About Ballet Co.Laboratory
Ballet Co.Laboratory is Minnesota’s largest professional ballet company and school, serving more than 14,000 individuals each year. Based in Saint Paul, we empower creativity while engaging communities in new ways of thinking, learning, and moving.
Established in 2018, Ballet Co.Laboratory is nationally recognized for challenging ballet’s “traditions that exclude” by reimagining how ballet is taught, created, and presented. Here, all body types, gender identities, ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, learning styles, & socioeconomic positions are celebrated throughout our dance productions, classes, and outreach programming.
At Ballet Co.Laboratory, our work is guided by the following priorities:
MAKING DANCE A VIABLE PROFESSION IN MINNESOTA. NEW DANCE PRODUCTIONS.
At the center of Ballet Co.Laboratory are our 50+ professional artists whom we support artistically & financially. The path to becoming a professional dancer requires extensive training, starting in early childhood, & is often more costly than pursuing careers in medicine, law, or business. Yet, professional dancers remain among the lowest-paid full-time workers in the nation. We are committed to providing competitive salaries and benefits, ensuring our artists can sustain their careers while still calling Minnesota home.
RAISING THE CURTAIN ON NEW DANCE PRODUCTIONS.
This season, more than 5,500 audience members will experience a Ballet Co.Laboratory production. Committed to creating innovative ballets for a new generation, we have premiered 14 original works that highlight stories historically excluded from the art form. Through this work, those who once felt unseen now find their stories center stage—fostering an inclusive community where more people can envision themselves as artists, students, & patrons of the arts.
EDUCATING DANCERS OF ALL AGES AND SKILL LEVELS.
The School of Ballet Co.Laboratory currently educates 588 students through 45 weekly ballet classes, welcoming dancers of all experience levels—from first-time students to lifelong enthusiasts. Our youngest student is just three years old, while our most seasoned dancer is 89. Because performance is an essential part of one’s dance education, all students—including adults—have the opportunity to perform alongside our professional dancers. Through classes & performances, dancers develop their technique, artistry, & a strong sense of community.
PRESENTING FREE DANCE CLASSES AND PERFORMANCES.
At Ballet Co.Laboratory, we recognize that many in our community face barriers to accessing the arts. Socioeconomic challenges & health crises often limit opportunities to attend performances or participate in dance classes. To make dance more accessible, we offer free & deeply discounted workshops, performances, & need-based scholarships for dance training. Last season alone, these initiatives served 8,000 individuals, ensuring more people can experience the transformative power of dance.