New Orleans Ballet Theatre is a ballet company founded in 2002 by Gregory Schramel and Marjorie Hardwick Schramel, who serve as Artistic and Associate Artistic Directors. The company presents classical and contemporary ballet works in New Orleans and identifies itself as a resident ballet company serving the Gulf South region. Its stated mission is to provide concert dance and dance education to New Orleans residents across all ages and backgrounds.
The company’s repertoire includes full-length story ballets and contemporary works. Recent productions have included The Nutcracker, Dracula, Prodigal Son, and Cinderella, with performances taking place at venues such as The Orpheum Theater and outdoor locations including the University of New Orleans Amphitheater. Gregory Schramel has choreographed works for the company, including Cinderella and Evanesce, the latter created with Marjorie Schramel.
New Orleans Ballet Theatre operates Schramel Conservatory of Dance, which offers year-round classes in ballet, contemporary, yoga, and pilates for children and adults. Youth classes are organized by level and age group on a semester basis, while adult classes operate on a drop-in basis at all levels. The school holds an annual spring concert for students.