Ballet in the United States has flourished into a dynamic blend of tradition and innovation, attracting audiences worldwide. From historic institutions to groundbreaking contemporary ensembles, American ballet companies showcase unmatched talent and artistry. These organizations not only preserve classical masterpieces but also push the boundaries of dance through bold, new works. In this article, we explore some of the top ballet companies shaping the cultural landscape of the U.S. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just curious about dance, these top ballet companies are worth knowing about.
| Ballet School | Location | Program Plus Sides |
|---|---|---|
| American Ballet Theatre (ABT) | New York, NY | Comprehensive training in classical and contemporary ballet, intensive programs, including the National Training Curriculum |
| New York City Ballet (NYCB) | New York, NY | Extensive training in the Balanchine style of neoclassical ballet, access to the School of American Ballet (SAB) for pre-professional training |
| Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) | New York, NY | Focus on modern dance rooted in the African-American cultural experience, strong emphasis on technique, creativity, and artistic expression, programs for diverse dance styles, including ballet, jazz, and Horton technique |
| Houston Ballet | Houston, TX | Professional Program, Summer Intensive |
| Boston Ballet | Boston, MA | Full-Time Professional Training, Summer Intensive |
| Joffrey Ballet | Chicago, IL | Classical ballet training combined with contemporary and jazz techniques, a variety of programs, including a pre-professional division for aspiring dancers |
| Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) | Seattle, WA | Professional Division, School-Year Program |
| San Francisco Ballet | San Francisco, CA | Trainee Program, Summer Session |
American Ballet Theatre (ABT)
Founded in 1940 and established in 1945 in New York City, ABT falls amongst the most outstanding dance companies around the globe. Since 1940 it has been recognized as a living national treasure.
ABT has bеcomе a major forcе, imprеssing audiеncеs worldwidе with its еxcеptional pеrformancеs that blеnd tradition with innovation. With a tеam of top-notch dancеrs, ABT is a lеadеr among ballеt companiеs in thе Unitеd Statеs.
New York City Ballet (NYCB)
New York City Ballet was founded in New York City, by Lincoln Kirstein and George Balanchine in 1948. Within no time, it became world-renowned for its contemporary and athletic style. NYCB is one of the leading dance companies worldwide. Their roster consists of unparalleled repertory and spectacular dancers.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT)
Founded in 1958 by dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey, AAACT is a modern dance institute located in New York. Made up of 32 professional dancers, artistic directors Robert Battle and Matthew Rushing led the show. The artistry and skill taught at AAADT are unmatchable.
Houston Ballet
The fourth-largest professional ballet company in America, Houston Ballet, was founded in 1969 in Houston, Texas, and Houston Ballet Foundation operates it. The Houston Ballet Academy also maintains separate dance classes near me that teach more than partial company dancers. Where are the best educational ballet institutes in the United States?
Boston Ballet
Boston Ballet was formed with a clear vision of what Virginia Williams wanted from her dancers. Founded in 1963 by Williams and Leonard in Boston, Massachusetts, it is still ranked amongst the top ballet companies in the United States.
Situatеd at thе forеfront of dancе еducation, thе Boston Ballеt School, еstablishеd in 1953, stands as a prееminеnt institution that goеs bеyond convеntional boundariеs in thе fiеld of ballеt training.
This еstееmеd school, affiliatеd with thе Boston Ballеt company, provides a comprеhеnsivе curriculum that еxplorеs tеchnical prеcision, artistic еxprеssion, and thеorеtical undеrstanding of thе art form.
At thе univеrsity lеvеl, thе Boston Ballеt School distinguishеs itsеlf with a faculty comprising sеasonеd profеssionals and statе-of-thе-art facilitiеs, fostеring an еnvironmеnt that sеamlеssly intеgratеs acadеmic rigor with thе pursuit of artistic еxcеllеncе.
Studеnts еnrollеd at this prеstigious institution not only rеfinе thеir tеchnical skills but also еngagе dееply in thе cultural and historical aspеcts of ballеt, еnriching thеir еducational еxpеriеncе at a lеvеl bеfitting a prеmiеr dancе acadеmy within thе acadеmic landscapе.
Joffrey Ballet
They were founded by Gerald Arpino and Robert Joffrey in 1956, in Chicago, Illinois. Joffrey Ballet is one of the leading dance companies all over the globe today. Furthermore, it has a diverse roster of artists representing more than 13 nations.
At Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, you get education and training for all ages, backgrounds, and levels. Its award-winning programming has gotten many praises from parents and gurus nationally.
Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB)
One of the most highly regarded and largest ballet companies in the US, PNB was founded in 1972, in Seattle, Washington. The company consists of almost fifty dancers and has more than 100 shows yearly. They specialize in mixed and full-length repertory ballets in Seattle at Marion Oliver McCaw and on tour.
PNB has toured around the world in:
- Australia
- Europe
- Hong Kong
- Taiwan
- Canada
- America
San Francisco Ballet
Founded in 1933 by William Christensen, Law Christensen and Harold Christensen, the San Francisco Ballet is now led by principal choreographer and director Helgi Tomasson. San Francisco's Ballet orchestra is as notorious as their alumnus, and it operates as one of the states' most prestigious ballet institutes. Many new choreographic talents are uncovered in this company, groundbreaking dances are performed, modern classics are staged, and the works make up classical ballet's standard. It claims to have some of the boldest dances in the United States.
Different Styles of Ballet Styles
Ballet, often regarded as the most elegant dance style, serves as the basis for several other dances. Different types of ballet have flourished since its introduction, accompanied by balance and posture that must be learned to perfection. If you are interested in learning ballet, some of the top ballet companies in the United States can help you achieve whatever goals you may have with the artform.
