Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Peoria Ballet: Celebrating 60 Years of Dance Excellence
Peoria Ballet has been a cornerstone of dance performance and education in Central Illinois for six decades. Founded in 1965, we specialize in classical ballet productions, including our renowned annual performance of The Nutcracker at the Peoria Civic Center, featuring live orchestral accompaniment and professional guest artists. Our Academy provides pre-professional training to over 170 students weekly, offering classes in ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, tap, and hip hop. With a 12,000-square-foot facility housing four studios and an extensive costume collection, we serve dancers aged three to adult. Our outreach programs have brought dance education to over 3,500 students annually through discounted performances and community partnerships.Under the leadership of Artistic Director Ian Thatcher and Executive Director Wendy Thomasson, our faculty includes internationally experienced instructors with affiliations to prestigious institutions like the National Ballet School of Canada and American Repertory Ballet. We collaborate with local arts organizations to strengthen dance's presence in the community while maintaining a legacy of producing professional dancers accepted into top-tier programs and companies nationwide.
Services
Ballet performances
Dance academy
Community outreach
Costume rentals
Educational programs
Details
- Year established: 1965
Highlights and features
- We offer 60 years of experience in professional dance performance and education
- Our productions feature live orchestral music and guest artists from New York City
- We provide pre-professional training with faculty certified by ABT's National Training Curriculum
- Our 12,000-square-foot facility includes four modern dance studios and extensive costume resources
- We maintain partnerships with major ballet companies and training programs nationwide
What people say
Professional quality
Dedicated instructors
Welcoming atmosphere
Excellent training
Magical performances
Services
Ballet Performances
Professional ballet productions featuring over 100 local dancers and guest artists from New York City. Performances include The Nutcracker at Peoria Civic Center and Swan Lake at Five Points Washington. All shows feature live orchestral accompaniment by Heartland Festival Orchestra.
Dance Academy
Pre-professional dance training for ages 3 through adult with over 50 weekly classes. Curriculum includes ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, tap, and hip hop. Faculty includes certified instructors with experience at National Ballet School of Canada and American Repertory Ballet.
Community Outreach
Educational programs serving over 3,500 students annually through discounted performances and school partnerships. Initiatives include special ticket pricing for schools and community dance workshops at local libraries and educational institutions.
Costume Rentals
Extensive inventory of thousands of costumes for classical ballets including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake. Includes specialty costumes from original productions and theatrical works available for rental purposes.
Educational Programs
Structured dance education programs combining technical training with performance opportunities. Features placement classes for new students, year-round enrollment, and special programs for adult ballet enthusiasts with flexible scheduling options.
People
Wendy Thomasson
Executive Director
Wendy Thomasson leads Peoria Ballet as Executive Director, overseeing operations and strategic direction. With extensive arts administration experience, she ensures the organization's continued growth and community impact through educational programs and professional performances.
Ian Thatcher
Artistic Director
Ian Thatcher serves as Artistic Director, bringing expertise from Canada's National Ballet School and certifications from ABT's National Training Curriculum. A former dancer with San Francisco Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet, he stages major works by renowned choreographers.
Molly Daly
Associate Artistic Director
Molly Daly, Associate Artistic Director, is a former principal dancer with American Repertory Ballet. Certified by ABT's National Training Curriculum, she teaches advanced ballet and choreographs full-length productions while maintaining an active role in dance education.
Elizabeth Blackaby
Ballet Teacher
Elizabeth Blackaby instructs intermediate ballet students at Peoria Ballet. With professional performance experience and teaching expertise, she contributes to the academy's pre-professional training program for aspiring dancers.
Don Coven
Tap Instructor
Don Coven teaches advanced tap classes at Peoria Ballet. His expertise in rhythm tap and percussive dance techniques provides students with specialized training in this distinct dance discipline.
Questions
What ballet performances does Peoria Ballet Company produce annually?
We produce The Nutcracker at Peoria Civic Center each December and Swan Lake in May at Five Points Washington. Both feature live orchestral music and professional guest artists.
What dance classes are available for children?
We offer ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, tap, and hip hop classes for children starting at age 3 through our pre-professional academy program.
Can adults participate in dance classes?
Yes, we provide adult ballet classes with flexible scheduling including evening and Saturday sessions, plus additional daytime options for adult learners.
How does Peoria Ballet support local schools?
Our outreach program offers discounted tickets for school groups to attend performances like The Nutcracker, with over 3,500 students participating annually.
What makes your faculty unique?
Our instructors include certified teachers with ABT's National Training Curriculum and former professional dancers from companies like San Francisco Ballet and American Repertory Ballet.
Do you offer year-round enrollment?
Yes, we accept students throughout the year with prorated tuition for mid-semester enrollment and free placement classes for new students.
Reviews (3)
ZoeAnn
Sep 25, 2018
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I have the most wonderful time taking classes there. They have helpful staff, an organized system, and great teachers.
Sara Mccarthy
Aug 10, 2018
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Peoria Ballet has a family environment. It has wondorus students and teachers all working together for their productions. The volunteers do tremendous work in the sewing, props and other departments.
Shane M.
Oct 15, 2014
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I've had children taking classes at Peoria Ballet for several years, and despite the many changes in leadership we've seen, the students are always the top priority. The academy takes students from very young all the way to pre-professional and even adult beginners. They offer ballet, tap, jazz and modern. The instruction is top-notch and there's a great community of parents that pitch in and help get things done. I'd like to think that even once my kids are grown and graduated from Peoria Ballet I'll still be happy to volunteer my time to help this wonderful place fulfill