Hawaii State Ballet

Hawaii State Ballet (HSB) is a classical ballet school founded in 1983 by John Landovsky, a distinguished ballet instructor with a rich performing background, including affiliations with the International Ballet Company and Chicago Lyric Opera Ballet. Alongside his wife, Gina Surles, a trained dancer in both ballet and modern dance, Landovsky established HSB in Honolulu, Hawaii, with the aim of cultivating professional dancers and instructors. Over nearly four decades, the school has become renowned for its rigorous curriculum and successful teaching methods, designed to instill a love for dance, confidence, and self-esteem in students. HSB's mission is to prepare students for professional ballet careers, emphasizing the importance of discipline, motivation, creativity, and appreciation for the arts. The school has produced dancers who have joined prestigious companies such as American Ballet Theatre and San Francisco Ballet, and have participated in international ballet competitions. Landovsky and Surles, who have since retired, have left a legacy of high standards and a commitment to excellence that enables HSB students to compete globally. The couple retired in 2017 and currently reside part-time in Asheville, North Carolina.