Aaron Orza

Director of Ballet Program

Aaron Orza former San Francisco Ballet Company Member, Ballet Master of Rock School for Dance Education and Youth America Grand Prix Outstanding Teacher comes from a deeply rooted classical ballet family. Both of his parents danced for Oakland Ballet, and all five siblings trained with or danced professionally for companies such as San Francisco Ballet, New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and others abroad. As a young dancer, Aaron received most of his training at San Francisco Ballet School. He also attended the School of American Ballet during the summers, and in 1997 was invited to stay for the year—becoming part of the last generation to study under the legendary Stanley Williams.

Shortly after, he returned to San Francisco Ballet to complete his training and was awarded a contract, launching a 13-year career with the company. During his tenure, Aaron performed works by George Balanchine, John Neumeier, Christopher Wheeldon, William Forsythe, Alexei Ratmansky, Val Caniparoli, and many others—an experience he describes as a rich artistic upbringing surrounded by some of the finest dancers, choreographers, and coaches in the world. Aaron considers himself fortunate to have grown up during one of ballet’s golden eras—when mentorship, discipline, and rigorous training were held to the highest standard. At San Francisco Ballet, he studied under teachers such as Jorge Esquivel and Irina Jacobson, and at SAB, under Stanley Williams and Andrei Kramarevsky. These formative experiences continue to inform his teaching and mentoring today. After retiring from performing, Aaron found a deep passion for teaching and coaching.

He has taught at respected schools across the country, and served as Ballet Master at The Rock School for Dance Education under Bo and Stephanie Spassoff, where many of the students he coached went on to careers with top companies and training programs worldwide.

For the past seven years, Aaron and his wife, Kristin Lindsay Orza, dedicated themselves to building Nashville Classical Ballet Academy from the ground up. What began as a small, ambitious program grew into the most awarded ballet school in Tennessee, earning a reputation for excellence in training and artistry. Under their leadership, NCBA students were accepted into the world’s most competitive programs, including The Royal Ballet School and San Francisco Ballet School, just to name a few, as well as into professional careers at top companies and regional institutions around the United States and abroad. The school not only set a new standard for ballet education in the region, but also achieved unprecedented firsts for Nashville’s ballet community—opening pathways for dancers that had never before existed in the area.

Now, Aaron is excited to bring his experience, vision, and passion for high-level training into his new leadership role with Vitacca School for Dance, continuing his mission to guide the next generation of dancers toward their highest potential.