Portland Ballet

Portland Ballet is a nonprofit professional ballet company founded in 1980 that serves as Maine's professional ballet company. Under the artistic direction of Nell Shipman, the organization presents classical, neoclassical, and contemporary ballet works while operating Portland School of Ballet, described as home to the leading classical training in Maine. The organization employs dozens of professional dancers from around the country and internationally, and engages thousands through performances, education, and community outreach programs.

Portland Ballet is located at 517 Forest Ave Suite 2, Portland, ME 04101. The studios are accessible by street parking on Forest Ave and nearby side streets, a designated parking lot on Ashmont Street, and Metro Bus Lines 2 and 4.

Portland Ballet offers professional ballet performances presenting classical, neoclassical, and contemporary works. The affiliated Portland School of Ballet provides ballet education through Young Dancer Division, Junior Division, Senior Division, Community Division, Pre-Professional Division, open classes for teens and adults, and summer intensive programs. The organization also provides community outreach performances reaching over 1,500 local students and residents of retirement communities and disability support homes annually, and collaborates with other local arts institutions.

Anyone interested in ballet can use the organization's services. Students ages 3 and up can enroll in age-appropriate divisions at Portland School of Ballet. Adults and teenagers can take open classes for learning ballet, improving technique, or dancing for fun and fitness. Audiences can attend professional ballet performances. The Pre-Professional Division requires an audition and at least one year of pointe training.

Portland Ballet caters to ages 3 through adult across all experience levels. Creative Movement serves ages 3-4, Pre-Ballet 1 for age 5, Junior Division for ages 7 and up, Senior Division for ages 11 and up, and open classes for ages 13 and up through adult. Programs range from beginner levels through pre-professional training, with the Pre-Professional Division requiring at least one year of pointe training and acceptance through audition.

The Pre-Professional Division dancers perform in A Victorian Nutcracker and may be selected to participate in other professional Portland Ballet productions. Pre-Professional Division dancers also participate in Portland School of Ballet shows including Building Ballets and Year End Showcase, and have opportunities to participate in community outreach performances. The organization attracts professional dancers from around the country and internationally to perform with the professional company.

Portland School of Ballet provides classical ballet training. The curriculum includes ballet technique, pointe and pre-pointe work, character dance, contemporary, jazz, modern, music, and repertoire lessons depending on division level. Pre-Professional Division schedules may include variations, men's class, and adjunct classes such as Pilates and PBT. Creative Movement focuses on gross motor skills, creative expression, and studio behavior, while Pre-Ballet 1 emphasizes posture, coordination, musicality, and age-appropriate stretching and strengthening.

Portland Ballet presents professional ballet performances including classical and neo-classical story ballets as well as contemporary works. Productions include A Victorian Nutcracker and other professional company performances. Portland School of Ballet presents student performances including Building Ballets and the Year End Showcase. The organization provides community outreach performances reaching over 1,500 local students and residents annually.

Contact Portland Ballet by phone at 207.772.9671, by email at redacted@example.com or redacted@example.com, or visit the studios at 517 Forest Ave Suite 2, Portland, ME 04101. For performance tickets, contact PortTIX at 207-842-0800, visit porttix.com, or visit the box office at 400 Congress St Suite A, Portland ME 04101.