Ballet in the City

What Ballet in the City does

Ballet in the City is a US-based nonprofit organization founded in 2012 that delivers ballet education and professional dancer mentorship across the United States and the United Kingdom. Operating from a studio in residence at Weathervane Playhouse in Akron, Ohio (established August 2024), the organization serves four primary customer segments: young aspiring dancers (via scholarships and audition preparation), adult ballet enthusiasts, senior dancers, and male dancers (via the Guys Dance Too program). Programming is delivered both in-person at the Ohio studio and virtually, with named collaborating artists from prestigious institutions including Scottish Ballet (Principal Bethany Kingsley-Garner, First Artist Harvey Littlefield) and former New York City Ballet Soloists (Zippora Karz, Sara Adams). Founder and Executive Director Jessica Wallis has produced programming with Ashley Bouder, Sonia Rodriguez, and Misty Copeland at venues including The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The organization's product surface spans adult ballet, pointe, barre, and senior classes; private lessons and small group coaching; photography services; pointe shoe fittings; and merchandise retail via an Etsy shop and on-site studio boutique. It also runs annual international programs including a Scotland Summer Residential Programme (scheduled August 2–8, 2026 in Edinburgh) and an England Tour (August 2026). Distribution is hybrid: regional in-person studio classes in Akron, global virtual instruction, and e-commerce through Etsy. The underlying technology is a lightweight online instruction and virtual mentoring platform connecting professional dancers worldwide with students — there is no proprietary software stack beyond standard website and social infrastructure, and there are no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

Revenue is generated from a mix of donations (via PayPal Giving Fund, with the organization stating 100% of donations benefit the nonprofit), class fees, private instruction, photography, merchandise, and pointe shoe fittings. The organization has historically received core financial support from Discount Dance since 2015, which funded the Discount Dance Scholarship; as of November 2025, that scholarship is paused while the organization seeks alternative funding. Founder Jessica Wallis leads the organization with a board of directors chaired by Catherine Wiseman-Hakes, PhD, and a global network of City Stewards and Ambassadors supports local programming delivery across multiple cities.

Name

Ballet in the City

Legal name

Ballet in the City

Website

https://balletinthecity.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ballet in the City is a US-based nonprofit founded in 2012 delivering ballet education and professional dancer mentorship across the US and UK. It serves young dancers, adults, seniors, and male dancers through studio classes, virtual instruction, international residential programs, and scholarships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dance Education

NAICS

Dance Companies (711120)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

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), Dancers, Choreographers & Dance Troupes Booking (HSACAHAD)

Keywords

• Ballet education
• Adult ballet classes
• Dance mentoring
• Dance photography
• Ballet nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Akron

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Ballet in the City is a nonprofit organization that accepts donations through PayPal Giving Fund. The organization states that 100% of donations benefit the nonprofit, including scholarships, mentoring programs, and ballet classes for adults worldwide.
2. Studio Classes and Instruction: Revenue generated from adult ballet classes, pointe classes, barre classes, ballet for seniors, private lessons, and small group classes conducted both in-person at the Weathervane Playhouse studio and virtually.
3. Photography Services: Dance photography services offered nationwide including headshots, arabesque/audition photos, and social media shoots, available from the studio space and in cities across the US and UK.
4. Merchandise Sales: Studio boutique sales including Freed of London pointe shoes, Ballet in the City merchandise, leotards, skirts from Bullet Pointe, and warm-ups. Sales conducted through the studio and Etsy shop.
5. Pointe Shoe Fittings: Private and group pointe shoe fittings offered in-person and virtually for Freed of London pointe shoes.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ballet in the City is a nonprofit dance education organization that delivers ballet instruction and mentoring to dancers of all ages across the United States and the United Kingdom. It offers Adult Ballet, Pointe, Barre, and Senior classes both in-person at its studio inside Weathervane Playhouse in Akron, Ohio and virtually, alongside private lessons, small group classes, and coaching with professional dancers from companies such as Scottish Ballet and New York City Ballet. The organization also runs inclusive programming for male dancers through Guys Dance Too, the Scotland Summer Residential Programme, an England Tour, dance photography services, and a studio boutique selling Freed of London pointe shoes and merchandise.

