About Us

Teaching Staff

Ballet Arts of Peru opened its doors in 1972 under the artistic direction of Frank Ortiz and Sylvia Ortiz-Farrior.  The original location was at 59 1/2 N. Broadway, Peru, IN (above Busta’s Bakery).
Eventually, the studio settled into its home on 116 N. Clay Street, Peru, IN.

After giving 30 years of dance, art, and grace to the Peru community, Sylvia Farrior retired in 2002 and sold the studio to former student and dance instructor, Debbie Alwine.

In 2011, Debbie opened the doors to a new and much larger location for the studio on 301 E. Main Street, Peru, IN.  With this relocation, Ballet Arts of Peru will continue to accommodate and serve the community with all its dance needs for many generations to come.

Debbie and Sylvia

Our team

Debbie began her dance career as a child when Ballet Arts of Peru first opened its doors in 1972. She returned to Ballet Arts as an instructor in ballet, pointe, tap, and Kinderdance in 1993. After nine years of teaching classes, she became the owner and artistic director in 2002. Debbie and her husband, Tim, have two children, Courtney and Chandler.

Debbie Alwine

Owner and Artistic Director

Debbie began her dance career as a child when Ballet Arts of Peru first opened its doors in 1972. She returned to Ballet Arts as an instructor in ballet, pointe, tap, and Kinderdance in 1993. After nine years of teaching classes, she became the owner and artistic director in 2002.

Debbie and her husband, Tim, have two children, Courtney and Chandler.

Debbie began her dance career as a child when Ballet Arts of Peru first opened its doors in 1972. She returned to Ballet Arts as an instructor in ballet, pointe, tap, and Kinderdance in 1993. After nine years of teaching classes, she became the owner and artistic director in 2002. Debbie and her husband, Tim, have two children, Courtney and Chandler.

Allison Burns

Teacher

Allison began dancing with Ballet Arts of Peru at the age of four, where she was involved in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Musical Theatre. She also helped volunteer as a Kinderdance Assistant for three years. Her passion for dance could be seen throughout the community as she helped start a Dance Team at North Miami and was responsible with the organization of the team as well as helping choreograph. Allison is a student at Huntington University studying to receive her BA in Nursing.

Debbie began her dance career as a child when Ballet Arts of Peru first opened its doors in 1972. She returned to Ballet Arts as an instructor in ballet, pointe, tap, and Kinderdance in 1993. After nine years of teaching classes, she became the owner and artistic director in 2002. Debbie and her husband, Tim, have two children, Courtney and Chandler.

Amy Deniston

Teacher

Amy began dancing with Ballet Arts of Peru when she was 7 years old and continued dancing for 11 years. Amy graduated from Manchester College and works for Kling Insurance. She teaches ballet, tap, and Kinderdance classes.

Amy and her husband, Kenny, have one daughter, Eilee Grace.

Debbie began her dance career as a child when Ballet Arts of Peru first opened its doors in 1972. She returned to Ballet Arts as an instructor in ballet, pointe, tap, and Kinderdance in 1993. After nine years of teaching classes, she became the owner and artistic director in 2002. Debbie and her husband, Tim, have two children, Courtney and Chandler.

Kloie Hargrove

Teacher

Kloie began dancing with Ballet Arts of Peru at the age of four. Throughout her journey at BAoP, she was involved in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, and Musical Theatre. She also danced for the North Miami Dance Team and performed alongside Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre. She recently graduated from Ivy Tech Community College with an Associate's Degree in Business Administration and is continuing her education to receive her Physical Therapy Assistant License.

Debbie began her dance career as a child when Ballet Arts of Peru first opened its doors in 1972. She returned to Ballet Arts as an instructor in ballet, pointe, tap, and Kinderdance in 1993. After nine years of teaching classes, she became the owner and artistic director in 2002. Debbie and her husband, Tim, have two children, Courtney and Chandler.

Jessica Jones

Teacher

Jessica began dancing with Ballet Arts of Peru at the age of five under the direction of Sylvia Ortiz-Farrior. She continued her dance training at Ball State University and Purdue University where she studied ballet, modern, and jazz. She began teaching at Ballet Arts in 2001. Currently, she teaches ballet and pointe classes.

Jessica and her husband, Bob, have four children, Riley, Lydia, Jackson, and Nolan.

