The Washington Ballet
The Washington Ballet is a DC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a professional ballet company and The Washington School of Ballet, serving 3,000+ students, regional audiences across multiple DC venues, and community members through performances, training, and outreach programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Washington Ballet does
The Washington Ballet (TWB) is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating two integrated business lines: a professional ballet company and The Washington School of Ballet (TWSB). Founded in 1944 as a school by Mary Day and Lisa Gardiner, and formalized as a professional company in 1976, TWB presents a five-production season including the DC-themed Nutcracker, contemporary works, and world premieres at premier regional venues (Warner Theatre, Sidney Harman Hall, The National Theatre, Wolf Trap, and the Kennedy Center). The organization is currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary Season (2026/27) under Artistic Director Edwaard Liang, the first person of color and first Asian American to lead a major American ballet company.
The Washington School of Ballet is a core operating subsidiary serving 3,000+ students annually across two campuses (NW at Wisconsin Avenue, SE at THEARC) and 14 studios, generating tuition revenue from youth programs (ages 1.5-18), the trainee program, and adult open classes. TWB monetizes through a hybrid revenue model: subscription and single-ticket performance sales (Full Series, Choreograph Your Own, Jeté Society tiered subscriptions with 10-30% savings), group sales at tiered discounts (10-25% for parties of 10+), school tuition, studio rentals ($10-$150/hour by user type), special fundraising events (Annual Gala, Nutcracker Tea Party), and a multi-tiered development program covering individual giving, corporate support, institutional grants, planned giving (Mary Day Society), and matching gifts.
TWB extends its reach through community engagement programs — Dance DC (in-school Pre-K-12 workshops), Dance For All (free city-wide events), Dance for PD (Parkinson's therapeutic classes as the Mark Morris Dance Group's Mid-Atlantic hub), and student matinees — positioning the organization as both a performing arts institution and a community asset serving the DC metropolitan and Mid-Atlantic regions.
The Washington Ballet firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Washington Ballet
- Legal name
- The Washington Ballet
- Website
- https://washingtonballet.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Washington Ballet is a DC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a professional ballet company and The Washington School of Ballet, serving 3,000+ students, regional audiences across multiple DC venues, and community members through performances, training, and outreach programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Washington Ballet industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts (Ballet)
- NAICS
- Dance Companies (711120), Dance Companies (71112), Performing Arts Companies (7111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Classical Ballet (Full-Length & Repertoire) (MPAGADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Dance Performances (THAJAFAD), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)
Keywords
Where The Washington Ballet is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
The Washington Ballet business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Performance Ticket Sales: Revenue from single tickets, subscriptions, and group sales for ballet performances at Warner Theatre, Harman Hall, The National Theatre, and Wolf Trap
- School Tuition: Fees from The Washington School of Ballet training programs: 900+ students at NW Campus, 350 at SE Campus, 1600 adults through Open Classes
- Individual Giving: Donations from individual donors including Leadership Giving, Mary Day Society planned giving, and matching gifts
- Corporate Support: Sponsorships and corporate partnerships supporting productions, community programs, and special events
- Studio Rentals: Rental fees for studios at NW and SE campuses for rehearsals, auditions, and events; rates vary by organization type
- Special Events: Fundraising events including Annual Gala and Nutcracker Tea Party generating revenue and donor engagement
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Jeté Society (Young Professionals 21-40) |
| Subscription | Annual | Choreograph Your Own |
| Subscription | Annual | Full Series |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Group Discounts (Go-Go 50) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | The Nutcracker Saturday Matinee |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | The Nutcracker Group Sales |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Moving Forces Group Sales |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Studio Rental Rates |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Washington Ballet product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Washington Ballet operates a professional ballet company that produces and performs classical and contemporary ballet at major DC-area venues, and runs The Washington School of Ballet, which provides pre-professional ballet training to over 3,000 students annually at NW and SE campuses. The organization also delivers community engagement programs, adult open classes, summer intensives, studio rentals, and special fundraising events.
Product overview
The Washington Ballet is a performing arts organization consisting of a professional ballet company and The Washington School of Ballet. The professional company presents classical and contemporary ballet productions on major DC-area stages, while TWSB provides rigorous ballet training to students ages 1.5-18+ across two campuses. The organization also offers community engagement programs (Dance For All, Dance DC, Dance for PD), adult open classes, group experiences, the Jeté Society young professionals program, studio rentals, and summer programs. The 2026/27 Season marks the company's 50th Anniversary with productions including Go-Go 50, The Nutcracker, Dracula (world premiere), Romeo & Juliet, and Made in Washington at Wolf Trap.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Washington Ballet Professional Company The professional ballet company performing classical and contemporary repertoire on major stages throughout the DC area, including the John F. Kennedy Center, Warner Theatre, Sidney Harman Hall, The National Theatre, and Wolf Trap.
- The Washington School of Ballet (TWSB) A dance school providing classical ballet training for students ages 1.5–18 at NW and SE campuses, with programs including creative dance, pre-ballet, lower division, upper division, and a trainee program. Trains more than 900 students at the NW campus, 350 at the SE campus, and 1,600 adults through Open Classes annually.
- 2026/27 Season Productions Season performance offerings including Go-Go 50 (opening celebration featuring DC's Go-Go music heritage), The Nutcracker (holiday production), Dracula (world premiere), Romeo & Juliet, and Made in Washington: A 50th Season Finale at Wolf Trap.
- Community Engagement Programs Programs including Dance For All (free city-wide events across DC quadrants), Dance DC (in-school creative movement workshops for Pre-K through 12th grade), Student Matinees, Lecture Demonstrations, and Dance for PD (Parkinson's disease classes offered free of charge).
