Born in 1957, Forrest Gehret lived to bring the joy of dance into people’s lives.He was instrumental in bringing professional ballet to the Harrisburg area.He founded his school to enrich the culture of the Capital City, making it a better place to live a work.
Gehret’s dance background includes dancing as a principal with the Brandywine Ballet, the Anyone Can Dancers, the Forry Dance Company and the Metropolitan Dance Ensemble.He danced in many ballets, including Fierbird and Swan Lake, and created original choreography for the classics such as Nutcracker and Giselle.
As a teacher, he was a member of the Professional Dance Teachers Association, Dance Masters of America and served as president of the Central Pennsylvania Dance Teachers Association.His close eye to detail urged his dancers to become highly skilled at their craft.They gained entry into companies such as the Dance Theater of Harlem and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.He remained active with the company until his death in 1998, always keeping the dancers on their toes.
Beyond this stunning vita was a desire to fulfill dreams.Today the Harrisburg Ballet Theater continues his legacy, providing a place for dancers to perfect their skills, and an opportunity to feel the exhilaration of dancing on stage in front of a live audience.He knew there was no other feeling like the feeling of being on stage thrilling audiences, and thanks to him Harrisburg Ballet Theater continues to provide these opportunities.