Ballet has a long history spanning decades and with years of innovation and aesthetic inspiration, there are now newer styles and methods taught by modern ballerinas. Remember, ballet is taught and practiced in four different types worldwide.
Classical Ballet
Classical ballet is among the initial versions of the genre, peaking in the nineteenth century in Russia and France. It is built on conventional language and skill, and its key distinguishing features are how coordinated and story-driven the ballets are with magical costumes and scenery. In addition, the emphasis is on symmetry in dancers, pointe work, and beautiful emotions.
Neoclassical Ballet Methods
Neoclassical ballet emerged from classical ballet, and its abstract nature sets it apart. The music of choice is also neoclassical, written by composers such as Stravinsky and Roussel. George Balanchine's 'Apollo' from 1928 is frequently cited among the first, if not the first, famous neoclassical ballets. It emphasizes agility and forceful motions with a risqué physicality.
Romantic Ballet Styles
Romantic ballet is characterized by drama, passion, and great storytelling. The style, which emerged in the nineteenth century, was distinguished by:
- Developing pointe work
- Long and flowing tutus to represent softness
- Female dancers' preponderance
- A peaceful atmosphere
This aesthetic is centered on imagined tensions between beauty and ugliness, good and evil, imagination and soul, and bodily realities. Many well-known romantic ballets feature spirits like sylphs, ghosts, and wilis.
Contemporary Ballet Styles
Contemporary ballet, which draws on classical ballet components while incorporating current jazz and other dance forms, emphasizes athleticism and faster tempos. Nevertheless, unlike neoclassical ballet, it incorporates acting and complicated narratives within the dance, alongside many floor movements and leg turn-ins.
Experimentation and inventiveness are two significant themes that compel the spectator to consider the beautiful lines of the human body. Therefore, with works like 'In the Middle,' it is assumed that William Forsythe was the key innovator in this type of ballet.
Technical Ballet Methods
Ballet has engaged numerous cultures and customs to grow throughout history, moving, altering, and evolving. As a result, many schools and approaches, with varying styles and qualities, are still taught worldwide. Some traditional ballet approaches include the following: Cecchetti, Balanchine, Vaganova, and Modern Codified Technique.
The Cecchetti Ballet Style
The Cecchetti method is one of the most important classical ballet training approaches. It is a rigorous program that imposes specified workout routines for every day of the week while taking anatomical laws into account. According to Gail Grant's "The Technical Manual and Directory of Classical Ballet," integrating practical steps into planned routines guarantees that every area of the body is treated evenly.
Every activity is performed with both the right and left sides, beginning with one side every week and progressing to the other the following week. And the adult dance classes near me are usually regulated and organized, not spontaneous or based on the teacher's mood. Finally, the Cecchetti technique teaches its dancers to consider ballet a science.
Learn Ballet with the Balanchine Style
The Balanchine Method is distinguished by high pace, deep pile, and a significant line emphasis. In addition, Balanchine ballet dancers must be highly flexible and fit. The approach includes several arm postures as well as distinct and dramatic choreography. The arm postures (commonly referred to as "Balanchine Arms") are more open, less curled, and frequently "broken" at the wrist.
Learn Ballet with the Vaganova Teaching Style
Agrippina Vaganova, a Russian ballet dancer, developed the Vaganova technique in the twentieth century. This approach is recognized globally as it brings together:
- The spiritual intensity of Russian ballet
- The traditional French style
- The dynamism of the Italian technique
- The characteristics of the Romantic era
Her 1948 book, Basic Principles of Russian Classical Dance, describes how pupils should be trained in the many technical aspects of their professions. The Vaganova approach emphasizes perfect ballet performance by highlighting both arms and legs in shows with endurance, strength, and flexibility.
Learn the Modern Codified Technique Style
French technique, which served as the foundation for all ballet forms, was founded in the 17th century by Louis XIV's Académie Royale de Danse. In the 1980s, Rudolf Nureyev revitalized the French school, developing ballet while keeping to the defined technique used today. The épaulement and port de bras are more rounded than the Vaganova style but less rounded than the Bournonville approach.
This approach is distinguished by technical accuracy, fluidity, gracefulness, technical accuracy, quick footwork, and elegant and tidy lines. Additionally, there are more methods to ballet than the four mentioned here. So if you want to learn more, sign up for a ballet tutor at Superprof to discover all the various types of ballet styles. Find reliable ballet dance lessons near me here on Superprof.
Find the Perfect Ballet Class for You
Now you have the list of the top ballet companies in the United States. You can check their programs and go for the one that best fits your requirements. However, if you want to learn ballet from the comfort of your home, check out Superprof's team of expert ballet tutors. Superprof has professional ballet instructors on board that give you the basics and help you ace the posture and fall more in love with this dancing style. Start today and get those ballerina shoes on!
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Good info! Love sfballet.❤️
Thank you for the feedback, April! I’m glad you enjoyed the article.
At 3yro, I enrolled my daughter in dance. She took jazz, tap and ballet. Through the years she enjoyed each style for its own elements.
I was never a dancer (I’m a klutz!)
I was a twirler!
I’m also a very eclectic person, so, as shuttled my daughter to lessons, recitals and to watch professional performances, I found myself being intrigued by the ballet. I would hear ballet music and in my head, I would see a dance being created….the moves that would go with the music.
I have become addicted to all facets of the ballet. Point shoes , the costumes, the music, the dancers. ALL of it.
⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐This article is wonderfull!
Thank you for the positive feedback, Sharon! We’re happy you enjoyed the article and are enjoying ballet with your daughter.