Portland Ballet was founded in 1980 as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization by Eugenia L. O'Brien, who serves as both Artistic and Executive Director. Portland Ballet's mission is to enrich the community through training, performance, education, and outreach in classical and contemporary ballet. We extend our thanks to the dancers, audience members, donors, corporations, and foundations that support the arts.

Portland School of Ballet trains dancers ages 3 and up (our oldest student is 70). PSB training emphasizes mastery of the pure fundamentals of ballet by teachers trained in the Cecchetti, Vaganova, and Royal schools. Familiarity with a variety of styles prepares our dancers for today's dance world. With a focus on self development in a collaborative atmosphere, PSB students are offered training for every level of personal commitment.

PSB teachers have years of performance and teaching experience to share with their students. In addition to their work at PSB, they are sought after in the community, whether offering core and flexibility training to the Cape Elizabeth Football Team, teaching Dance for Musical Theater at USM, or serving as guest instructors for summer dance programs around the nation.

Our nationally recognized CORPS program offers serious high school dancers the opportunity to train 3 hours each day at PSB while earning transcript credit in Health, Physical Education, and Fine Arts from their academic high school.

PSB is committed to engaging its dancers in the greater world of dance, and because of the excellent training found here, PSB is regularly selected as a national summer program audition site by prestigious schools such as Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Nutmeg Conservatory, and Boston Ballet. PSB students are regularly accepted for summer study at these renowned institutions, as well as others such as American Ballet Theater, San Francisco Ballet, National School of Canada, and Joffrey Ballet.

Students and faculty at Portland School of Ballet participate in many educational outreach programs, bringing the joy of dance to local schools, senior living facilities, and other community organizations.

Portland Ballet Company is a company of professional dancers performing throughout the year in Portland and New Hampshire. PBC presents highly regarded contemporary choreography as well as acclaimed performances of the classics. Portland Ballet starts its season in the fall with a Halloween inspired ballet. December heralds the holiday season and our celebrated production of The Victorian Nutcracker. Spring is an eclectic season, which may feature a story ballet, an evening of contemporary work, or a collaboration with another arts organization. In keeping with our commitment to educational outreach, PBC offers special low cost performances for school groups. Participating school groups receive an extensive Pre-Performance Educational Guide aligned with Maine's Learning Results.

This Company has developed repertoire with well known ballet figures such as Gabriela Komleva of the Kirov Ballet, and Anna Marie Holmes of the Boston Ballet. Isabelle Fokine (granddaughter of world famous Michael Fokine), Eleanor D'Antuono of ABT, Catherine Batcheller, former Stuttgart ballerina, renowned Bournonville specialist Kennet Oberly, and Andrei Bossov, formerly of the Kirov Ballet. Past resident choreographers Roxanne Rigoloso and Daielma Santos Decker, and current resident choreographer Nell Shipman, are responsible for much of PBC repertoire.

PBC is well known for its ability to collaborate successfully with other distinguished arts organizations, such as the Choral Art Society (Carmina Burana, Mozart's Requiem, The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore), the Portland Symphony Orchestra (L'Histoire du Soldat, Magic of Christmas), the Kotzschmar Organ (Halloween show), PORTopera, Bowdoin College (Les Noces and Triumph of Aphrodite), USM, Best of Broadway and Portland Ovations.