SIERRA NEVADA BALLET

What SIERRA NEVADA BALLET does

Sierra Nevada Ballet (SNB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional ballet company and dance education organization founded in March 2001 by Artistic Director Rosine Bena and headquartered in Reno, Nevada. The organization operates as the only professional ballet company serving northern Nevada, delivering an annual season of classical and contemporary productions (including signature works Giselle, Coppelia, Swan Lake, the original steampunk A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the family-oriented Peanutcracker adaptation) across multiple venue partnerships including Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Carson City Community Center, Reno Little Theater, Brewery Arts Center, and Artown Festival. SNB serves an audience of more than 10,000 attendees annually, including 4,000 school children reached through educational outreach programs.

The educational arm centers on the Sierra Nevada Ballet Academy, which delivers a seven-level curriculum aligned with the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) National Training Curriculum for students ages three through pre-professional, plus a free Apprentice/Trainee program, ABT Summer Intensives, and outreach into Washoe County, Douglas County, Doral Academy, and the University of Nevada Reno School of the Arts. The core "technology" is the ABT pedagogy framework under Bena's master-teacher certification — one of only 60 such credentials worldwide — and proprietary productions such as Peanutcracker, which incorporates mime curriculum developed over four decades. Digital distribution via YouTube, Vimeo, and venue websites is used alongside live performance.

Revenue is generated through four streams: ticket and tuition fees, a tiered membership/subscription program ($50 to $5,000+ annually), corporate sponsorships and program advertising ($150 to $3,000+), and grant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, Nevada Arts Council, E.L. Cord Foundation, Carol Franc Buck Foundation, Wayne L. Prim Foundation, Marin Foundation, and the City of Reno. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored by recurring seasonal programming (May through December), school partnerships, and venue co-marketing relationships. The 25th anniversary season in 2025, anchored by a flagship Coppélia production, reflects organizational maturity rather than scale-stage expansion.

Name

SIERRA NEVADA BALLET

Legal name

Sierra Nevada Ballet

Website

https://sierranevadaballet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sierra Nevada Ballet is the only professional ballet company in northern Nevada, delivering classical and contemporary performances, ABT-certified dance education, and school outreach across an 800-square-mile region serving 10,000+ audience members annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Professional Ballet

NAICS

Dance Companies (711120), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Classical Ballet (Full-Length & Repertoire) (MPAGADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI), Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ), Dance & Movement (Ballroom, Contemporary, Social Dance) (EDAAAGAD)

Keywords

• Professional ballet performances
• Ballet dance education
• Ballet training curriculum
• Performing arts productions
• Community dance outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Reno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from performances at multiple venues including Pioneer Center, Reno Little Theater, Carson City Community Center, Sand Harbor, and various outdoor venues.
2. Donations and Memberships: Tax-deductible contributions through membership tiers ranging from $50 to $5000+, providing benefits like early announcements, discounts, and exclusive events.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Business and corporate sponsorship opportunities including media support, program advertising, and event hosting, with tiers starting at $500.
4. Grant Funding: Funding from National Endowment for the Arts, Nevada Arts Council, E.L. Cord Foundation, and other institutions for educational outreach and public performances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sierra Nevada Ballet produces and presents professional-level classical and contemporary ballet performances across multiple northern Nevada venues, delivers dance education through the SNB Academy (a 7-level curriculum aligned with the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum), and operates an Apprentice/Trainee program and K-12 school outreach to develop aspiring professional dancers and serve community audiences.

