Ballet dancer to appear at store

Staff report

NEW CASTLE, Pa.

Allison DeBona 29, a soloist with Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah, will return this weekend to her hometown of New Castle.

She will visit Lorelei’s Dancewear, 125 E. North St., from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Visitors will be able to take pictures, get autographs and register to win prizes, including a pair of DeBona’s pointe shoes, and a 30-minute session with her.

She will also have master classes Tuesday at New Castle Regional Ballet’s studio.

For information or to register, contact the studio or Lorelei’s Dancewear.

DeBona’s dance career began at age 3 with lessons at the New Castle Regional Ballet Company.

DeBona continued her dancing with the Pittsburgh Youth Ballet from age 12 until her 2002 graduation from Chartiers Valley High School. She studied ballet performance at Indiana University until 2006, when she accepted an invitation from the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater to study in its pre-professional graduate program.

DeBona accepted the position at Ballet West in 2007.

Her career also is one of the main dancers on The CW network’s reality show “Breaking Pointe.” The show goes behind the scenes at the Salt Lake City Ballet Company. Season 2 will premiere at 9 p.m. July 22.

DeBona also is featured in the July issue of Dance magazine.