The Los Angeles Ballet performance of Melissa Barak’s Wavelength.
Photo: Cheryl Mann
LOS ANGELES, CA (LA ELEMENTS) 9/7/2026 – Los Angeles Ballet (LAB) has announced their much anticipated 2026-2027 season. With 10 works in all, this marks LAB’s biggest programmatic season to date. LAB holds the distinction of being the longest-operating professional classical ballet company in the history of Los Angeles.
This season will open with a milestone special engagement with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. Performances include original work by Artistic Director Melissa Barek, a return to BroadStage in Santa Monica with a triple bill celebrating American choreographers, 17 performances of LAB’s original production of The Nutcracker at Royce Hall and Dolby Theatre, a continuation of its residency at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in January 2026 with returning choreographers Christopher Wheeldon and Mia Cong, and a long-awaited Company premiere of the feel-good story book ballet, Coppélia.
SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT
LOS ANGELES BALLET AT THE BOWL
Hollywood Bowl
September 8,2026
Los Angeles Ballet makes its Hollywood Bowl debut with the LA Philharmonic in a night of Mexican and American gems for orchestra and ballet as part of the Classical Tuesday & Thursdays of the LA Phil’s Hollywood Bowl 2026 summer season.
Artistic Director Melissa Barak choreographs a new ballet set to Gabriela Ortiz’s Kauyumari, a spiritual and celebratory piece about music’s power to heal, transform and expose the intangible. Included in the program is George Balanchine’s jazzy choreography, described as “tap dance on pointe,” from the 1970 ballet of Gershwin songs, Who Cares?
Grammy-winning conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto leads the orchestra in rustic, riveting music inspired by the American West and Mexico’s landscapes. Copland’s symphonic story Rodeo pits a local cowgirl against visiting city girls, Moncayo’s Huapango elicits joy through lively Mexican folk rhythms, and Revueltas’ Janitzio kicks off the night with a musical postcard from Lake Pátzcuaro.
Kauyumari
Choreography – Melissa Barak
Music – Kauyamari – Gabriela Ortiz
Who Cares?
Choreography – George Balanchine
Music – from the 1970 ballet of Gershwin songs – George Gershwin
Music inspired by the American West and Mexico’s landscapes
Silvestre Revueltas – Janitzio
Aaron Copland – Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo
José Pablo Moncayo – Huapango
FALL
AMERICAN ICONS
BroadStage
September 24 – 26, 2026
In honor of America at 250, American Icons celebrates legendary innovators in American dance and music. The program opens with an encore of Artistic Director Melissa Barak’s wildly successful original work Wavelength with musical score by American composer, David Lawrence. LAB costume director Chloée O’Hayon-Crosby, partnered with luxury fashion house ETRO, to create the visually striking costumes for this production.
Included in the program are two legendary American dance creators, Jerome Robbins and Paul Taylor.
Robbins’ The Cage takes the audience into an intense scene where a tribe of female insects prey on the male counterparts that enter their habitat. Premiering in 1951, The Cage stands til this day as a revolutionary work both in invention and abstract storytelling, Paul Taylor’s Dilly Dilly is also a masterclass in abstract storytelling where its cast of 11 dancers playfully frolic and romp to the famous tunes of American folk singer, Burl Ives.
The Cage
Choreography – Jerome Robbins
Music – Concerto in D for String Orchestra – Igor Stravinsky
Dilly Dilly
Choreography – Paul Tylor
Music – A medley of folk songs – Burl Ives
Wavelength
Choreography – Melissa Barak
Music – David Lawrence
The Nutcracker
Photo: Cheryl Mann
HOLIDAY
The Nutcracker
Royce Hall at UCLA, December 11-13, 2026
Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, December 18-27, 2026
Choreography – Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary
Music – Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker is an annual favorite in LA for family and friends, and for visitors from around the world. Journey with young Clara and her beloved Nutcracker as they battle the Mouse King, encounter dancing Snowflakes and travel to the Palace of the Dolls. Los Angeles Ballet stays true to the traditions of the holiday story with tastes of Southern California such as an elegant Spanish – style Hancock Park home, calla lilies, bougainvillea, California poppies, the snowy forests of Big Bear, Venice Beach archways and a moonlit Pacific Ocean. The Nutcracker opens at Royce Hall at UCLA and culminates through the holidays at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, including a performance on Christmas Eve. Performances at Dolby Theatre feature Tchaikovsky’s iconic score performed live by the Los Angeles Ballet Orchestra and conducted by Maestro Gavriel Heine.
