Johnstown Concert Ballet is a nonprofit organization proudly serving the Johnstown area with almost 60 years of exceptional ballet training and inspiring performances. Founded by the late Carla Prucnal and now under the direction of Eden Mishler Ihrig, JCB has become a cornerstone of the local arts community. We are committed to nurturing dancers of all ages in a supportive, professional, and enriching environment where creativity, confidence, and discipline flourish. From timeless productions like The Nutcracker to original full-length ballets each spring, Johnstown Concert Ballet offers an experience that is both artistically meaningful and deeply rooted in tradition.
A nonprofit, educational, organization which continues to raise the barre on dance instruction, expression, and performance. With classical ballet at our core, the JCB strives to contribute to the lifelong development of everyone in our communities, academically and culturally, by:
Encouraging the progress of dancers who have a serious interest in classical ballet.
Fostering educational programs for students of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
Staging classical and innovative performances for communities throughout Johnstown and neighboring areas.
Monica Petak, President
Mike D’Arrigo, Vice-President
Philip Petak, Interim Secretary
Denise Esch, Treasurer
Maryann Ackman
Tom Brubaker
Robert Fink
Kamal Gella
Harry Mangus
Cecilia Slifko
William Stasko
Sarah Teich
Tradition
A legacy of almost 60 years
Precision
Top-notch classical ballet training
Artistry
Incredible performances and events
Parent & Child, Pre-Ballet 1 & 2, Grades 1 & 2
Grade 5 & Senior Company
Get started with a free trial class
What Our Dance Families Have to Say
August 20, 1946 - December 12, 2020
Carla was deeply trained in the Cecchetti Method of Ballet, a structured and precise style rarely taught in the U.S. She was a certified instructor and proud member of the Cecchetti Council of America, frequently hosting workshops and encouraging students to take the rigorous Cecchetti Exams.
In 1981, Carla and a group of dedicated mothers formed the Johnstown Concert Ballet (JCB), naming her Artistic Director. Her first major production of The Nutcracker, in collaboration with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, premiered at the Cochran Auditorium. She personally designed many of the costumes, brought to life by volunteers. The Nutcracker became an annual tradition, staged every December.
Under her leadership, JCB’s repertoire expanded to include Cinderella, Snow White, Coppélia, Beauty and the Beast, Peter and the Wolf, Les Sylphides, Alice in Wonderland, and many others. Carla never called them "recitals"—to her, they were always "performances," each treated as a unique work of art. She designed costumes, headpieces, props, and sets with meticulous care and creative flair.
Carla was a constant presence in the Johnstown arts community. She participated in the annual Ethnic Fest, choreographed The Flood Ballet for the 100th anniversary of the 1889 Johnstown Flood, and served on the board of the BottleWorks Ethnic Arts Center. She took part in BottleWorks’ first program in 1992 and was inducted into the Johnstown Arts Hall of Fame in 2005.
Her creativity remained boundless. In 2010, she choreographed a piece for the grand opening of ArtWorks. In 2015, she received a grant for Pucks and Pirouettes, a unique ballet featuring high school hockey players performing alongside her company, debuting at the War Memorial Arena. In 2017, she was honored to stage an excerpt of Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra. In 2018, she collaborated with the Allied Artists of Johnstown, choreographing dances inspired by visual artwork.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Carla compiled a filmed retrospective of past Nutcracker performances, aired on Atlantic Broadband in December 2020 as a gift to the community.
Over decades of teaching, Carla instilled not only ballet technique but also poise, discipline, and confidence in her students. She found and nurtured each dancer’s strengths, regardless of ability, making everyone feel valued and seen. Many of her students pursued careers in the arts; many more carried her lessons into every corner of their lives. Her impact reached beyond dancers—she trained backstage crews, costumers, and volunteers, always upholding professionalism and artistry.
Carla's legacy continues through the Johnstown Concert Ballet. In 2017, the organization committed the creation of JCB Dance Works at 316 Broad Street, a dream Carla helped design. Though she will never get to teach in the new space, its largest studio will bear her name—a lasting tribute to her vision.
“She was more than a dancer and mentor—she was an artist.”
"Johnstown lost a creative giant, but her spirit lives on in every step taken on her stage."
Frequently Asked Questions
We recommend beginning ballet as early as age 3 in our Pre-Ballet 1 class, which focuses on creative movement, musicality, and basic coordination in a fun and supportive environment. As children grow, they can progress through our structured levels of classical ballet training. We even offer a Parent & Child class for children as young as 2 years old and a caregiver as an introduction to movement, a dance studio environment, and some of the fundamentals of dance. However, it is never too late to start. Many professional dancers did not begin training until their early teen years.
All students enrolled in our Pre-Ballet 1 classes and up perform in our annual productions. Auditions for lead roles (ages 11+) for The Nutcracker are typically held in early September while auditions for the spring production take place at the top of the new year. To be included in The Nutcracker, students must be enrolled by October 1st, and the deadline to be included in our spring production is typically mid-February.
Not at all! We welcome dancers of all experience levels, from beginners to advanced students. Our faculty will help place each student in the class that best supports their growth and development.
We have a dress code, which includes a leotard, tights, ballet slippers, and hair secured neatly in a ballet bun or french twist for girls. Boys must wear a black or white t-shirt, black footed ballet tights, and black ballet slippers. However, we do not expect dancers to be in dress code for their trial class. Specific details will be provided via email upon registration or trial class confirmation.
All of our classes are held at our studio at 300 Power Street in Johnstown, PA. Visit our Training page for our current class times and location details.
Fall classes begin in early September and run until our Nutcracker production. Classes then resume at the top of the new year and run through late May when our faculty evaluates the dancers, provides progress reports, and determines readiness for progression into the next level. Enrollment is open July through early October for our Fall session and December through mid-February for our Spring session.
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Studio Address: 300 Power Street, Johnstown PA 15906
DanceWorks Address: 316 Broad Street Johnstown, PA 15906
Call (814) 536-7599
Email: [email protected]
Site: johnstownconcertballet.org