Debbie began her dance career as a child when Ballet Arts of Peru first opened its doors in 1972. She returned to Ballet Arts as an instructor in ballet, pointe, tap, and Kinderdance in 1993. After nine years of teaching classes, she became the owner and artistic director in 2002. Debbie and her husband, Tim, have two children, Courtney and Chandler.

Lydia Jones

Teacher

Lydia began dancing with Ballet Arts of Peru at the age of four, and continued until graduating. During her time dancing, she was involved with Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe, Hip Hop, Lyrical, and Musical Theatre. After graduation, she began teaching summer dance classes at the studio. Lydia is a student at Indiana State University studying to receive her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.

Debbie began her dance career as a child when Ballet Arts of Peru first opened its doors in 1972. She returned to Ballet Arts as an instructor in ballet, pointe, tap, and Kinderdance in 1993. After nine years of teaching classes, she became the owner and artistic director in 2002. Debbie and her husband, Tim, have two children, Courtney and Chandler.

Amber Metcalfe Denny

Teacher

Amber's dance career began at the age of four with Ballet Arts of Peru. She continued to dance at Butler University for four years before graduating in 2003. She spent five years with the Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre where she was a member of the student company for two years and the performance company for three years. Her return to Ballet Arts was made in 2007 where she teaches jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, and musical theater classes.

Amber has one daughter, Leighton.

Debbie began her dance career as a child when Ballet Arts of Peru first opened its doors in 1972. She returned to Ballet Arts as an instructor in ballet, pointe, tap, and Kinderdance in 1993. After nine years of teaching classes, she became the owner and artistic director in 2002. Debbie and her husband, Tim, have two children, Courtney and Chandler.

Stephanie Mouser

Teacher

Stephanie became a student of Sylvia Ortiz-Farrior and Ballet Arts at the age of four, where she studied through her Senior year of high school. She then graduated from Indiana University with a degree in elementary education. She has been teaching with Ballet Arts of Peru since 2006.

Stephanie has three children, Aubree, Payslee, and Carter.

Debbie began her dance career as a child when Ballet Arts of Peru first opened its doors in 1972. She returned to Ballet Arts as an instructor in ballet, pointe, tap, and Kinderdance in 1993. After nine years of teaching classes, she became the owner and artistic director in 2002. Debbie and her husband, Tim, have two children, Courtney and Chandler.

Jennifer Nord

Teacher

Jennifer began dancing with Ballet Arts of Peru when she was 6 years old and continued through her Senior year of high school. A Saint Mary of the Woods College graduate, she returned to Ballet Arts to teach dance in 2001. She teaches ballet, tap, and pointe classes.

Jennifer has five children with her husband, Brad: Molly, Mackenzie, Kevin, Corey, and Macey.

Debbie began her dance career as a child when Ballet Arts of Peru first opened its doors in 1972. She returned to Ballet Arts as an instructor in ballet, pointe, tap, and Kinderdance in 1993. After nine years of teaching classes, she became the owner and artistic director in 2002. Debbie and her husband, Tim, have two children, Courtney and Chandler.

Anna Smith

Teacher

Anna began dancing for Ballet Arts of Peru at the age of 4. Throughout her years as a student, she was involved in Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Jazz & Hip Hop. She was also a Kinderdance assistant throughout high school. After graduation, she has remained an active student of Ballet Arts in the Adult Ballet class. Anna graduated from Indiana University of Kokomo with her bachelor’s degree in Business. Anna and her husband, Cameron, reside in Peru.

Anna will teach Kinderdance and Ballet.

Debbie began her dance career as a child when Ballet Arts of Peru first opened its doors in 1972. She returned to Ballet Arts as an instructor in ballet, pointe, tap, and Kinderdance in 1993. After nine years of teaching classes, she became the owner and artistic director in 2002. Debbie and her husband, Tim, have two children, Courtney and Chandler.

Jana Wilson

Teacher

Jana began dancing with Ballet Arts of Peru at the age of six under the direction of Sylvia Ortiz-Farrior and continued through her senior year of high school. Her return to Ballet Arts was made in 2011, where she teaches jazz classes.

Jana has four daughters Alaina, Carly, Violet, and Korra, and she is married to Aaron Wilson.

All Correspondence and Payments

Debbie Alwine
Ballet Arts of Peru
301 E. Main St.
Peru, IN 46970

1 (765) 469-1711

debbiealwine@yahoo.com

Studio address

301 East Main Street, Peru, IN 46970