The Nutcracker Sensory Friendly Performance
December 26 at 2:00 pm
Dolby Theatre
This performance is specially adapted to create a more comfortable and accessible environment for individuals with autism, sensory sensitivities, or other cognitive or social challenges, as well as their families. In partnership with the Autism Society Los Angeles Chapter.
Nutcracker Tea
The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills
November 21 & 22, 2026
LAB’s signature holiday fundraiser features a delightful tea party experience for guests of all ages, culminating in a special presentation of characters and scenes from LAB/s beloved production of The Nutcracker. The event features High Tea sweets and savories, a Nutcracker-themed craft, interactive photo opps and a special excerpted ballet performance. Children are invited to dance with Clara and her doll friends as they come to life. Nutcracker Tea provides vital support for LAB initiatives such as its Outreach and Education Programs.
WINTER
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
The Wallis
February 4-6, 2027
Movers and Shakers, a mixed rep program, invites you into the imagination of some of today’s most gifted dancemakers. Polyphonia is the ballet that put a very young Christopher Wheeldon officially on the map. Set to music by Hungarian composer György Ligeti, Wheeldon captures the music’s arresting qualities with a physical intensity of movement he has become known and admired for. Ma Cong’s Carry Me Anew offers a sensual and funky display of vigorous movement in motion. A highly anticipated world premiere by Maté Szentes rounds out the program, signaling Los Angeles Ballet’s mission of identifying and promoting fresh new voices in today’s choreographic scene. Movers and Shakers notably shows us where ballet is today, but where it is headed.
Polyphonia
Choreography – Christopher Wheldon
Music – 10 pieces of music – György Ligeti
Carry Me Anew
Choreography – Ma Cong
Music – TBA
SUMMER
COPPÉLIA
Dolby Theatre
June 10-13, 2027
One of the true jewels of the classical repertoire, Coppélia sparkles with humor, romance and dazzling virtuosity.
Set to Léo Delibes’s radiant score, this beloved ballet follows Swanilda, a spirited young woman determined to uncover the mystery behind Dr. Coppélius and his astonishingly lifelike doll. What begins as harmless curiosity quickly unfolds into a whirlwind of mistaken identities, playful mischief and comic chaos.
Busting with vibrant character dances, exquisite classical technique and richly theatrical storytelling, Coppélia has charmed audiences for generations with its warmth, wit and irresistible spirit. Beneath the comedy lies a heartfelt celebration of imagination, love and the joy of being human. Perfect for audiences of all ages, this timeless classic remains one of ballet’s most delightful and enduring treasures-an exuberant experience filled with elegance, laughter and pure theatrical magic.
All performances feature the Los Angeles Ballet Orchestra conducted by Maestro Gavriel Heine.
Coppélia
Choreography – Arthur Saint-Léon
Music – Léo Delibes
Los Angeles Ballet
Photo: Cheryl Mann
Outreach and Education
The Los Angeles Ballet is deeply involved in philanthropy, especially initiatives benefiting Angelenos of all ages.
A Chance to Dance (ACTD) LAB opens its doors to all ages and skill levels in the Los Angeles community each month for a day of free ballet classes, alternative dance/fitness classes and lectures and demonstrations.
A Chance to Dance continues its partnership with McKinley School in Compton through a series of 6-week
residencies in September/October 2025 and February/March 2026. These residencies serve students ranging from K-5th grades.
Power of Performances (POP) provides free access to LAB Performances each season to community organizations throughout Los Angeles County such as Hope Street Family Center (Dignity Health), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, VetTix, WISE and Healthy Aging, Lula Washington Dance Theatre, and more. To date, POP! has provided over 50 community partners with nearly 200,000 free performance tickets.
Subscription and Single Tickets
Season subscription series Opening Night, Fouetté Fridays, Saturday Nights and Matinees and Choose Your Own subscriptions are available. Subscriptions range in price from $69 to $346.
Performances with Live Orchestra Tickets: $45.00-$165.00
Discounts are available on standard ticket prices for students, seniors, educators, first responders, veterans and active duty members. Special Group Rates also available.
