Paulette Harwood has taught and inspired young dancers for almost 50 years. The upcoming 2009-2010 season will be the 50th year of Paulette’s Ballet Studio.

Paulette started dancing when she was a little girl under the watchful mentoring of Prima Ballerina, Harriet Hoctor in Boston. Her first professional job was in The Merry Widow, starring Kitty Carlisle, as a featured soloist, when she was 14 years old. She hasn’t stopped since.

Moving to New York City with her grandmother at 16 years old while she was still a student at Brookline High School, Paulette went on to be a soloist at Radio City Music Hall in the Corps de Ballet. She then created her own act, dancing in such renown New York institutions as Lou Walter’s Diamond Horseshoe and the Copacabana.

When Paulette got married to her husband, Paul Harwood, she moved back to Boston where she continued dancing, but this time, bringing all her love and passion for dance to her school. Paulette’s Ballet Studio opened in the fall of 1959.

In addition, she has choreographed countless musicals for local high schools and colleges, choreographed dances for performance all over Massachusetts, including for the Boston Celtics at Boston Garden. In addition, she has designed and made costumes for many contestants in the Miss Massachusetts and Miss America pageants, and of course all the costumes for her own shows.

Paulette’s knowledge and love of all forms of dance and performing, with a strong base in classical ballet, has been a leading force in the artistic lives of thousands and thousands of dancers. She believes that the combination of the creative spirit of dance combined with the discipline required to be a dancer will always add to a young person’s confidence, health and life.