ARDT was founded in 1981 by Joanne Rugge and Barbara Brassell, with Carlene Poster serving as its first artistic director.  Pamara Perry began in 1982, bringing her professional experience as a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet.  She grew up near Cleveland,  trained with Alex Martin of the Royal Ballet of England at age 10, began studies with George Balanchine at age 15.  At 18, she joined the Joffrey Ballet attaining the rank of Principal. As a guest ballerina, she has danced leading roles in "Swan Lake" and "Coppelia." 

Since moving to Glens Falls in 1977, she has worked extensively as a teacher and choreographer. Her works have been performed by ESIPA, Lake George Opera, and Glens Falls Community Theatre. She has been on the faculty of Skidmore, Siena, Russell Sage, and Adirondack Community College, and has taught for the Albany Dance Institute, Ballet Regent, Saratoga City Ballet, Briansky Ballet Center, and the Joffrey Midwest Program.  Her gentle, positive manner encourages students to flourish and enjoy the enrichment that dance brings into their lives. ARDT schedules year-round dance workshops for children and adults.  Ballet, the cornerstone of all dance training, is emphasized, but Jazz, Modern, Irish Step, Hip-Hop, Character, and Yoga classes have also been offered.

In addition to her talent, Pamara has provided ARDT with access to her many professional contacts which she has maintained over the years.  ARDT annually offers master classes, which have been taught by such notables as Kyra Nichols, Stephanie Seland, Lordes Lopez, Benjamin Millepied, Olga Kostriski, Maria Kowroski, and Charles Askegard, representing dance companies from all over the world: New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, the Odessa Ballet in Russia.

In addition to The Yuletide and the master classes, ARDT presents an annual spring concert. These ballet performances are unique in this region because ARDT’s dancers train and perform to live music.  ARDT recognizes the importance of performing and working with professional musicians, which has proven invaluable to the dancers as well as to the community.  ARDT dancers have performed at SPAC, Café Lena, and have gone on to study with the School of American Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet School as well as continuing their training at universities such as at New York University.  As artistic director, Perry feels that her professional background has kept her true to giving 100% to her students.  She believes that ballet enhances student confidence, but she says they should be there because they enjoy it.  Perry is always eager to acknowledge the role that volunteers have played over the years, without whose time and effort the programs would not be as strong.