Ballet Hartford to Celebrate 10th Anniversary with Dynamic Performance Calendar

Ballet Hartford’s 2026-2027 season is one of celebration, a milestone year brimming with an attractive array of performances in Hartford and beyond as the ballet company marks 10 years of exceptional quality and steady growth.

The year’s performances will include the family-friendly tale of “Peter and the Wolf”, the return of the new holiday classic “A Ceremony of Carols”, “The Nutcracker", "Valentine's Day: New Works" and the official premiere of the Baroque ballet “Ode for St. Cecilia". Additionally, Ballet Hartford will launch exciting programs and featured classes during the year.

Among the noteworthy highlights in the coming months:

• Ballet Hartford will celebrate 10 years with 10 master teachers throughout the season. These classes will be open to the intermediate/advanced dancers in the community. Teachers will be announced through social media and listed on the Open Class page of the Ballet Hartford website, https://www.ballethartford.com/open-class

• Ballet Hartford will be offering a special Peter and Wolf program through Hartford Performs, a nonprofit organization that infuses and integrates arts and cultural experiences into teaching and learning.Ballet Hartford’s dancers are looking forward to sharing this classic with students attending the Hartford public schools.

• Ballet Hartford is launching a new Ballet Society membership. For those who love ballet, history, art culture and refinement, the Ballet Society will quickly become a new favorite membership. Created to build community for the balletomane (ballet enthusiast), this new membership offers a deeply passionate and educational experience, including multiple lectures /discussions, and in-studio rehearsal viewings.

• Celebrating 10 years at the A Ceremony of Carols performance on December 5, with a special anniversary cake reception after the show for the audience to enjoy.

• Ballet Hartford will also continue to share the beauty of outstanding professional ballet in and outside of Hartford and the region. In the year ahead, there will be performances in New York City and Philadelphia, bringing the best of Hartford to new audiences.

“Ballet Hartford’s 2026-2027 season is one of celebration. Through rich and diverse programming, we are celebrating Ballet Hartford’s 10 years of unique excellence and steady growth,” said Ballet Hartford Artistic Director Claire Kretzschmar. “Come see the family-friendly tale of “Peter and the Wolf”, the return of the holiday classic “A Ceremony of Carols”, and the official premiere of the Baroque ballet “Ode for St. Cecilia”.”

“As our audiences have experienced from the past, our exceptional dancers and performances draw people in and inspire. We hope to continue this legacy in our celebration of 10 years.”
Ballet Hartford is also beginning the second year of Encore, a campaign to support continued excellence at Ballet Hartford. Donations to Ballet Hartford's Encore campaign will help to close the gap between the revenue that ticket sales provide and the total cost of pursuing artistic excellence, provide access to quality costumes and props, offer dancers a pointe shoe stipend, and support operational costs and job growth.Donations made to the Encore campaign this month – prior to September 4 – will be matched as part of a generous $25K donation.For more information visit www.ballethartford.com/encorecampaign

"The School of Ballet Hartford begins its seventh year this Fall. Each season has brought phenomenal growth from the development of our programs to the individual advancement of our students. From our exuberant three-year-olds to our faithful adult dancers, each class rings true with the joyful ethos and hard work representative of Ballet Hartford," said Ballet Hartford's Executive Director, Leyna Doran.

This August marks the return of Ballet Hartford’s popular Awakening Festival to Hartford’s Bushnell Park for its fifth year, with a free performance on Saturday evening, August 29. Hartford's choreographic incubator is open to dancers and artists of all levels and backgrounds. Held at the studios of the 224 EcoSpace and Connecticut Concert Ballet, participants take daily classes (rotating between ballet, modern, contemporary) and work with featured choreographers throughout the two weeks, August 17-29.The performance promises to again be an enjoyable evening of artistry, bringing people from throughout the region together to enjoy stellar dance.

See the full performance calendar for 2026-27 on the Ballet Hartford website. All season tickets and show information can be found at www.ballethartford.com/season