New Season Begins
Week 1 is complete. We welcomed new and returning dancers, and it was inspiring to see the studio full of energy again. Here’s to a great season ahead! Photo: Kelsey Paff Photography (c) 2025
ballet Tag
It’s Nutcracker Time! Auditions September 20–21
Everyone who auditions will be cast — make this season unforgettable!
It’s almost time for one of our most cherished traditions — The Nutcracker! We are thrilled to announce that auditions will be held on Saturday, September 20, and Sunday, September 21, 2025.
Every dancer enrolled in Creative Ballet I through Level 8 is eligible to audition, and every dancer who auditions will be cast in the production.
This is a unique opportunity for our students to:
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Perform on the Shubert Theatre stage in a beloved holiday classic
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Grow as artists under the guidance of our professional faculty
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Share in the excitement of a production that delights audiences year after year
We can’t wait to begin this season’s magical journey together!
Click Here for more about the Nutcracker
Where Little Feet Take Big Steps
At New Haven Ballet, we begin training with our gentle approach syllabus, designed to introduce our youngest dancers to the joys of music and movement. Classes are filled with laughter and held in spacious, sunny studios, guided by the region’s finest instructors.
Each Children’s Division class follows a carefully crafted syllabus that uses age-appropriate exercises and stretches to gently introduce students to classical dance and musical fundamentals. Over time, dancers build the skills and discipline needed to transition confidently into the graded curriculum.
Fall 2025 registration is open. Click Here to learn more.
Excellence in Ballet Education (Ages 8–19)
New Haven Ballet’s Student Division proudly offers developing dancers the highest caliber of classical ballet training in the region, including pointe, partnering, and repertory classes. This core training is enriched by a diverse range of workshops and classes — from classical and Neo-classical to contemporary, lyrical, and Broadway styles — along with carefully designed conditioning and stretch sessions to support strength and flexibility.
Click Here for a Closer Look at New Haven Ballet’s Student Division.
Contact us to schedule a placement class at administrator@newhavenballet.org or 203-782-9038.
Spring Performance
Don’t miss New Haven Ballet’s spring performances at the Shubert Theatre, 247 College Street, New Haven, on Saturday, May 24, at 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. Tickets start at $26 (plus a $4 Shubert restoration fee). The show’s running time is approximately 2 hours, including intermission. To purchase tickets, Click Here.
The performances will include:
Adventures in Wonderland featuring music by various composers and choreography by Artistic Director Lisa Kim Sanborn. We invite you to immerse yourself in this fully restaged, beloved children’s tale, showcasing all your favorite characters, including Alice, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, and the Queen of Hearts. Students from New Haven Ballet School perform this fantastic children’s ballet, which boasts professional, larger-than-life sets and stunning costumes. It reminds us that returning home is often the best part of experiencing exciting adventures. The performance premiered at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven on May 17, 2017.
La Bayadère, Kingdom of Shades, is a classical ballet that premiered in 1877 and remains a staple of the global classical ballet repertoire. Ludwig Minkus composed the music for the ballet, and the New Haven Ballet Company, a student company, will perform choreography inspired by Marius Petipa’s original work. This ballet features guest artist William Gutierrez as “Solor.”
Caprice Nos. 4 and 5 feature music composed by Polina Nazaykinskaya and are brilliantly performed by Nathaniel Strothkamp. This neo-classical ballet, choreographed by Artistic Director Lisa Kim Sanborn and presented by the New Haven Ballet Company, premiered at the Whitney Arts Center in New Haven in the spring of 2021.
Shared Ability, led by Kerry Kincy, will present a dance created by young artists with disabilities.
Audition Announced: New Haven Ballet Company
New Haven Ballet will hold auditions for classically trained ballet dancers ages 11 to 19 the 2025 Haven Ballet Company and perform in this season’s Spring Performances, including three ballets: Adventures in Wonderland, Caprice Nos. 4 and 5, and La Bayadère (The Kingdom of Shades). Auditions are open to New Haven Ballet students enrolled in Levels 5-8 for the Spring 2025 Semester. New dancers should call 203-782-9038 or email administrator@newhavenballet.org to schedule a placement class.
About New Haven Ballet Company: New Haven Ballet Company is a student company comprised of advanced-level dancers. Auditions for the Company will be held on Saturday, January 25. Dancers should have at least four years of serious classical training and matriculated to Levels 5 and above at New Haven Ballet School. The company gives young, capable dancers a pre-professional experience, which includes a rigorous dance training schedule, rehearsals several times per week, professional quality performances on stage, and master classes with topmost master teachers from all over the country.
Dancers should be between the ages of 11-21 years old. Pointe dancers wear solid black classical ballet cut leotards, pink or flesh-toned tights, and pointe shoes that match their tights. Non-pointe dancers wear a white T-shirt and black tights with matching black ballet shoes. Please arrive 15 minutes early to fill out registration paperwork and be measured for costumes.
There is no fee to audition for the Company. However, a performance fee covers rehearsal coaching, professional-quality costume rental, and performance privileges. Casting is competitive, but all students who audition will be cast in La Bayadère, Adventures in Wonderland, and/or Caprice Nos. 4 and 5.