Product overview

Sierra Nevada Ballet (SNB) operates as a professional ballet company and performing arts organization offering a unified portfolio of live theatrical performances, dance education, and community outreach. The core offerings include full-season professional ballet productions (classical works like Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, and original productions like steampunk A Midsummer Night's Dream), the signature Peanutcracker adaptation for families, and the annual Brew Brats and Ballet new choreography showcase. Education is delivered through the Sierra Nevada Ballet Academy (SNBA), which provides a 7-level curriculum aligned with American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum for students ages 3 through professional. Supporting programs include the Apprentice/Trainee Program for emerging dancers, virtual/streaming performances, and Educational Outreach Programs serving schools throughout northern Nevada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sierra Nevada Ballet Academy (SNBA) Official school of Sierra Nevada Ballet providing professional-level ballet training under Artistic Director Rosine Bena, featuring a full 7-level curriculum (Beginning through Professional) aligned with the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum for male and female students ages 3 and up.
• Sierra Nevada Ballet Performances Professional ballet performances presented throughout northern Nevada including classical story ballets (Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Swan Lake), contemporary works, and signature productions across multiple venues including Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, Sand Harbor, Carson City Community Center, and Ranch San Rafael.
• Peanutcracker: The Story in a Nutshell SNB's signature 45-minute narrated adaptation of The Nutcracker designed for families with young children, featuring both professional dancers and student performers, performed annually at Carson City Community Center and Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts in Reno.
• Brew, Brats and Ballet Annual spring production featuring brand-new short choreographic works by multiple choreographers, combining craft beer and bratwurst with contemporary ballet performances, presented at Reno Little Theater and Brewery Arts Center.
• Giselle Classic romantic two-act ballet about a peasant girl who falls in love with a Duke and dies of a broken heart, featuring supernatural Wilis in Act II, performed at outdoor venues and as part of Artown Festival.
• A Midsummer Night's Dream (Steampunk Ballet) SNB's original steampunk-themed full-length story ballet adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy, featuring contemporary and classical music, elaborate costumes with body paint and fairy makeup, and moving sets designed for indoor and outdoor venues.
• Apprentice/Trainee Program Free professional development program for talented student dancers in northern Nevada providing training and performance opportunities to prepare them for professional ballet careers, featuring mentorship from SNB professional dancers.
• Dance Classes Comprehensive dance instruction including Ballet (levels 1-5 and Pre-professional), Pointe, Variations, Stretch and Strengthening, Adult Beginning and Intermediate, Contemporary, and Creating Tiny Dancers for young children, taught by professional faculty including ABT-certified master teachers.
• Virtual Performances Digitally streamed ballet performances created during COVID-19, including The Peanutcracker Project 2020 and virtual presentations of I Could Do Anything and Giselle, distributed via YouTube and Vimeo.
• Educational Outreach Program Dance education initiatives including the Dancing in the Schools Program, school performances, and partnerships with Washoe County, Douglas County, and University of Nevada Reno, reaching thousands of students annually.
• ABT Summer Intensives Intensive summer ballet training programs featuring ABT Master Teachers offered at SNB, with SNB having brought ABT II to perform in Reno on multiple occasions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ audience members served annually including 4,000 school children
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TL SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationVideo production and digital marketing partner for virtual performances during COVID, including virtual Peanutcracker Project 2020.
• Pioneer Center for the Performing ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary venue partner for major productions including annual Peanutcracker performances; collaborated on virtual Peanutcracker Project 2020.
• Artown FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual month-long arts festival; SNB performs Dancing By The River as part of Artown for 19+ years.
• Lake Tahoe Shakespeare FestivalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnnual venue partner for outdoor summer performances at Sand Harbor; SNB presents ballet as part of the festival.
• American Ballet TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal affiliation since 2008; Artistic Director Rosine Bena is ABT Curriculum Ambassador and Master Teacher; SNB brought ABT II to perform in Reno.
• Dance Theatre of HarlemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional relationship with Director Virginia Johnson for dancer training and artistic exchange.
• Regional Dance AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit providing performance and educational opportunities; SNB hosted inaugural 2022 Pacific Festival.
• Reno Little TheatercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Brew Brats and Ballet annual spring program; hosted virtual performances.
• Reno Jazz OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating partner for live streaming events and performances.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kansas City Ballet: A regional professional ballet company with a strong school and outreach arm, including school performances and adaptive dance. Directly comparable to SNB in scale, mission, and the integration of performance with education programming.
• Tulsa Ballet: A regional professional ballet company that has built national recognition through classical repertoire and a structured academy. Comparable to SNB as a mid-size, non-flagship-city ballet company with a performance-plus-education model.
• Richmond Ballet: A regional professional ballet company that, like SNB, combines a full classical season with strong education/outreach programming and school-based initiatives. Comparable as a community-rooted ballet company with an integrated academy.
• Sacramento Ballet: A regional professional ballet company in Sacramento that shares SNB's mid-size, community-anchored model with classical repertoire, education, and outreach. Several SNB alumni (e.g., Alexander Cain Biber) have performed with Sacramento Ballet, making it a close talent and operational comparator.

Regional players

• Nevada Ballet Theatre: Nevada's other professional ballet company, based in Las Vegas. It is a direct regional peer operating in the same state but serving a distinct southern Nevada audience, making it the most structurally comparable ballet company to SNB.
• Oregon Ballet Theatre: A mid-size regional professional ballet company in Portland with a similar mix of classical repertoire, education programs, and community outreach. Comparable in scale and mission to SNB as a non-flagship-city ballet organization.
• Ballet Arizona: A mid-size regional ballet company that combines classical repertoire with extensive education and outreach programming. Comparable in operating model to SNB as a non-coastal, community-embedded ballet company.

Broad incumbents

• American Ballet Theatre: The national flagship ballet company that licenses the ABT National Training Curriculum taught at SNB Academy. SNB has a formal affiliation since 2008, and ABT II has performed in Reno, making ABT the closest broad incumbent and standards-setter.
• San Francisco Ballet: America's oldest professional ballet company and a destination employer for SNB Academy alumni. Comparable as a top-tier classical ballet institution and a strategic reference point for SNB's training pipeline and repertoire ambitions.

Emerging players

• Dance Theatre of Harlem: A prominent professional ballet company with which SNB has a strategic artistic relationship through Director Virginia Johnson. Comparable as a similarly mission-driven ballet company that pairs classical training with community access.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sierranevadaballet
• Instagraminstagram.com/sierranevadaballet
• Xtwitter.com/SNBallet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sierra-nevada-ballet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 SIERRA NEVADA BALLET