Mission and History
Maine State Ballet is a dance school and ballet company whose mission is to uplift the Maine community through inspiring dance education and performance. The dance studio was established ca. 1920 and offers year-round dance classes in classical ballet, jazz, tap, and musical theater. Advanced ballet students have the unique opportunity to be trained in the Balanchine Technique® and Balanchine Style®. Maine State Ballet alumni have gone on to the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theater, National Ballet of Canada, Miami City Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theater, Boston Ballet, Radio City Music Hall, Broadway, and film.
The Maine State Ballet Company, established in 1986, is one of Maine's leading professional dance companies. With dozens of ballets in its repertoire, it offers an annual season of 40 performances to over 10,000 patrons at its in-house Lopez Theater, and at its annual Nutcracker performance at Portland's Merrill Auditorium.
In 2004, the school and ballet company merged to become a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization under the name Maine State Ballet.