Company Spotlight
The Washington Ballet
The Washington Ballet is the flagship professional company in the nation's capital, and it grew out of the long-running Washington School of Ballet. These days it balances big classical story ballets with newer contemporary work. Its homegrown Nutcracker, set in historic Washington with a Georgetown twist, is a local institution.
Fast facts
- Founded
- 1976
- Based in
- Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- Style
- Classical and contemporary
- Home venue
- John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
What The Washington Ballet is known for
- A distinctly D.C. version of The Nutcracker
- Full-length classical story ballets
- The Washington School of Ballet pipeline
- Mainstage runs at the Kennedy Center
Notable figures
Over its history, The Washington Ballet has been shaped by dancers and choreographers including Mary Day.
How to see The Washington Ballet
Catch their mainstage season at the Kennedy Center and the Warner Theatre downtown, with community programming out at THEARC in Southeast D.C.
Ballets in the repertoire
Classic ballets you may catch The Washington Ballet perform include The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, Coppélia.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does The Washington Ballet perform?
Most mainstage productions happen at the Kennedy Center and the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., with additional programming at THEARC.
Is the company connected to a ballet school?
Yes. The Washington Ballet is tied to the Washington School of Ballet, which actually predates the professional company and still feeds dancers into it.
When was The Washington Ballet founded?
The Washington Ballet was founded in 1976 and is based in Washington, United States.
Where is The Washington Ballet based?
The Washington Ballet is based in Washington, United States, and performs at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Who are some notable dancers associated with The Washington Ballet?
Notable figures connected with The Washington Ballet include Mary Day.