New York City Ballet Guide

Lincoln center hosts two of the best ballet companies in New York, the American Ballet Theater and the New York City Ballet. Other companies don't enjoy the performance space of these two giants, but offer talented dancers at a less painful ticket price. Generally, the ballet season in New York is from November to March.

New York City Ballet
New York State Theater, Lincoln Center, Broadway and 64^th St. (212) 870-5570
www.nycballet.com

The New York City Ballet, is an organization unique in the artistic history of the United States. Responsible for training its own artists and creating its own works, the New York City Ballet was the first ballet institution in the world with two permanent homes, the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Currently, the Company has approximately 90 dancers, making it the largest dance organization in America. It features over 150 works principally choreographed by greats like Jerome Robbins, but it's the late George Balanchine that put the New York City Ballet on the map. The Nutcracker is still a holiday classic and remains one of the hottest tickets in town come December.  Click here for a complete season schedule.

The School of American Ballet is nearby, housing over 350 aspiring dancers from nearly every state in the nation and around the world.

American Ballet Theatre 
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center,
Broadway and 64^th St.
(212) 362-6000
Official American Ballet Theatre Website

The American Ballet Theatre moves into the Metropolitan Opera House every spring, combining modern works by Twyla Tharp and Paul Taylor with classics like Swan Lake. In the summer, the building is visited by such acts as the Royal and Paris Opera ballets. This makes it ideal to take in a diverse amount of ballet at the same institution, very advantageous for the tourist and resident alike.

City Center
131 W. 55^th St (6^th and 7^th Aves)
(212) 581-7907
www.citycenter.org

Performances by Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham and Paul Taylor,  highlight the dance repertoire here. The American Ballet Theatre also performs in the fall. City Center is also home to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the most exciting  modern dance companies around. Since so many different companies are constantly filing in and out of the center, it is vital to check the schedule of performances before you visit, to ensure that you see the troupe you wish.

Joyce Theater
175 Eighth Ave (at 19^th St)
(212) 242-0800
www.joyce.org

A reformed movie theater has become this haven of everything from Native American dance to ballet. Eliot Feld’s company performs often, which is a must-see event. Bear in mind that this theater is not exclusively for ballet, perfect for those who enjoy dance presentation in general. However, check the schedule in advance or you may end up with no ballet to see at all.