Mission & Vision
Indiana’s premier destination for professional dance instruction centrally located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis
The Indianapolis School of Ballet is Indiana’s premier destination for professional dance instruction—centrally located in the heart of downtown. We pride ourselves on our world-class training, dynamic performances, and excellent placement of our students in elite university dance programs and professional companies across the nation.
With the launch of Indianapolis Ballet in 2018, the presence of a professional resident ballet company returned to the Circle City for the first time in over a decade. Focusing on making extraordinary ballet and dance performances accessible to all, the company serves as a home to exceptional talent with local, national and international ties as well as an inspiration to the next generation of talented dancers growing up in Central Indiana.
Our History
The advent of Indianapolis Ballet in 2017 fulfilled the passionate dream of founding artistic director Victoria Lyras to reestablish a professional ballet company in Indianapolis, adding a vital component to the reputation of Indiana’s capital as one of America’s fastest growing artistic and cultural centers. The unveiling of the company in February 2018 in a sold-out weekend residency at The Toby at Newfields featured three stunning performances anchored by Lyras' The Firebird, and was enthusiastically received by audiences and critics.
After a successful short debut season in the spring of 2018, Indianapolis Ballet continued to develop by offering its first full artistic season of bold programming, presenting an all-Balanchine program, evenings of New Works, and Lyras' Carmen in Love is in the Air. Three sold-out productions of Swan Lake concluded the company’s 2018-2019 season, notching yet another milestone for this timeless art form in Indianapolis.
The critical reception by the press was most favorable:
"Swan Lake" shows Indianapolis Ballet fit for masterpieces.” - Jay Harvey Upstage
“Timeless "Swan Lake" captivates and enthralls.” - On the Aisle with Tom Alvarez
“Lyras' choreography (of Carmen) has all the earmarks of a masterwork.” - Rita Kohn, ExploreDance.com
Indianapolis Ballet features the talents artists who enrich the city’s dynamic artistic scene with each and every performance. They reside in the Indianapolis area, building a life in our community. Major productions are augmented by advanced dancers from the Professional Level Program of Indianapolis School of Ballet.
The company continues to grow – not only by four new dancers, but by fourteen new ballets, performed in the first half of this season alone. Indianapolis Ballet already has more than forty ballets in its repertoire, including world premieres of Victoria Lyras' The Firebird, Carmen, Éclat, Caprice and Variations, and Totentanz. Partnerships and collaborations include Newfields, Old National Centre's Murat Theatre, Indiana Landmarks, District Theatre, Indianapolis Central Library, Penrod Arts Fair, Indianapolis Artsgarden, Public Libraries of Central Indiana, Dance Kaleidoscope, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, and the Indianapolis Ballet Orchestra.
Indianapolis Ballet is one of only a handful of professional companies in the United States championing the technique and creations of Balanchine. Performing works by “the father of American ballet” requires permission by The George Balanchine Trust to stage choreography, and only with approved repetiteurs. Indianapolis Ballet has been entrusted with a large repertoire of Balanchine's masterworks, providing the exceptional opportunity to present these magnificent, iconic ballets to Central Indiana audiences.
Mission
Indianapolis Ballet embraces the history and future of classical ballet through dynamic performances, visionary new works, extraordinary training, and by providing transformative community outreach programs to the widest possible audiences. Indianapolis Ballet (IB) and the Indianapolis School of Ballet (ISB) believe in a culturally diverse environment and the physical, intellectual, emotional, and artistic growth of all dancers.
Vision
Indianapolis Ballet, Inc. aims to keep in step with the advancement of American dance in the 21st century. Victoria Lyras, Artistic Director and Founder of both Indianapolis Ballet and the Indianapolis School of Ballet, envisions:
placing particular emphasis on a structured ballet curriculum based on a fusion of training approaches that typifies the dynamic physicality of American classicism;
creating a vital teaching/learning environment through meticulous, concentrated instruction in classical ballet technique and exposure to other appropriate dance forms; and,
providing Central Indiana with world-class performances that are accessible to all, enrich the audience and further ingrain this timeless art form in our community
DEI Statement
Indianapolis Ballet is committed to achieving its mission by creating a diverse, accessible, and accepting climate throughout the organization. All are welcome at Indianapolis Ballet regardless of race, gender, age, socioeconomic status, geography (local, international, urban, and rural), sexual orientation, and special needs.