Box Office Phone: 310-998-7782, Mon-Fri, 12pm-5pm;
email tickets@losangelesballet.
Please visit the Los Angeles Ballet website for more ticket information.
About Los Angeles Ballet
Los Angeles Ballet (LAB) is the leading ballet company in Los Angeles known for staging classical, contemporary, romantic and neoclassical ballets, for pioneering new works, and for presenting relevant dance pieces by many of today’s most innovative dance-makers. LAB’s original production of The Nutcracker is an annual holiday favorite for Los Angeles residents and regional, national and international visitors.
Led by Artistic Director Melissa Barak and Executive Director Julie Rivera, LAB performs in theater venues in LA County including BroadStage in Santa Monica, Royce Hall at UCLA, The Wallis in Beverly Hills, The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre and Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
As part of its mission to expand people’s knowledge of and nurture a love for ballet, LAB gives access to performances to the widest audiences possible by providing free tickets for thousands of residents in underserved communities in Los Angeles County through its arts education program, Power of Performance (POP). In 20212, LAB launched a hands-on outreach program called A Chance to Dance (ACTD) providing free ballet and movement instruction for dance lovers of all ages. Los Angeles Ballet was founded in 2004 by Artistic Directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary and Executive Director, Julie Whittaker.
Calendar Listing for Los Angeles Ballet 2026/2027 Season
LOS ANGELES BALLET AT THE BOWL
Hollywood Bowl
Tue, September 8, 2026 8:00 pm
AMERICAN ICONS – THE CAGE | DILLY DILLY |WAVELENGTH
BroadStage
Thur, September 24, 2026 7:30 pm
Fri, September 25, 2026 7:30 pm
Sat, September 26, 2026 7:30 pm
Sun, September 26, 2026 2:00 pm
NUTCRACKER TEA Annual Holiday Fundraiser
Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills
Sat, November 21, 2026 10:00 am
Sat, November 21, 2026 1:00 pm
Sun, November 22, 2026 10:00 am
Sun, November 22, 2026 1:00 pm
THE NUTCRACKER
Royce Hall at UCLA
Fri, December 11, 2026 7:30 pm
Sat, December 12, 2026 2:00 pm
Sat, December 12, 2026 7:30 pm
Sun, December 13, 2026 2:00 pm
Dolby Theatre with Los Angeles Ballet Orchestra
Fri, December 18, 2026 7:30 pm
Sat, December 19, 2026 2:00 pm
Sat, December 19, 2026 7:30 pm
Sun, December 20, 2026 2:00 pm
Sun, December 20, 2026 7:30 pm
Fri, December 11, 2026 7:30 pm
Sat, December 12, 2026 2:00 pm
Sat, December 12, 2026 7:30 pm
Sun, December 13, 2026 2:00 pm
Dolby Theatre with Los Angeles Ballet Orchestra
Fri, December 18, 2026 7:30 pm
Sat, December 19, 2026 2:00 pm
Sat, December 19, 2026 7:30 pm
Sun, December 20, 2026 2:00pm
Sun, December 20, 2026 7:30 pm
Tue, December 22, 2026 2:00 pm
Tue, December 22, 2026 7:30 pm
Wed, December 23, 2026 2:00 pm
Wed, December 23, 2026 7:30 pm
Thur, December 24, 2026 2:00 pm
Sat, December 26, 2026 2:00 pm
(sensory friendly)
Sat, December 26, 2026 7:30 pm
Sun, December 27, 2026 2:00 pm
MOVERS AND SHAKERS – POLYPHONIA | Carry ME ANEW | SZENTES WORLD PREMIERE
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Thur, February 4, 2027 7:30 pm
Fri, February 5, 2027 7:30 pm
Thur, February 4, 2027 7:30 pm
Fri, February 5, 2027 7:30 pm
Sat, February 6, 2027 7:30 pm
COPPÉLLIA
Dolby Theatre Los Angeles Ballet Orchestra
Thur, June 10, 2027 7:30 pm
Fri, June 11, 2027 7:30 pm
Sat, June 12, 2027 2:00 pm
Sat, June 12, 2027 7:30 pm
Sun, June 13, 2027 2:00 pm
Cover photo and all other photography by Cheryl Mann
Follow LAB on Instagram.
Follow LA ELEMENTS on Instagram and X.
No Comments