American Ballet Academy is a Salem dance studio founded in 1991 by Rick Van Winkle. The academy emphasizes disciplined, supportive instruction that helps each student develop toward individual potential rather than following a one-size-fits-all path. Its teaching approach is especially evident in the Young Dancer series, where beginning students build coordination, musicality, classroom etiquette, poise, and posture in a setting that balances structure, warmth, and clear expectations. The studio connects technical training with personal growth, encouraging students to strengthen both their dance skills and their confidence through steady, purposeful instruction.