At New Classics Ballet Theatre, we believe the next
great ballet stories are yet to be told.
At New Classics Ballet Theatre, we believe the next great ballet stories are yet to be told. We create new classics: original, full-length story ballets that honor the beauty of classical ballet and classical music while inviting audiences into fresh, imaginative worlds. Working with accomplished dancers alongside musicians and composers, we develop new classical works that are whimsical, family-friendly, relevant to today’s world, and more accessible to both dancers and audiences.
Rooted in Southern California’s vibrant arts community, we collaborate with artists across the region to reimagine what classical ballet looks like in our community. Through performances, regional tours, school partnerships, and a commitment to inclusion and body positivity, we prove that ballet is not a relic of the past, but a living art form ready to capture hearts in fresh ways.
New Classics Ballet Theatre was founded by four UC Irvine graduates: Katie, Lauren, Gabriella, and Sterling.
We all grew up immersed in classical ballet and fell in love with its beauty, discipline, and structure. The technique, the musicality, and the history of ballet are things we deeply respect and continue to value in our work.
As we spent more time in the ballet world, though, we started noticing a disconnect. Classical ballets like Swan Lake and Giselle are timeless, but audiences are slowly disengaging because they are often presented in the same way, year after year. Even people who love ballet can feel like they are watching the same stories repeated without much room for growth or reflection of the world we live in now. Ballet begins to feel distant, frozen in time, rather than alive.
At the same time, ballet has become increasingly competitive. Dancers are often valued more for technical tricks than for their ability to tell a story or create an emotional connection. From a young age, many students are taught that their worth depends on perfection, extreme physical standards, or fitting a very narrow idea of what a ballerina should look like. The joy of dancing and the artistry that once defined ballet can easily get lost. Dancers become incredible athletes, but sometimes at the cost of their individuality and emotional expression.
We knew there had to be another path.
New Classics Ballet Theatre was created to honor the discipline and technique of classical ballet while allowing it to evolve. We believe technique should support storytelling, not overshadow it. Ballet should be joyful, inclusive, and focused on artistry rather than comparison. We reject the idea that dancers must fit one body type to be worthy of the stage. What matters most is the ability to communicate something meaningful through movement.
We also believe the stories ballet tells need to feel relevant to today’s audiences. While we respect traditional ballets, we want to create new work that reflects modern experiences, emotions, and perspectives. By bringing fresh stories to the stage while staying rooted in classical technique, our goal is to re-engage audiences and remind them why ballet has the power to move people, connect communities, and remain a living, evolving art form.