Member of Dance Masters of America

Member of DMA Chapter 8

Helene begins her 48^th year this fall. The Helene Yelverton Dance Studio is the oldest established business continually operated exclusively by a woman in Broome County.  She began her professional career on Robinson Street in Binghamton in 1959 at the age of seventeen.  Helene and her family moved to Conklin in 1970 and soon thereafter, constructed the facility which currently houses her school of dance in its present location.

Helene began her dance career as a student, performer and teacher quite early. She trained locally with Alice Porter (Miss Alice - Binghamton) and eventually became Assistant Director of her School while only a teenager.  Helene performed as dance soloist regularly with the Endicott Johnson Band and Orchestra at banquets and special holiday performances.  At the tender age of 12, she became known as "E J's Dancing Star". While at Binghamton Central High School, she was the student and protégé of Miss Helen Foley, renowned local arts educator and director. Helene starred in and choreographed the schools very first Broadway Musical, "Carousel", and upon graduation, was awarded  BCHS's first and only Arts Scholarship.

Following high school, Helene received her initial training with the famed George Balanchine at the American School of Ballet in New York City. Since then, she has maintained her dance education with many of the world's top teacher/choreographers from all the major dance disciplines. Continuing education annually is and has been a standard of her studio for not only herself but for each member of her faculty.

During her storied career, Helene administered (and does presently) many public school dance programs in the area and has served on the faculty of both Ithaca College and Broome Community College. A significant number of her former students have gone on to pursue college-level dance training and a large number are currently dancing professionally.  Former students operate their own schools in various parts of the USA (three locally).  Helene is also a highly respected and sought choreographer, workshop presenter and dance competition judge. She travels extensively in each of these capacities throughout the US and Canada.  She is the past President of Dance Masters of America, Inc., Chapter #8 (upstate New York and Ontario, Canada) and has been a member of this prestigious professional dance teacher's society for over forty years.

It is estimated that some 11,300+ youngsters have found there way to the Helene Yelverton Dance Studio over the past 48 years. While Helene is very proud of those former students who have made dance their profession as teachers, choreographers, and dancers, she is also most gratified to have played a contributing role in influencing the healthy and wholesome development of literally thousands of youngsters.  Helene is very happy to have maintained lifelong relationships with so many of her former students and says that there simply isn't enough wall space to display the cards and letters received from all over the world come Holiday time.       

Helene received significant public recognition for her contribution to the field by being honored with her own "Star" as a 1996 Inductee to the Rod Serling Foundation's 'SIDE WALK OF THE STARS' at the Metro Center, in Binghamton, New York.  Adding to this honor, June 8, 1996 was proclaimed as Helene Yelverton Day by then Binghamton Mayor Richard Bucci. She was the sixteenth person to receive a star, and at the time, was the first and only women so honored. Helene was also acclaimed in 2003 by being selected and honored as a "Distinguished Alumni" by the Binghamton City School District. Most recently, Helene received the 2004 "Woman of Achievement" award by the Broome County Council on Women.

Students from her school perform locally in a variety of charitable venues such as service organizations, schools, nursing facilities, and hospitals. She also presents an annual Recital at The Forum in Binghamton each Spring and for the past several years, has featured her 'Performance Ensemble' at Binghamton's First Night Celebration.  The Helene Yelverton Dance Studio competition groups have been overwhelmingly successful locally, regionally, and nationally, with literally rooms full of awards.

Finally, Helene states her most important production number over the years has been her two sons, Bill and Tom, and their families.  She credits husband Bill of 48 years for his 'minor' participation, and already has a "Kari Helene Yelverton" in her 12th year at 'grandma's dancing school'. When asked how long she expects to 'keep on tapping', her response is "as long as God favors me with good health and 'the kids' continue to benefit".

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