Cheryl Van Metre, founder of the Van Metre School of Dance and the Appalachian Ballet Company passed away January 9. She was born in Maryville, Nov. 23, 1940, and pursued training in performance and instruction with the Chicago Ballet, the National Ballet of Mexico, England’s Royal Ballet Company, and the Kirov Ballet in the former Union of Soviet Socalist Republics.
From those foundations, she launched the Van Metre School of Dance in 1957 and later the Appalachian Ballet in 1971. She was known to be passionately devoted to ballet instruction, but was also known as a strong mentor – including current Artistic Director Amy Morton who has served in that role since 1997.
Van Metre directed the Van Metre School of Dance for 39 years and the Appalachian Ballet Company for 25 before retiring with her husband Mitchell in Edisto Beach, S.C.
The Van Metre family requests memorials be made in her memory to the Appalachian Ballet Company at 215 W. Broadway Ave., Maryville, Tenn.