About the Performances:
2025 New Haven Ballet Company dancers will perform at the Shubert Theatre New Haven on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Adventures in Wonderland, with music by various composers, choreography by Lisa Kim Sanborn, and performed by New Haven Ballet School students. We invite you to experience this fully restaged popular children’s story featuring all your favorite characters, including Alice, the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, and Queen of Hearts. This fantastic ballet features professional, larger-than-life sets and beautiful costumes. Wonderland reminds us that strength and happiness are defined by what we carry inside our hearts, and there is no more desirable place than home, sweet home. It premiered at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven on May 17, 2017.
La Bayadère, Kingdom of Shades, is a classical ballet initially performed in 1877. It is part of the classical repertoire of ballet companies worldwide, with music composed by Ludwig Minkus, choreography after Marius Petipa, and performed by the New Haven Ballet Company, consisting of advanced-level students.
Caprice Nos. 4 and 5, with music composed by Polina Nazaykinskaya, were gifted to the Artistic Director and New Haven Ballet during the pandemic. This neoclassical ballet with choreography by Lisa Kim Sanborn premiered at the Whitney Arts Center in New Haven in the Spring of 2021.
Photo: (c) Thomas Giroir Photography
Auditions for Adventures in Wonderland
Artistic Director Lisa Kim Sanborn has announced auditions for New Haven Ballet’s upcoming performances of Adventures in Wonderland and the New Haven Ballet Company.
Children ages 4 to 19 who are enrolled for the entire 2025 Spring Term in either the Children’s or Student Divisions may audition for roles in the performances, which will be presented at the Shubert Theatre New Haven on Saturday, May 25,
at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The Nutcracker Performs This Weekend
‘THE NUTCRACKER’ IS THIS WEEKEND!
New Haven Ballet is working at the theater to prepare everything for the show. We are excited to share a few photos from dress rehearsal. If you look closely, you can see some of the new sets we will be debuting on Friday. We hope you will join us in seeing the show!
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW
Tickets are going fast for New Haven Ballet’s The Nutcracker at The Shubert Theatre New Haven. The mezzanine is now open for the Saturday and Sunday shows.
Friday, December 13 @ 7 pm
Saturday, December 14 @ 1 pm and 5 pm
Sunday, December 15 @ 1 pm
Please note: to avoid the high fees charged by third-party ticket vendors, please buy directly from The Shubert.
Tickets start at $30 (plus a $5 Shubert Restoration Fee).
November Studio Update
We are working hard in the studio, perfecting choreography and preparing costumes for our upcoming Nutcracker performances.
We are sharing a few photos of our time in the studio with some Level 6-8 students rehearsing the Waltz of the Snowflakes and one of our Levels 1 and 2 classes. We applaud their hard work and hope you will consider joining us at the Shubert Theatre from December 13 to 15, 2024!
Thank you to everyone who made calls and donated to the Annual Appeal. If you still want to donate, there is still time to do so.
Annual Appeal
Dear Friends and Families,
With great enthusiasm, I thank you for being part of the New Haven Ballet community. The Ballet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides excellent dance training by a fantastic faculty, professional-quality performances, and incredible outreach opportunities, all aimed at nurturing the love of dance throughout Greater New Haven.
This year, we are enlisting the help of some wonderful volunteers to strengthen the ties within our community and assist with our Annual Appeal fundraising efforts. We hope you will speak with some of our volunteers to learn how New Haven Ballet impacts the various members of the community. We will be letting you know more soon.
Your inclusion in our family is invaluable. Your support through our fundraising efforts is vital; it’s the lifeblood of our organization. We can only provide exceptional programs with the funding we receive through donations because tuition and ticket sales do not cover our expenses.
Please help us spread the joy of dance throughout the community with our Annual Appeal through November 15th. For your convenience, New Haven Ballet now accepts payment through Venmo.
I am deeply grateful for your time, consideration, and, most importantly, your support. Because of your donations, we can continue to bring the joy of dance to Greater New Haven.
Yours sincerely,
Lisa Kim Sanborn, Artistic Director
Fall is Here!
New Haven Ballet extends a warm welcome and welcome back to new and veteran students. Classes have begun, and students are working hard. Training in the graded curriculum starts in Levels 1 and 2. Teachers provide excellent technical and artistic foundational work, stressing proper alignment and execution. Students in Levels 3 and 4 continue their technical development and acquire knowledge of ballet vocabulary. In Levels 5 and 6, we foster artistic and technical excellence. In Levels 7 and 8, our dancers build on their strong classical technique, clean lines, and artistry. We offer boys and girls the highest caliber of classical ballet training in the region, including pointe, partnering, and repertory.
Training is enhanced by diverse workshops and classes, incorporating classical, Neo-classical, contemporary, lyrical, Broadway, and carefully curated conditioning and stretch classes. Students who wish to pursue professional careers in dance may take advantage of fantastic performance opportunities, including a student company, to facilitate reaching their potential and making maximum progress while engaging in an immersive dance experience shared with others who are as passionate about dance as they are. Intermediate and advanced-level students have the added opportunity to work with incredible guest faculty throughout the year. This fall, we welcome New York City Ballet’s Ruby Lister and Savannah Durham and returning guest faculty member Alejandro Ulloa.
Nutcracker Auditions are open to all students enrolled for the fall semester in Creative Ballet I-Level 8 on September 21-22, 2024.
At New Haven Ballet, our commitment to continuous improvement is unwavering. We understand the importance of a holistic approach to education in our training program, and we strive to provide a nurturing environment for our students. We welcome new students. Please get in touch with us to schedule a placement class.
Photo: (c) 2024 Kelsey Paff Photography