Product overview

Ballet in the City is a nonprofit organization with international reach that provides ballet education and mentorship services through multiple integrated programs. The core offering is its Programming division, which connects professional dancers worldwide with aspiring dancers through online instruction, in-person classes, mentoring, and coaching sessions. The organization operates its Adult Ballet Program (established 2022) from its studio at Weathervane Playhouse in Akron, Ohio, offering adult ballet, pointe, and barre classes both in-person and virtually. Supporting programs include the Guys Dance Too program for male dancers, the Discount Dance Scholarship (currently paused), and the Ambassador/City Steward network. Additional services encompass dance photography, a studio boutique selling pointe shoes and merchandise, and international programs including the Scotland Summer Residential Programme and England Tour. The organization maintains an Etsy shop for merchandise sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Ballet Program Weekly adult ballet, pointe, barre, and ballet-for-seniors classes delivered at the Weathervane Playhouse studio in Akron, Ohio and virtually, year-round. Barre classes focus on strength, core balance, and developing lean muscles; senior classes are adapted for older participants. The program serves adults of all ages and experience levels, including those with no prior ballet background and those returning to dance.
• Private Lessons and Small Group Classes One-on-one private lessons and small group classes offered both in-person at the Weathervane Playhouse studio in Akron, Ohio and virtually, available year-round with the organization's collaborating professional artists.
• Mentoring and Coaching Sessions Mentoring and coaching sessions delivered by professional dancers including Collaborating Artists from Scottish Ballet (Bethany Kingsley-Garner and Harvey Littlefield) and New York City Ballet (Sara Adams, Zippora Karz as a Repetiteur of The Balanchine Trust). Designed for young dancers preparing for auditions and summer intensives.
• Guys Dance Too Program Male-focused ballet programming for dancers of all ages and abilities that prioritizes and normalizes male participation in dance, including master classes with professional dancers.
• Dance Photography Services Professional dance photography for headshots, arabesque/audition photos, and social media shoots, offered both from the Weathervane Playhouse studio and on-location in cities across the United States and the United Kingdom.
• Studio Boutique — Pointe Shoes, Apparel, and Merchandise Studio boutique offering Freed of London pointe shoes (with ordering, pick-up, and in-person or virtual fittings), Ballet in the City merchandise, leotards, warm-ups, and Bullet Pointe skirts. Merchandise is also sold through the Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/BalletInTheCity.
• Scotland Summer Residential Programme Annual multi-day residential program in Edinburgh, Scotland offering full-week ballet programming for young dancers and adult dancers. Held at Scottish Ballet, with Collaborating Artists from Scottish Ballet serving as instructors.
• England Tour Tour programs across various cities in England offering ballet programming for young dancers and adult dancers, scheduled for August 2026.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Royal Opera HouseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Jessica Wallis was invited to the UK in 2023 to work with the Royal Opera House as part of international collaboration and professional development.
• English National Ballet SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Jessica Wallis was invited to the UK in 2023 to work with the English National Ballet School as part of international collaboration and professional development.
• Scottish BalletcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Jessica Wallis was invited to the UK in 2023 to work with Scottish Ballet. Scottish Ballet Principal Bethany Kingsley-Garner and First Artist Harvey Littlefield serve as Collaborating Artists with Ballet in the City. Scottish Ballet is also the venue for the Second Annual Scotland Residential Programme (August 2-8, 2026).
• Freed of LondonminorOthersBallet in the City's Studio Boutique offers Freed of London pointe shoes, including ordering, pick-up, and fitting services (also offered virtually).
• Bullet PointeminorOthersBallet in the City offers leotards and skirts from Bullet Pointe through its Studio Boutique.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Cincinnati Ballet: Regional professional ballet company with an associated school offering adult and youth programs in the Midwest. Geographically and structurally similar to Ballet in the City's Ohio-based nonprofit ballet programming model.
• American Ballet Theatre: One of the largest ballet companies in the US with extensive education, training, and outreach programs including ABT Studio Company. Comparable in performance prestige (Kennedy Center-level venue access) and in operating educational programming alongside productions.
• San Francisco Ballet School: Major US ballet company with one of the largest affiliated training schools offering adult and youth divisions. Comparable in combining professional-caliber instruction with educational programming for adults and aspiring young dancers.
• Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre: Regional ballet company operating a full company, school, and community education programs. Comparable to Ballet in the City as a regional ballet organization, though larger and with an in-house company producing staged performances.

Others

• National Dance Council of America: Governing body for dance education in the US that certifies teachers and accredits studios. Comparable as an ecosystem/standards organization that supports ballet education infrastructure relevant to Ballet in the City's instructional operations.

Direct peers

• School of American Ballet: Premier ballet training academy affiliated with New York City Ballet offering classical ballet education to aspiring dancers. Directly comparable to Ballet in the City's core mission of providing ballet instruction and connecting students with professional dancers, though SAB focuses more on pre-professional youth training.
• English National Ballet School: UK-based ballet training institution partnered with English National Ballet. Directly comparable as Ballet in the City has an active strategic partnership with this school and runs educational programming in the UK.
• Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet: Nonprofit ballet training institution offering intensive programs for young dancers, summer intensives, and community outreach. Comparable to Ballet in the City's youth-focused scholarship and summer/residential programming for aspiring dancers.
• Dance Theatre of Harlem: Harlem-based ballet company with an integrated school and outreach programs serving diverse communities, including initiatives to normalize male participation in dance. Closely comparable to Ballet in the City's blend of performance and education plus its Guys Dance Too program targeting underrepresented demographics.
• Ballet Academy East: NYC-based nonprofit ballet school offering pre-professional training, adult open classes, and community outreach. Comparable to Ballet in the City's adult ballet programming and instruction-for-all-ages model at a similar small-institution scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/balletincity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BalletInCleveland
• Facebookfacebook.com/balletinyourcityandbeyond
• Instagraminstagram.com/balletincity
• Pinterestpinterest.com/balletincleve
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/balletinthecity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ballet in the City