New Orleans Ballet Association

What New Orleans Ballet Association does

The New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA), founded in 1969, is a Louisiana-based nonprofit performing arts organization that operates as the Central Gulf Coast's premier ballet presenter. Its core function is two-fold: (1) curating and presenting a Main Stage season of internationally and nationally acclaimed touring dance companies at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts in New Orleans, and (2) operating a portfolio of tuition-free dance education programs — Early Childhood, Preparatory Youth/Teen, Adventures in Dance, Summer Intensives, Adult Classes, and a nationally award-winning Pre-Professional Program — for participants ages 4-18 across Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes. The 2026-27 Season features Pilobolus, Alonzo King LINES Ballet (returning after a 15-year absence), Argentina's Tango After Dark, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Houston Ballet's production of "Madame Butterfly."

The business model blends earned and contributed revenue. Earned revenue flows from individual performance tickets, season subscriptions (Grand Subscription with 20% savings and premium seating; Build-Your-Own 3- or 4-show packages with 15% savings), and group sales. Contributed revenue comes from individual donations (including the "BRAVO" giving program), corporate sponsorship (Hyatt Regency New Orleans is the disclosed 2025-26 season sponsor), and a layered public funding stack — Community Arts Grants from the City of New Orleans administered by Arts New Orleans, Louisiana Division of the Arts support (in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council), and National Endowment for the Arts pass-through funding. Distribution is regional, primarily direct to consumer via the Mahalia Jackson Theater box office, the NOBA website (nobadance.com), email newsletter, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and a downloadable 2026-27 season brochure.

The organization is a private nonprofit governed by a Board of Directors, with a headcount of 1-10 employees and no parent company, subsidiaries, or external funding rounds. There is no proprietary technology, AI/ML capability, or app platform; operations are people-intensive and venue-dependent, with the Mahalia Jackson Theater serving as the primary performance venue and community-based sites serving as youth class locations.

Name

New Orleans Ballet Association

Legal name

New Orleans Ballet Association

Website

https://nobadance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

New Orleans Ballet Association is a nonprofit performing arts organization that presents touring professional dance companies at Mahalia Jackson Theater and provides tuition-free dance education to youth ages 4-18 across Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Performance Tickets & Subscriptions: Revenue generated from individual performance tickets and season subscription packages. Grand Subscriptions offer 20% savings with premium center seats and exclusive perks; 3 or 4-show packages offer 15% savings.
2. Donations & Support: Charitable contributions and donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. The organization has a 'Donate Now' option and 'BRAVO' support program.
3. Group Sales: Revenue from bulk ticket purchases by organizations and groups for performances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NOBA presents a curated main stage season of professional ballet and contemporary dance performances by touring companies at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans. In parallel, it operates a tuition-free dance education continuum spanning early childhood classes, preparatory youth/teen programs, a nationally award-winning pre-professional program for ages 8-18, summer intensives, adult classes, and an introductory Adventures in Dance program offered across Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes.

Product overview

New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) operates as a performing arts organization offering a unified portfolio of live dance performances and dance education programs. The core offerings consist of main stage performances featuring international dance companies at the Mahalia Jackson Theater, complemented by a comprehensive suite of tuition-free dance classes including Youth Dance Classes (Ages 4-18), a nationally award-winning Pre-Professional Program (Ages 8-18), Summer Intensive Programs, Adult Classes, and Adventures in Dance. The 2026-27 Season of Dance combines performances from renowned companies including Pilobolus, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Argentina's Tango After Dark, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Houston Ballet with subscription packages and group sales options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Performances & Events Main stage season of professional ballet and contemporary dance performances featuring internationally and nationally acclaimed touring companies at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts in New Orleans, including the 2026-27 Season of Dance. For general audiences, cultural patrons, and arts subscribers in the Gulf South region.
• Youth Dance Classes Tuition-free dance classes for children and teens ages 4-18, part of the Early Childhood and Preparatory Youth/Teen Program, offered across Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes with no audition or experience required. Start and end dates vary by location and program.
• Pre-Professional Program Tuition-free, nationally award-winning intensive dance training program for aspiring professional dancers ages 8-18, delivered through an audition-based curriculum that prepares students for professional dance careers.
• Summer Intensive Programs Intensive summer dance programs providing concentrated training and professional development for young dancers seeking accelerated skill-building outside the regular school year.
• Adult Classes Recreational dance classes designed for adult participants across a range of skill levels, from beginners to experienced dancers, supporting fitness, wellness, and personal enrichment through dance.
• Adventures in Dance Introductory dance program providing foundational dance education and appreciation for participants, designed as an entry point into NOBA's broader dance education continuum.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and flagship.

