Charlottesville Ballet

Founded in 2007 with a unique mission for dancer wellness, Charlottesville Ballet is the only full time professional dance company in the Charlottesville area. Co-Directors Sara Clayborne and Emily Hartka are committed to elevating professional ballet with a healthy working environment for the artists.

The professional company is comprised of fourteen dancers from all over the United States and abroad– from Virginia to California to Japan. Charlottesville Ballet’s Trainee Program welcomes ten additional dancers as they transition from advanced students into professional artists.

Charlottesville Ballet Academy (CBA), the official training school of Charlottesville Ballet, opened in July 2011 and is a nonprofit center for dance education serving over 450 students throughout the Charlottesville area. CBA offers training in all dance genres for ages two through adult and offers performance opportunities for young dancers alongside the professional company.

Chance To Dance (C2D) is an after-school outreach program for grades K-5 that gives underserved children a hands-on experience with the arts. The Ballet partners with local public schools in both Charlottesville City and Albemarle County and students are selected to receive lifetime scholarships to train at CBA.


Charlottesville Ballet’s professional company presents performances and events in Charlottesville and Central Virginia area. Look for programming designed just for children in the Family Series, eclectic mixed-repertory performances, and the annual holiday production of The Nutcracker. Now entering its ninth performing season, Charlottesville Ballet carries out its mission through eclectic live performances, educational children’s events, collaboration with local artists, and community outreach throughout the region of Central Virginia.