- Adult Open Classes Ballet classes for adults of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned dancers, offered at NW and SE campuses.
- Summer Programs Intensive summer programs for ages 1–18+ including summer intensives, young dancers programs, and children's programs at both NW and SE campuses.
- Group Experiences Group ticket experiences for parties of 10 or more attending performances such as The Nutcracker, Moving Forces, and Go-Go 50, with tiered discounts up to 20–25% for parties of 20+ and a dedicated personal group sales liaison.
- Jeté Society Membership Young professionals membership program (ages 21–40) providing season subscription, behind-the-scenes access, social events, exclusive event pricing, and sponsorship opportunities to collectively sponsor a company dancer. Requires subscription plus $250 donation.
- Studio Rentals Rental of ballet studios at NW and SE campuses for rehearsals, auditions, and events, with rates for independent artists ($40/hr), nonprofits ($85/hr), commercial users ($150/hr), TWB/TWSB alumni ($25/hr), and current TWSB youth program ($10/hr).
- Special Fundraising Events Signature fundraising events including the Annual Gala and Nutcracker Tea Party, supporting ballet for future generations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3000+ students trained annually across both campuses
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Washington Ballet
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
The Washington Ballet technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Washington Ballet partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Dance for PD Mid-Atlantic HubcoreThe Washington Ballet serves as the regional hub for Dance for PD, an award-winning program for people with Parkinson's, with instructor Lucy Bowen McCauley leading classes and coordinating regional efforts
- Institutional Partners (DC Community)coreCommunity programs possible through generous support of Institutional Partners who fund community engagement activities; contact Katie Harding at [email protected]
- Warner TheatrecorePrimary performance venue for main productions including Go-Go 50 and The Nutcracker; located at 513 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004
- Sidney Harman HallcorePerformance venue for Dracula world premiere; located at 610 F Street, NW
- The National TheatrecorePerformance venue for Romeo & Juliet; located at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW
- Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing ArtsmajorOutdoor venue for 50th Season Finale celebration; located at 1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA 22182
- Dupont UndergroundminorImmersive performance venue for Dance For All events and special showcases celebrating new Artistic Director
- THEARC (Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus)coreSE Campus location and performance venue for The Nutcracker; community center hosting TWSB Southeast Campus
- Cathedral Commons StudiosminorNW Campus location for adult classes and Dance for PD programming at 3308 Wisconsin Ave
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Washington Ballet competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Atlanta Ballet: Atlanta-based professional ballet company with affiliated Centre for Dance Education — provides both performance and tuition revenue streams in a single metropolitan market, comparable in scale to TWB.
- Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre: Mid-size U.S. professional ballet company operating in a single metro with affiliated school (PBT School) and annual Nutcracker — directly comparable mid-size benchmark for nonprofit company-plus-school.
- Boston Ballet: New England professional ballet company with affiliated school (Boston Ballet School); comparable nonprofit company-plus-school structure, mid-large budget scale, and education/community programs.
- American Ballet Theatre: Major U.S. professional ballet company with affiliated training programs and national touring; directly comparable as a large classical ballet organization combining performance, school, and community engagement.
- New York City Ballet: One of the largest U.S. ballet companies with its own training school (School of American Ballet lineage) and a multi-venue performance model — direct structural peer combining professional company and educational programming.
- Houston Ballet: Mid-to-large U.S. ballet company operating both a professional company and the Houston Ballet Academy; operates in a single-anchor metro and runs a major Nutcracker — closely analogous scale and business model to TWB.
- Joffrey Ballet: Chicago-based professional ballet company with an affiliated academy and high subscriber/Nutcracker-style annual tradition; comparable mid-large size, school-plus-company structure, and metropolitan dependence.
- San Francisco Ballet: Oldest professional U.S. ballet company with affiliated San Francisco Ballet School; broader peer that demonstrates the upper end of the comparable scale spectrum for company-plus-school ballet nonprofits.
- Pacific Northwest Ballet: Seattle-based professional ballet company with an affiliated school (PNB School) operating from a single metro with a sizable annual Nutcracker run — a strong operational analog to TWB.
Broad incumbents
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Major New York-based professional dance company operating in the same nonprofit company-plus-school paradigm with broad national and international touring, used as an upper-scale benchmark for how a U.S. nonprofit dance company scales beyond a single metro.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Washington Ballet social profiles
Digital presenceThe Washington Ballet compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
The Washington Ballet financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Washington Ballet leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
The Washington Ballet subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The Washington Ballet funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Washington Ballet M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Washington Ballet
What does The Washington Ballet do?
The Washington Ballet operates a professional ballet company that produces and performs classical and contemporary ballet at major DC-area venues, and runs The Washington School of Ballet, which provides pre-professional ballet training to over 3,000 students annually at NW and SE campuses. The organization also delivers community engagement programs, adult open classes, summer intensives, studio rentals, and special fundraising events.
Is The Washington Ballet a public or private company?
The Washington Ballet is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Washington Ballet founded?
The Washington Ballet was founded in 1976. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Washington Ballet based?
The Washington Ballet is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Washington Ballet make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Performance Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are school Tuition, individual Giving, corporate Support, studio Rentals and special Events.
Who are The Washington Ballet's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Atlanta Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Washington Ballet have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Washington Ballet.
What industry is The Washington Ballet in?
The Washington Ballet's product category is Performing Arts (Ballet). Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGADAA, Classical Ballet (Full-Length & Repertoire), with a secondary code of EDAMAAAH, Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance). Its NAICS code is 711120 and its SIC code is 8200.