Pointe of Departure originated in Cleveland, Ohio in 1998 as a collaboration between violinist, Lev Polyakin, Assistant Concert Master for the Cleveland Orchestra and Ballet San Jose's Prima Ballerina, Karen Gabay. Mr. Polyakin approached Miss Gabay to join him in one of his upcoming concerts, encouraging her to choreograph and dance the repertoire that he played, and she agreed.  Not only did she dance, but she invited her favorite dance partner, premiere danseur, Raymond Rodriguez, to dance along with her.   The trio’s debut performance combined various dance and musical styles and was a huge success with standing room only.  The audiences responded to the diversity of styles that included classical ballet, tap, modern and theatrical jazz dance.  Sold out performances at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Cleveland Museum of Art inspired a new idea in creating a small ensemble that took flight bearing the name of Pointe of Departure.

In 2001, Co-Artistic Directors, Karen Gabay and Raymond Rodriguez founded Pointe of Departure as a 501 (C)3 not-for-profit ballet company.  To date, the company has performed for over 15,000 enthusiastic audience members in California and Northern Ohio which include a variety of venues such as  Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, Villa Montalvo, Hoover Auditorium accompanied by the Lakeside Symphony, Playhouse Square, Evans Amphitheater, Severence Hall, and The Cleveland Play House.

 In 2011, Karen Gabay was honored as the recipient of the Artist Fellowship Award, given to her by the Arts Council Silicon Valley.  After receiving the fellowship, she has choreographed two new pieces, one of which will be the premiere of Pulcinella, with the Lakeside Symphony in the summer of 2011.  Pointe of Departure will tour to Northeast Ohio with dancers from the United States and abroad.  Dancers with Pointe of Departure have also been showcased in the bay area through 'Random Acts of Art' sponsored by the Knight Foundation.

The future of Pointe of Departure is to continually expand the visibility of dance, by bridging the stereotypical image of classical ballet with an eclectic repertoire; cultivating artistc growth for the artists, musicians, and audience members; and finding ways to expand Pointe of Departure's repertoire that will challenge both the company's artists and viewers.

Those who love dance have found Pointe of Departure's performances to be diverse and highly entertaining, and is always a much-anticipated event for those who enjoy theater, music, and world class dancing!