A native of Rotterdam NY, Mary LeGere began her dance training at age nine. In 1976, she won a scholarship to the School of the Pennsylvania Ballet where she studied with Barbara Weisberger, Benjamin Harkarvy, and Lupe Serrano. In 1980, she joined the Pennsylvania Ballet, and in 1986 was promoted to soloist. Working under the artistic direction of Benjamin Harkarvy and Robert Weiss she danced lead roles in George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Symphony In C, Tarantella, Symphony in Three Movements, and Steadfast Tin Soldier, as well as Sugar Plum Fairy and Dew Drop in The Nutcracker. She was featured in Calcium Night Light by Peter Martins, and in works by Lynn Taylor Corbett, Merce Cunningham, and Paul Taylor. In 1990, she retired with an acclaimed performance of Myrta in Giselle.

After moving to NC with her husband, Ms. LeGere joined the faculty of The Raleigh School of Ballet. She became Associate Director of Raleigh Dance Theatre in 1991, and served as Artistic Director of Carolina Ballet during its 3 year transition to a professional company. Ms. LeGere became the Director of the reestablished Raleigh Dance Theatre until her retirement in June 2021. Ms. LeGere choreographed 17 works for Raleigh Dance Theatre, many that were chosen to be performed at the RDA/SE annual festival. In April 2016, Ms LeGere received the Regional Dance America National Choreography Recognition Award. Ms. LeGere was recently named President of Regional Dance America. Ms. LeGere co-directed The Raleigh School of Ballet, where she taught for 30 years. She was honored with the 2006-2007 NC Dance Alliance Annual Award. This prestigious award honors individuals who have made significant life-time contributions to the growth and development of dance in North Carolina. Ms. LeGere continues to pursue her passion for arts education. In August of 2021, Ms. LeGere was named Artistic Director Emeritus of Raleigh Dance Theatre and the RDT Board of Directors established a fund in her honor. She continues to work with RDT, setting her ballets and overseeing the George W. Newton School Performance Initiative and other outreach activities. In March 2022, she was elected to the Board of Directors of NC Arts in Action, an independent associate of the National Dance Institute. Ms. LeGere is enjoying guest teaching and setting her ballets on companies all over the US.