Founded by Lelia Haller in 1928, our school has produced dancers who have become performers, choreographers, and teachers all over the world. Miss Haller studied in Paris and became the first American to be appointed Premiere Danseuse of the Paris Opera Ballet. She combined her schooling with teachers of the French, Italian, and Russian techniques to form the method the school uses today.
Bobbe Willard, Director from 1987-2017, was Miss Haller's daughter and became her assistant at the age of twelve. Miss Bobbe then began to perform with the New Orleans Opera Ballet and the New Orleans Symphony concerts. After graduation from High School, she became teacher for the Ballet Department of the New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD). After founding her own school and company in Missouri, she returned to New Orleans and became a soloist with the New Orleans Opera Ballet and the Loyola Concert Ballet, as well as teaching in the Dance Department of Loyola University.
When Miss Haller retired, she appointed Miss Bobbe director of the Lelia Haller Ballet School, which under Miss Bobbe's guidance grew to three locations in the New Orleans area.
Our school in Covington was opened by Miss Bobbe in September 1984 and continues the tradition of classic ballet under the direction of Pamela Rossi.
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