Diana Leigh Boisseau, 82, of Colonial Heights passed away on Monday, April 6, 2026. Born April 16, 1943, she was the daughter of the late Leonidas Johnson and Dorothy Leigh Boisseau, and was also preceded in death by her brother, Leon "Butch" Boisseau; and aunt, Augusta “Gus” Hardy Kyle.

Diana began her dance training at the age of 4 and is a Post-Graduate of Julia Mildred Harper School of Dance of Richmond. At the age of 12 she began her ballet training with such internationally acclaimed teachers as Thalia Mara, Arthur Mahoney, and Hilda Butsova at the School of Ballet Repertory in New York City. Her credits also include character dance with world-renowned Yurek Lazowski; jazz training with the celebrated Matt Mattox, Luigi, and Gus Giordano; tap with Jack Stanley and Gerald Cummins; ballroom with nationally acclaimed Zee Brown; and modeling at John Robert Powers Modeling School in New York City. Her teacher's training in ballet was received at the National Academy of Ballet in New York City under the direction of Thalia Mara. In keeping with the latest teaching techniques, Miss Boisseau was invited to and has visited schools in London, England, Seoul, Korea, Shekou, China and Chiang Mai, Thailand. In 1986 Miss Boisseau was the assistant to the Artistic Director of the III U.S.A. International Ballet Competition. The International Ballet Competition is the Olympics of Dance and rotates annually on a four-year cycle with Vara, Bulgaria, Helsinki, Finland, Moscow, Russia and Jackson, Mississippi. In 1990, Miss Boisseau served on the international Jury of the Qualifying Round of the IV U.S.A. International Ballet Competition, taught the Teacher's Workshop in Pre-ballet for the International Ballet Competition's International Dance School and also served as the Administrative Director of the International Dance School. Miss Boisseau taught the Teacher's Workshop in Pre- Ballet for the State Ballet of Missouri and has taught student and teacher sessions in pre-ballet, ballet, and tap for national dance teacher organizations throughout the country. In 1997, she taught ballroom dance for the TV movie "The Day Lincoln Was Shot". She was a certified teacher of the Dance Masters of America and past president of Dance Masters of America Chapter 17 (Va., Md., and D.C.) She has been an examiner for the Dance Masters of America and has served on its national board of directors as delegate. In 1959, Miss Boisseau founded the Diana Leigh Boisseau School of Dance, in Colonial Heights. In 1985, she became dance instructor at the prestigious St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Jackson. She also founded and was Artistic Director of the Jackson State University School of Ballet. In 1993, she opened a branch school in Hopewell. Her professional career includes performing with the Richmond Ballet Company, television appearances and theatre work, including Carnival, Music Man, South Pacific and the New York City off Broadway production of The Wizard of Oz. Her students have won numerous awards in national dance competitions, performed with Disney World, Cruise Ships, Richmond Ballet Co., and Moscow State Ballet.

She is survived by brother, Rudolph "Rudy" Frederic Boisseau and wife, Robin; nephews, Frederic Boisseau (Virginia), Joseph Boisseau (Christine); nieces, Emily Augusta Boisseau, Elizabeth Christine Boisseau; great niece, Jessica Boisseau Shaw (Malik); and great nephew, Michael Boisseau.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2026 in Blandford Cemetery, 319 S. Crater Road, Petersburg, Virginia 23803. The family will receive friends from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 12, 2026 at the Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes and Crematory, 2033 Boulevard. Online condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com.