Our History

In 1982, Nederland Dans Theatre Co-Founder Benjamin Harkarvy was appointed artistic director of what was then Pennsylvania Ballet. With strong European roots, Mr. Harkarvy expanded Pennsylvania Ballet’s repertoire by introducing European contemporary choreography. Constantly pushing the boundaries and redefining standards, he knew how to draw people’s attention, taking risks on young new choreographers.

After a year of European influence, the company returned to its Balanchine roots by appointing Robert Weiss, a former principal dancer with New York City Ballet, as artistic director. During his eight-year tenure with the company, Mr. Weiss kept “Mr. B” alive by incorporating numerous Balanchine works into the company’s repertoire. In 1987, the million-dollar holiday production of The Nutcracker was unveiled, including Balanchine’s first act. From 1987 to 1989, the then Pennsylvania Ballet forged an alliance with Milwaukee Ballet in an unprecedented venture to create one company. The new organization, with 42 dancers and a greatly expanded repertoire, was the first in the country to offer its dancers year-round employment.

Despite Robert Weiss’s brilliant artistic direction, the company faced severe financial hardships, and, in 1990, the board hired Christopher d’Amboise as artistic director with the hope he would be able to walk the company back from the brink. In March 1991, the community responded, and a volunteer group composed of dancers, musicians, theater staff, and others started a grassroots campaign called “Save The Ballet”. By the end of the month, the campaign had raised over a million dollars in donations.

With the appointment Roy Kaiser as artistic director, it marked the beginning of a new era for the company. A former company member, hired by Barbara Weisberger in 1979, Mr. Kaiser rose through the ranks from corps de ballet to soloist to principal. Following his retirement from the stage in 1992, he first served as principal ballet master and associate artistic director under Christopher d’Amboise, before being appointed artistic director in 1995. Under Mr. Kaiser’s leadership, the company expanded its Balanchine-based repertoire to include bold, new works from established and emerging choreographers. Those works included premieres of original ballets from choreographers such as Merce Cunningham, Christopher d’Amboise, Trey McIntyre, Matthew Neenan, David Parsons, Val Caniparoli, Benjamin Millepied, and Christopher Wheeldon.

In August 2005, the company made its international debut at the Edinburgh International Festival with its highly acclaimed 40th anniversary commission of Swan Lake by Christopher Wheeldon. In April 2014, after 19 years as artistic director, Mr. Kaiser announced his plans to step down. In July of 2014, the Board of Trustees appointed Angel Corella, widely regarded as one of the finest dancers of his generation, as the company’s next artistic director. Mr. Corella began his tenure with the then Pennsylvania Ballet in August of that year and has brought to Philadelphia a new level of passion and energy. He has continued to honor the Balanchine tradition, while introducing a host of progressive works and diversifying the range of repertoire performed. In 2021, under Mr. Corella’s leadership, the company unveiled a new identity, renaming Pennsylvania Ballet to Philadelphia Ballet. More than just a name, this new brand was born from deep reflections on the company’s values, purpose, and goals. The new identity set the stage for a bold and innovative future.

Over the years, Philadelphia Ballet has continued to broaden its reach through creative programming initiatives such as the Delphi Project, Dance Chance, and a host of other community engagement programs, which serve over 11,000 young students each year. In 2002, PBII, the Joyce and Herbert Kean Trainee Program, was created as a pre-professional training company that also serves as the organization’s community ambassadors, performing outreach and educational activities in area schools.

In 2010, company dancers performed in Darren Aronofsky’s Academy Award-nominated film, Black Swan. And, in 2012, The School of Pennsylvania Ballet was re-established, later renamed The School of Philadelphia Ballet in 2021.

Philadelphia Ballet annually presents a season of six programs, including George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, at the Academy of Music and the Perelman Theatre. The company balances classic ballets with bold new works that challenge the dancers and attract a diverse audience. The company also tours throughout Pennsylvania and the east coast to venues such as New York City Center and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.