Ballet America was founded in 2003 as the exclusive performing entity for the Academy of American Ballet. Since its inception, Ballet America has performed to sold-out audiences at Fox Theatre. Ballet America's Nutcracker cast includes approximately one hundred dancers who are students of the Academy of American Ballet. Each June, about fifteen dancers are selected by audition to become Ballet America Junior Company members, the majority of these dancers are high school students, and are on a professional ballet track of training. Several Company members have received acceptance to major dance company’s summer intensives such as Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. 

Ballet America’s Junior Company mission
To foster professionalism, self-esteem, and excellence in young dancers while pursuing goals that enrich the lives of our community. Ballet America promotes and nurtures local talent by performing repertoire that specifically appeals to families, and that positively influences the community. We believe that dance is an art form with the capacity to enliven beauty in others.


Ballet America’s Junior Company purpose:
• To provide rigorous training to those students who have demonstrated the drive and focus to excel. This includes more class work with more emphasis on proficiency, more opportunities to perform, and direct mentorship by teachers and the Director.
• To foster a healthy community among dancers where self-development and awareness of one’s larger community are held paramount. This will include building skills that prepare a student for employment opportunities, community performances to serve those in need, and team building through programs like Ballet America’s Little Sister/Big Sister program where dancers are paired with one another to help develop leadership skills and to ease the transition into the company for new dancers.