Los Angeles Ballet continues its 2025/2026 season with “Giselle”

Los Angeles Ballet announces its 2025/2026 season

Season 20 marks a major milestone, honoring the Company’s 20th anniversary. LAB holds the distinction of being the longest-operating professional classical ballet company in the history of Los Angeles. Over the past two decades, its beloved production of The Nutcracker and rich repertory have attracted wide and growing audiences.

Season 20 will see LAB continue its residency in January 2026 at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts with a triple bill production, 20 Years of Los Angeles Ballet, featuring George Balanchine’s Rubies, Hans van Manen’s Frank Bridge Variations and a new work by Artistic Director, Melissa Barak, her third since taking the helm in 2022.

Spring 2026 will mark LAB’s debut at The Music Center with a production of the ultra-classic, timeless ballet, Giselle at The Ahmanson Theatre. December commemorates 20 years of the Los Angeles holiday tradition, The Nutcracker.

In its history, LAB has presented the works of celebrated choreographers such as Aszur Barton, Alejandro Cerrudo, Val Caniparoli, Christopher Wheeldon, Jiri Kylian, Jose Limon, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Melissa Barak. The company is also known for its staging of classical and neoclassical works in the canon of ballet by George Balanchine, Sir Frederick Ashton, and August Bournonville.

“The 20th season marks a huge milestone for the Company. Our mixed repertoire this year is a nod to our past, present, and future which I felt was important. Being able to celebrate all that LAB has accomplished over the years is thanks to many donors, board members, dancers, choreographers, and leaders who have cared enough to see this Company grow and materialize in Los Angeles. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to carry the torch.”  LAB Artistic Director, Melissa Barak.

WINTER 2026

20 Years of Los Angeles Ballet

The Wallis
January 29-31, 2026

LAB and The Wallis present a triple bill of ballet to celebrate LAB’s 20th anniversary and its past, present, and future. LAB revisits Season 1 and honors the George Balanchine repertoire on which the company was founded with a restaging of its first Balanchine work, Rubies. An encore of Hans van Manen’s Frank Bridge Variations marks the recent achievement of being the first American ballet company to stage this work in the U.S. LAB continues its commitment to the future of ballet and the development of new works with a world premiere by LAB Artistic Director, Melissa Barak, featuring music by American composer, David Lawrence.

Rubies

Choreography – George Balanchine

Music – Igor Stravinsky

Balanchine’s vibrant and jazz-influenced ballet, Rubies exemplifies his neoclassical style, characterized by traditional ballet technique infused with contemporary and abstract movements. Set to Stravinsky’s Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra enjoyed for its playfulness and spirited energy. Rubies is the second movement of Balanchine’s Jewels, a three part abstract ballet that includes Emeralds and Diamonds. The movements can be seen as three separate ballets or presented in this way as one program.

Frank Bridge Variations

Choreography – Hans van Manen

Music – Benjamin Britten

Set to Britten’s striking score, Frank Bridge Variations showcases Hans van Manen’s exceptional choreographic genius. Through a series of dynamic and emotionally charged variations, van Manen delves into the complexities of relationships, the intricacies of individuality, and the transformative power of music.

World Premiere

Choreography – Melissa Barak

Music – David Lawrence

SPRING 2026

Giselle

The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre

April 30-May 3, 2026

Choreography – Jean Coralli & Jules Perrot

Music – Adolphe Adam

Considered one of the greatest ballets of all time and a masterpiece of the Romantic Era, Giselle brings together supernatural themes and Eastern European folklore in a haunting story of tragic betrayal and madness, and transcending vengeance. The character Giselle is a compelling and enduring heroine who descends to an unearthly realm to join the vengeful spirits known as the Wilis. There she ultimately chooses forgiveness over revenge.

Outreach and Education:

A Chance to Dance (ACTD) LAB opens its doors to all ages and skill levels in the Los Angeles community each month for a day of free ballet classes, alternative dance/fitness classes, and lectures and demonstrations. A Chance to Dance continues its partnership with McKinley School in Compton through a series of 6-week residencies in September/October 2025 and February/March 2026. These residencies serve students ranging from K-5th grades.

Power of Performance (POP!) provides free access to LAB performances each season to community organizations throughout Los Angeles County such as Hope Street Family Center (Dignity Health), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, VetTix, WISE and Healthy Aging, Lula Washington Dance Theatre, and more. To date, POP! has provided over 50 community partners with nearly 200,000 free performance tickets.

Subscriptions and Single Tickets:

Season subscription series Opening Nights, Saturday Nights, and Choose Your Own subscriptions are available. Subscriptions range in price from $69 to $346.

Standard Tickets: $38.00 – $131.00
Performances with Live Orchestra Tickets: $45.00 – $138.00

Discounts are available on standard ticket prices for students, children, seniors, educators, first responders, veterans and active duty members. Special Group Rates also available.

Box Office Phone: 310-998-7782, Mon-Fri, 12pm-5pm;

Website

About Los Angeles Ballet:

Los Angeles Ballet (LAB) is the leading ballet company in Los Angeles known for staging classical, contemporary, romantic, and neoclassical ballets, for pioneering new works, and for presenting relevant dance pieces by many of today’s most innovative dance-makers. LAB’s original production of The Nutcracker is an annual holiday favorite for Los Angeles residents and regional, national, and international visitors.

Led by Artistic Director Melissa Barak and Executive Director Julia Rivera, LAB performs in theater venues in LA County including Royce Hall at UCLA, The Wallis in Beverly Hills, The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre, and Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

As part of its mission to expand people’s knowledge of and nurture a love for ballet, LAB gives access to performances to the widest audiences possible by providing free tickets for thousands of residents in underserved communities in Los Angeles County through its arts education program, Power of Performance (POP!). In 2012, LAB launched a hands-on outreach program called A Chance to Dance (ACTD) providing free ballet and movement instruction for dance lovers of all ages. Los Angeles Ballet was founded in 2004 by Artistic Directors, Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary, and Executive Director, Julie Whittaker.

For more information, please visit losangelesballet.org