Peggy Dolkas is the Founder and Artistic Director of Dolkas Dance, where she is dedicated to providing exceptional dance training in a personalized, supportive environment. Inspired by an international career as a professional dancer, educator, choreographer and artistic leader, her goal is to share the artistry, discipline, and mentorship that shaped her own journey while helping cultivate the next generation of artists.

A native of Auburn, California, Peggy began her early ballet training under Sheila Humphreys, former Soloist and Ballet Mistress of The Royal Ballet in London, and continued her education at Canada’s National Ballet School, in Toronto. There, she trained with acclaimed faculty including Sergiu Stefanschi, Lindsay Fischer, and Deborah Hess. She was awarded the prestigious Peter Dwyer Scholarship and the Christopher Ondaatjie Ballet Prize.

Upon Graduating in 2000, Peggy joined The National Ballet of Canada, where she was selected to perform in a special private presentation for His Royal Highness King Charles III.

She later joined Ballet West, rising to the rank of Soloist and performing principal roles including Aurora, Giselle, Odette/Odile, and Juliet in Jonas Kåge’s premiere of Romeo and Juliet. She was recognized as one of the “Top 25 Dancers to Watch” in the 2007 issue of Dance Magazine.

Following her performing career, Peggy devoted herself to choreographing, coaching, and artistic leadership. She served as Ballet Mistress for Nevada Ballet Theatre under the direction of James Canfield and assisted in the staging of works alongside renowned répétiteurs as Cynthia Gregory and Sandra Jennings and also trained dancers of Cirque du Soleil.

Next, she was honored to join Adam Sklute and the artistic staff of Ballet West as Associate Director of Ballet West II, assisting in the staging of works by acclaimed choreographers such as Jiři Kylián, Marius Petipa, George Balanchine, and John Cranko, while teaching and mentoring the BW Academy, BWII, and the dancers of the main company.

Her choreographic work has been recognized with multiple awards, including Most Outstanding Choreography at the Youth America Grand Prix in 2010, Best Choreographer at the Salt Lake City Artys, and the SLC Arts Commission Dance Award. She was the co-choreographer of Ballet West’s Family Series productions of The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast, later restaging the works for Cincinnati Ballet and created the adaptations needed for Longview Ballet. In addition to her choreographic work, she also wrote the librettos, assisted in the recordings of the narrations, and created the music arrangement in collaboration with Pamela Robinson-Harris. From 2021-2025 she served as the Co-Artistic Director and Choreographer of The Nutcracker for Placer Theatre Ballet.

After returning to her hometown of Auburn, Peggy taught for Sacramento Ballet in both the school and the main company, as well as local studios such as Northern California Dance Conservatory and DNA Dance Collective before founding Dolkas Dance in 2025.

Photo by Erik Ostling Courtesy of Ballet West Dance Magazine, 2007