Our Story
About
Our goal at Northeast Ballet Academy started with the desire to introduce the grace and discipline of ballet to the people of the Philippines. Our academy was established with a love of dance and a dedication to quality with the goal of training the next generation of dancers. Our setting is designed to support and inspire everyone, from novices taking their first steps to accomplished students honing their craft. Our knowledgeable and passionate instructor have a plethora of experience teaching ballet, so each student will receive individual attention and support. At Northeast Ballet Academy, we are honored to support our students' creative and personal development because we firmly believe in the transformational power of dance. Join us as we continue to celebrate the grace, strength, and artistry of ballet in our vibrant community.
Founder
Mrs. Grethel Raypon, Artistic Director for Northeast Ballet Academy, returns to Manila with over three decades of international experience as an accomplished artist, principal dancer, ballet teacher, ballet coach, and choreographer. Grethel was the first ballet dancer to represent the Philippines at the prestigious Prix de Lausanne international ballet competition. Early in her professional career, Grethel also competed at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi as a representative of the Philippines.
Grethel’s distinguished 17-year professional career included time as a soloist and principal dancer with Ballet Philippines II and Ballet Philippines, Cleveland Ballet, Ballet San Jose, and Diablo Ballet, where she essayed a wide diversity of classical and contemporary principal roles. She is noted as being cast as one of two female ballerinas to play the lead role of Peter Pan in Edna Vida’s staging of this ballet.
As a ballet instructor and coach, Grethel’s students have gone on to earn scholarships to ballet conservatories, performing arts academies, and dance programs at major universities in the United States, including The Juilliard School. She has also had the good fortune to have trained dancers who have become professional dancers and have signed contracts with international ballet and ballet companies. Although quick to deflect praise for her work as a choreographer, Grethel has developed award-winning students and produced choreographies that have won first prize at prestigious ballet competitions such as YAGP and The Dance Awards and have been featured in publications like Dance Magazine.
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A believer in discipline and passion meeting in art, Grethel’s hope is that she can serve her students as artists and individuals, creating a positive and enriching experience in learning ballet that can be useful, impactful, and valuable in their lives.
Contemporary Teacher and Choreographer
Kare Adea is a former principal dancer of Ballet Philippines (BP), dancing for 15 years with the company where she essayed several lead roles. She was handpicked by former BP directors Bam Damian and Max Luna lll to premiere their masterpieces in the Philippines: Damian’s "Evacuation" and"Carmen,” and Luna’s “Hurt We Embrace.” In 2023, Kare encored the role of Babaylan in ARDP’s re-staging of Agnes Locsin’s “Encantada.”
As a choreographer, She was one of the featured choreophers for CCP's Neo-Filipino in 2018. In the same year, she choreographed Aureus Solito's (Kanakan Balintagos) re- staging of "MButterfly". In 2020, she choroegraphed and performed in Itchyworms' "Give me a Love Song" music video and in 2022, she choreographed Sb19 Stell Abejero's solo for "Salamin" mv by The Juans and is the movement director for Sb19s "WYATT" mv.
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In 2013, she received an artist fellowship grant from the Asian Cultural Council (ACC) dedicated to explore art and dance for seven months in New York which enabled her to take classes with American Ballet Theater Company, Alvin Ailey School, Bill T. Jones company and Martha Graham School.
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​At present, she is, a freelance dance teacher, mentor, choreographer and movement director.
What Former Students Say
“I had the privilege of becoming Grethel’s student in the years prior to getting my first professional ballet contract. Having had a very successful professional ballet career herself, she trained me in a way that prepared me for what I needed to thrive in a real ballet company, because she knew first hand what it takes to land a contract, and to keep my job as a professional year after year. I credit Grethel for so much of my professional ballet career and helping me to get started when I really needed a coach to invest in me. She even coached me on certain roles in my off season year after year. Grethel has the gift of teaching in a way that prepares you for a professional dance career. Additionally, she stayed in contact with me throughout my career (and post retirement also) to check in and always offer mentorship when I needed it most, something that defines her as an invested teacher. I had a beautiful decade long career at Ballet San Jose, having danced many leading roles over the years. I now own and operate San Jose’s only Gyrotonic and Classical Pilates studio, Urban Body San Jose, where we train many dancers and non dancers alike. As I give back to the next generation of professional dancers in a different way, I can’t help but always think of Grethel and all she gave to me in me during the years I had the opportunity to learn from her. I’m forever grateful."
Shannon Bynum Adams, MFA, NCPT®
GYROKINESIS® Trainer
GYROTONIC® Trainer and Pre-Trainer
founder & co-owner URBAN BODY SAN JOSE
Former Soloist, Ballet San Jose (CA)
Our Team.
Northeast Ballet Academy's Staff Members
