It is a marvel, but to no one’s surprise, that after six centuries of innovation, discovery, and excellence in ballet, the art form would continue to be so thrilling, masterful, and enriching to the soul. Through the blood, sweat, and tears of the artists who make ballet what it is—the dancers, the directors, the choreographers, the dreamers—ballet has endured since its Renaissance days. Although relatively young in comparison to the rich history of the art form, the Los Angeles Ballet celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and its newly announced upcoming season promises homages to the great works of the past, while continuing to innovate and keep audiences on their toes. In a city known for reinvention, the Los Angeles Ballet stands as a testament to timeless artistry meeting modern imagination.

Preceded by an extended run of the oh-so-popular Nutcracker at UCLA’s Royce Hall and Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, 20 Years of Los Angeles Ballet will kick off at The Wallis on January 29th. History and ingenuity will be on full display in this anniversary season. The ballet’s triple feature includes Rubies, the playful second movement of George Balanchine’s Jewels, set to Igor Stravinsky’s Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra; Frank Bridge Variations, a powerful piece with choreography by Hans van Manen and Benjamin Britten, exploring the complexities of humanity; and the world premiere of a new work by Los Angeles Ballet Artistic Director Melissa Barak (her third new work since assuming the position in 2022), with music by American composer David Lawrence. Together, these performances weave a narrative of past, present, and future—an ode to both legacy and evolution.

​Spring will bring a staging of the 19th-century work Giselle, with choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot and music by Adolphe Adam at The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre in Downtown LA. It’s the Los Angeles Ballet’s debut at that venue. With this milestone production, the company not only honors the tradition of classical ballet but also expands its reach to new audiences across the city’s beating heart. In a season that bridges the elegance of history with the freshness of the contemporary moment, the Los Angeles Ballet reaffirms its place as one of the city’s great artistic institutions—rooted in legacy, but forever in motion.