage experience but also a deep commitment to the classical tradition.

Under their direction, WBC flourished artistically. Beth and Jean elevated the Company’s standards, expanded its repertoire, and mentored generations of dancers with discipline, elegance, and warmth. Their European training and artistic vision helped preserve WBC’s classical roots while also ensuring the company’s evolution through changing times.

In 2024, Beth and Jean stepped down from their official roles and were named Artistic Director Emerita and Artistic Director Emeritus, respectively. In 2025, as WBC celebrates its 75th anniversary, they will return to direct The Nutcracker one final time — a tribute to their lasting legacy and unwavering dedication.

Their son, Nick Logrea, who grew up performing with the Company and later served as Associate Artistic Director, has also been named Associate Artistic Director Emeritus. Through his work in choreography, rehearsal direction, and teaching, Nick has helped ensure a seamless continuation of the Company’s artistic lineage.

75 Years of Legacy, Purpose, and Community

In 2025, Westchester Ballet Company proudly celebrates 75 years of enriching lives through the transformative power of classical ballet. Founded in 1950 by Iris Merrick, WBC emerged from a bold and compassionate vision: to offer children more than ballet instruction — to give them the stage, the discipline, and the sense of belonging that only the performing arts can provide.

From the start, Merrick believed that ballet should be accessible, not exclusive. That founding principle continues to guide everything we do. Through scholarships, outreach, and affordable performances, WBC has opened the world of classical dance to thousands of young people, removing barriers and creating space for joy, growth, and opportunity.

As we reflect on our 75-year journey, we honor the visionaries who shaped this Company — from Iris Merrick’s pioneering commitment to performance and education, to the generations of directors and dancers who followed with passion and purpose. Their legacy has made WBC not only a center of artistic excellence, but a cultural cornerstone and a deeply rooted community institution.

Each season, our performances bring joy to thousands. Our classes build strength and confidence. And our programs continue to create new paths where there once were none. As we look ahead, we recommit to the values that have sustained us: excellence, inclusion, mentorship, and service.

Westchester Ballet Company is more than a stage. It is a home, a history, and a promise — one that continues to inspire, uplift, and unite.