Mission

Founded in 1937 by Josephine Schwarz, Dayton Ballet is the second-oldest professional dance company in the United States and holds a unique historical place in the nation and in the Miami Valley. Performing in the state-of-the-art Schuster Center and the historic Victoria Theatre, Dayton Ballet is known as the company of premieres. Throughout the last decade, Dayton Ballet has been one of the top three dance companies in the nation in the production and presentation of new work. Under the leadership of Director, Dermot Burke, Dayton Ballet has 19 professional dancers. Committed to its mission to educate, enlighten and entertain, Dayton Ballet presents new works and traditional American dance classics as well as remaining devoted to its youth education and community outreach programs, including the Dayton Ballet School.