Familiar Face On Local Stages Accepted Into Prestigious Bolshoi

GREENPORT, NY — A talented young performer well-known on East End stages since he was a small child is now set to wow on an international canvas: Peter John Gwiazda, a 10th grader at Greenport High School, was selected for the six-week Bolshoi Ballet summer intensive program in New York City.

Participants in the program, which begins on June 27, are selected on the basis of an audition.

According to his father John Gwiazda and mother Debbie Hooper, Peter has been a student at the Peconic Ballet Theatre in Riverhead for 11 years and is currently an advanced apprentice at the theatre.

"Peter has auditions set up for four programs but Bolshoi has always been his number-one choice," Gwiazda said.

According to his mom Hooper, her son is "over the moon" over his acceptance.

"And, of course, we are pleased, too," Gwiazda said. "It's great to see that the 11 years invested in lessons have paid off. As of now, his future plans are to study dance and theater arts in college — maybe SUNY Purchase? — and see where that leads."

Peter has appeared in a multitude of ballets in conjunction with PBT including nine seasons of The Nutcracker; in 2019 and 2021, he had the role of the Nutcracker. He also participated in the 2021 International Presentation of Performers in Orlando, FL and was awarded the first place medal in the Male Teen Dance competition. In addition, he was selected to participate in the final showcase performance of High School Musical.

Peter has long won the hearts of audiences locally, active in many productions. He has performed in shows at the North Fork Community Theatre, Riverhead Faculty and Community Theatre, and the Greenport School Drama Club.