• Louisiana Division of the ArtscoreOthersSupported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council with funding also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
• National Endowment for the ArtscoreOthersFederal arts funding provided through Louisiana Division of the Arts and Arts New Orleans grants.
• City of New Orleans / Arts New OrleanscoreOthersCommunity Arts Grant made possible by the City of New Orleans as administered by Arts New Orleans. Additional grant from Louisiana Division of the Arts administered by Arts New Orleans.
• Hyatt Regency New OrleansmajorOthersThe 2025-26 Season is supported by Hyatt Regency New Orleans as a corporate sponsor.
• Mahalia Jackson TheatermajorOthersPrimary performance venue for NOBA main stage productions. NOBA presents performances at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans.
• PilobolusflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured performance on October 17, 2026 as part of the 2026-27 Season. Returns with signature blend of athleticism, illusion, and inventive storytelling.
• Alonzo King LINES BalletflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured performance on November 14, 2026 as part of the 2026-27 Season. Returns to New Orleans for the first time in 15 years.
• Alvin Ailey American Dance TheaterflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured performance March 13-14, 2027 as part of the 2026-27 Season. Returns under leadership of Alicia Graf Mack, celebrating nearly seven decades as a global cultural ambassador.
• Houston BalletflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured performance of 'Madame Butterfly' on April 17, 2027 as part of the 2026-27 Season. Stanton Welch's production set to Puccini's iconic score.
• Argentina's Tango After DarkflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured performance on February 20, 2027 as part of the 2026-27 Season. Featuring World Tango Champion Germán Cornejo and live band.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Cal Performances: UC Berkeley-affiliated presenting organization that books touring dance, music, and theater companies for Bay Area audiences. Comparable to NOBA as a presenter of professional touring dance with a season-based subscription model and educational mission.
• Dance St. Louis: St. Louis-based nonprofit that presents touring professional dance companies and provides community dance education. Highly comparable to NOBA in combining a curated presenting season with education/outreach programs in a mid-size U.S. metro.
• Harris Theater for Music and Dance: Chicago-based presenter of music and dance companies with a residency and education programming model. Directly comparable to NOBA as a regional presenter focused on bringing touring dance companies to a metropolitan audience alongside community programs.
• Celebrity Series of Boston: Boston-based performing arts presenter offering a multi-genre season (including dance) with subscription packages and community engagement programs. Comparable to NOBA in operating a curated season subscription model with educational outreach components.
• The Joyce Theater: New York City-based dance presenting organization that brings touring national and international dance companies to public audiences, with year-round season programming. Closely comparable to NOBA as a presenter (rather than producer) of professional dance, sharing the same model of curating visiting companies for a regional audience.

Regional players

• Miami City Ballet: Major regional ballet company serving South Florida with both performance and education programming. Comparable to NOBA in operating a regional dance ecosystem with school/education components, but functions as a producing company rather than a presenter.
• Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra: New Orleans-based regional performing arts organization presenting orchestral concerts and education programs in the same metro market as NOBA. Comparable as a regional nonprofit performing arts presenter with overlapping donor, sponsor, and audience ecosystems.

Broad incumbents

• Houston Ballet: One of the largest professional ballet companies in the U.S., presenting its own seasons nationally and internationally. Comparable to NOBA's programming content but functions as a producing company; NOBA is one of its presenting partners. Useful as a benchmark for programming scale.
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Iconic U.S. modern dance company that tours nationally and internationally. Functions as a producing company featured on NOBA's season; useful comparable for understanding the programming tier NOBA operates at, but not a presenting peer.

Others

• National Dance Council of America: National governing body supporting dance education, competition, and standards across the U.S. Relevant adjacent organization to NOBA's education mission and pre-professional training pathway, though structurally different as an association rather than a presenter.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/NOBADance
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@neworleansballetassociation
• Facebookfacebook.com/NOBADance
• Instagraminstagram.com/nobadance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-orleans-ballet-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 New Orleans Ballet Association