The mission of The Washington Ballet is:

• to bring the joy and artistry of dance to the nation’s capital and the world’s stage through the professional presentation of the best in classic and contemporary ballet
• to provide the highest caliber of dance training through a preeminent school of ballet
• to serve and involve the entire community through extensive dance education and community engagement programs.

To bring the joy and artistry of dance to the nation’s capital

The Washington Ballet’s professional company consists of world-class dancers forming an ensemble core with apprentices. Together they perform a wide variety of works from the classical choreography of Marius Petipa and George Balanchine to contemporary pieces by Christopher Wheeldon, Jiří Kylián, Hans van Manen, Twyla Tharp, and Mark Morris to new creations by Alexei Ratmansky and Justin Peck. Every year the professional and studio companies bring productions of the highest caliber to stages throughout the national capital area including Harman Center for the Arts at the Sidney Harman Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Warner Theatre, and Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC).

To provide the highest caliber of dance training

Co-founded in 1944 by the late Mary Day and Lisa Gardiner, The Washington School of Ballet (TWSB) is recognized nationally and internationally for its classical training and dedication to excellence in dance and dance education. The school trains more than 900 students each year at its Northwest Campus studios on Wisconsin Avenue, 350 students at its Southeast Campus housed at The Town Hall Education, Arts and Recreation Center (THEARC) also known as TWSB SE, and an additional 1600 students through it’s Open Classes for Adults.

To serve and involve the entire community

The Washington Ballet values the community in which it resides and endeavors to serve the region through extensive education, audience enrichment and engagement programs. TWB has a special focus on influencing the lives of children through its signature in-school program DanceDC, which serves young people across the District of Columbia. TWB also maintains a scholarship program for talented and dedicated dancers identified through DanceDC. The DanceDC Merit Scholarship allows DC youth the opportunity to study dance at The Washington School of Ballet at either the NW campus or SE campus.

The Washington School of Ballet also provides adult ballet classes at the NW and SE campuses (Adult Classes).