Founded by Kleiman, the foundation began in 2018 with a mission to support classical ballet education and cultural exchange. The organization originally planned a 200-city California tour, but when the pandemic disrupted those plans, Kleiman relocated to Florida during COVID-19 and brought the foundation with her. By 2022, the organization had established roots in Navarre.
Earlier this year, that vision became reality when Navarre Classical Ballet opened its first classes on January 19.
The inspiration behind the foundation is deeply personal. Kleiman created the organization in honor of her sister, Peggy Willis-Aarnio, a respected ballet educator, choreographer and longtime professor at Texas Tech University who passed away in 2016. The sisters danced together throughout their lives, sharing both training and performance experiences while collaborating artistically for decades.
“We were always creating together,” Kleiman said. “After Peggy passed, I wanted to find a way to continue the work we believed in and keep her legacy alive.”
That vision became the Performing Arts Cultural Exchange Foundation, often called PACE Ballet. The nonprofit supports classical ballet education, scholarships and international artistic collaboration.
For now, the studio focuses primarily on adults—a unique approach in a field often dominated by youth programs. The small class sizes are intentional. With only three or four students per class, instructors can provide individualized attention and help dancers
build strong foundations in technique, posture, and musicality.
Leading that training is internationally respected instructor Maria Medvetskaya, who is certified in renowned Vaganova Ballet Academy Classical Dance. She is originally from the country Georgia, but the Vaganova method, which was developed the Saint Petersburg Vaganova Choreographic Academy in Russia, is widely regarded as one of the most rigorous and influential systems of classical ballet training in the world.
Medvetskaya has taught dancers from across the globe and brings decades of experience in both teaching and choreography. Her approach focuses on understanding the body’s structure, helping students develop proper alignment, strength and expressive movement.
“Every body is different,” Medvetskaya explained. “The goal is to help students understand how their muscles work so they can move safely and beautifully.” That personalized instruction has already attracted students from throughout the region. Some are returning to ballet after years away, while others are discovering the art form for the first time. One adult student, age 29, began training recently for the first time in her life and has showed remarkable progress after only a few lessons.
Another dancer attends classes several days a week while visiting from Mexico, while a senior ballet student in her late 70s—who once studied in the United Kingdom— recently joined the studio’s growing community.
“People sometimes believe ballet is only for children,” Kleiman said. “But it can benefit anyone at any stage of life. It strengthens the body, sharpens the mind and lifts the spirit.”
Looking ahead, the nonprofit hopes to expand its academy offerings, introduce scholarships for promising dancers and connect local students with international performance opportunities through its touring ballet programs.
For now, the focus remains on building a welcoming ballet community in Navarre while honoring the legacy that inspired it.
“Everything we do is rooted in the work my sister and I shared,” Kleiman said. “This is our way of continuing that passion and bringing it to a new generation.”
Navarre Classical Ballet classes are held Monday through Friday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 6 to 7 p.m., with Saturday sessions at 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Classes are $20 each and take place at 1807 Alhambra St. in Navarre. Students can register week by week at paceballet.org.
Navarre Classical Ballet
1807 Alhambra St., Navarre, FL 32566
925-864-8760
Register at paceballet.org
A subsidiary of PACE Ballet
Performing Arts Cultural Exchange