Roanoke, VA – February 11, 2025. For more than 18 years Pedro Szalay has led the artistic efforts for the Southwest Virginia Ballet. When this season concludes at the end of June, Szalay will retire as its Artistic Director. He and his husband Mark Shepheard are relocating to Scotland to begin a new chapter in their lives.
“When I started this work almost 20 years ago it was about the teaching and helping our dancers to improve,” Szalay said. “Now, as all this time has passed, it’s so powerful to think of the impact we’ve made together in people’s lives and beyond that, the way Southwest Virginia Ballet has lifted dance, the arts, and the entire Virginia’s Blue Ridge region. Those are the memories I will keep with me forever.”
Szalay has continually pushed creative boundaries while honoring the timeless traditions of ballet. In December he led SVB through some groundbreaking milestones with the first ever performance of The Nutcracker at the historic Omni Homestead Resort while continuing the ever-popular show at Roanoke’s Berglund Performing Arts Center. According to the SVB, it was one of the most successful shows ever.
“Pedro’s impact on our dancers, the community, and the organization as a whole cannot be overstated,” Board President Kyle Vorst said. “We are deeply grateful for his dedication and the artistic vision that is a part of all his work here at SVB. His leadership has set such a strong foundation for the organization’s growth.”
Szalay began with the SVB in 2006. In 2007 he took over as the Artistic Director and a few years later he was awarded the Perry F. Kendig Award for arts excellence. He was born in La Guaira, Venezuela to parents of Hungarian descent. As a young adult he traveled to New York to dance with the New York Dance Theatre. Szalay served as an Artist in Residence for the Dr. Robert L.A. Keeley Healing Arts Program at Carilion Clinic for twelve years. He also has served as the longtime Director of the Star City School of Ballet and founded Dance Espanol, a Roanoke City Schools program established to teach fourth graders Spanish through dance that is now active in Martinsville as well.
“It’s been my honor to celebrate and lift up the arts in our region,” Szalay said. “I’ve loved the ability to work with students to help them achieve their dreams, with other arts organizations, and then to bring it all together for our audiences to enjoy. We are so deeply connected to this community, and I hope to continue to build bridges and keep my ties to Roanoke strong.”
Szalay’s impact goes beyond the overall development of the organization. It’s measured in the lives he has shaped through dance and his leadership.
“For eight years, Pedro has been a guiding force in my daughter’s life as a dancer,” Vorst said. “She started as a little reindeer in the Nutcracker and has grown into the more advanced role of an icicle at 12. That is thanks to Pedro’s patient instruction and inspiring vision. His ability to nurture young talent will leave a legacy that extends far beyond his time here.”
Szalay leaves SVB in a strong position. The Riverdale neighborhood-based organization has an energized board of directors, a solid partnership with Star City School of Ballet, and robust support from the local community and its donors. Keeley Slaughter and William Smith will continue in their roles as Rehearsal Assistants as SVB begins the search for its next Artistic Director. Each of them has been with the nonprofit arts organization since 2024. The search may include appointing an Interim Artistic Director while the board carefully selects a permanent leader. Meanwhile Elizabeth Francis, who served as SVB’s stage manager starting in 2021, has been promoted to Executive Producer. Her work with SVB in that capacity has already begun.
“It’s bittersweet to see Pedro leave,” said Megan Potter, Board of Directors secretary. “We are confident his legacy will endure through the talented dancers, staff, and supporters who have been inspired by his work through the years.”
Szalay’s legacy of excellence has left an imprint on the arts community, the Southwest Virginia Ballet, and those who have studied with him and performed on stage for him through the years.
“Our dancers will remember Pedro for the charismatic leader that he is, along with his matchless dynamic in the studio,” board member Melissa Firestone said. “He has inspired hundreds of students to pursue their passion for dance.”
That has been his plan all along.
“I’ve always wanted to help dancers reach their potential,” Szalay said. “Getting everyone to work toward their best, challenging them to take their performance to the next level, and encouraging them to pursue dance – even professionally – has driven so much of my work here in Roanoke. We had a strong organization when I arrived, and I’d like to think I have played a part in helping SVB to advance further. It will be fascinating to watch where things go from here.”
Southwest Virginia Ballet has enriched the region for 29 years, providing pre-professional training and performing a diverse repertoire of classical, contemporary, and modern works. Founded in 1990 by Tess (Terri) Post, SVB has become a vital part of the community’s artistic scene, performing annually at events like Festival in the Park and the Berglund Center’s The Nutcracker with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. As a member of Regional Dance America’s Southwest Regional Ballet Association, SVB continues to offer unparalleled performance and training opportunities, ensuring its impact on the arts remains strong.