Dayton Ballet, one of the oldest and finest professional dance companies in the United States, takes pride in celebrating its 71th anniversary this Season.

Dayton Ballet had its beginning when Josephine Schwarz and her sister Hermene opened The Schwarz School of Dance in 1927. "Miss Jo" later studied at the School of American Ballet, but was forced to return home to Dayton after receiving an injury while performing in New York. In May 1938, Miss Jo and Miss Hermene gathered together the school's finest dancers, named the troupe "The Experimental Group for Young Dancers," and staged a performance at the Dayton Arts Institute. This was the first performance of what is now Dayton Ballet.

Dayton Ballet is the second oldest regional ballet company in the United States and is known internationally as the "Company of Premieres." One of the top three dance companies in the nation that produces and presents new work, and the only dance company to establish a fund designated specifically to create a new full-length 21st Century ballet every two years, Dayton Ballet's mission is "�to educate, enlighten and entertain the widest audience possible�with the very best in performance, outreach and community service."

Dayton Ballet hosts a season of five performances that includes familiar traditional ballets, the classic family-friendly holiday staple The Nutcracker, as well as new and innovative works. Our "home" is the historical 1,139 seat Victoria Theatre and the state-of-the-art Schuster Center, which accommodates 2,300 patrons. Over 40 performances are presented at both venues throughout the season. While performances are Dayton

Ballet's most high-profile events, it is our commitment to dance education, training and outreach that remains at the core of our existence and allows us to develop future audiences. Each year we reach over 50,000 elementary, middle, and secondary school students within a 12-county radius through our Young Audience Program, Dayton Ballet School, Dayton Ballet II pre-professional training and performing company, and our association with the local Muse Machine. Our Non-Profit Partners Program allows us to work with community agencies assisting special populations to distribute nearly 1,000 tickets to youth at risk, senior citizens, handicapped or terminally ill individuals and military families to share the joy of a ballet performance. Numerous adults enjoy Pre-performance Lectures and Encore! post-performance discussions with Dayton Ballet dancers, choreographers, or other artists.

Operating under the leadership of Director Dermot Burke, Dayton Ballet has an artistic, educational, technical and administrative staff of 32 full-time and 17 part-time employees. Mr. Burke is supported by the Dayton Ballet Association Board of Trustees, comprised of the Dayton area's most dedicated business leaders and community volunteers. This active 30-member Board of Trustees hosts several fundraising activities, including the annual Nutcracker Ball. In 2005 an Associate Board was established to introduce young professionals to the art of ballet. At this time, Dayton Ballet is the only performing arts organization in Dayton to create an Associate Board and initiate a Young Professionals Club, Ballet Barre.

Now, as Dayton Ballet moves into its 72nd year, Miss Jo's vision lives on through Dayton Ballet's many programs. Her devotion to artistic excellence, arts education and the love of dance is incorporated into each and every performance.