Hard to find parking! But this place is gorgeous. I had serious imposter syndrome as everyone seemed like a serious dancer (but without the ego). In one class everyone knew the musical theatre number we were learning choreography for - except me. I was fine with it as I came to have fun! Apparently our instructor is a very well known dancer and people were taking photos with him after. I really appreciate that he made the class accessible to all levels including myself and that he allowed us to have fun with it because he was having fun and didn't take everything so seriously. I would return if parking was easier! read more

They have an incredible program called fitness to dance. Offering all types and levels of dance, including ballet, Afro fusion, jazz, and Tap for adults I started taking tap classes with Heidi Towle and I am loving it. Some of the classes are mixed abilities, but she does a fabulous job of addressing everyone's needs and ability. Wish I had known about it sooner, highly recommend their dance classes. read more

This review is specifically on Orlando Ballet's Fitness Through Dance program from a dance professional.. The studios are spacious and have ample light and mirrors; yet floor quality, temperatures, are humidity are inconsistent. The quality and structure of Adult ballet classes also vary widely. Be aware that classes are moreso movement and fitness oriented, not "ballet" focused and they seemingly don't have a syllabus for the adult classes as every instructor 'does their thing'. Some classes start 5-10 minutes late and end 5-minutes early. instructors also air their opinions n current events, personal lives, and studio politics. read more

We attended the showcase for younger students earlier this month. The Dr. Phillips Center is well maintained and very clean. The location is gorgeous with a lake and walking paths around the facility. Unlike the previous studio my grandchildren attended, the show started on time. The stadium seating ensured that doting parents and grandparents all had a good view of their dancers. Reserved seating eliminated the mad scramble for seats that happen at some children's shows. I liked that there were cup holders on each seat so I could finish the coffee I brought with me and expected to throw out as we entered the theater. Of course, the children were adorable as they performed their dances! I look forward to watching my little dancers as they progress at Orlando Ballet. read more

Amazing performance with a group of dedicated individuals! It is good to know that art is still alive and well. This show was one of the most entertaining performances I seen for a long time. Keep it up and chase your dreams. read more

See all

To say this is not quite my cup of tea would be an understatement. I'm more of a sports bar Friday night kind of guy. But I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the performing arts! This being at the new Dr. Phillips Center was also a double bonus big upgrade from the Bob Carr. The battle of the sexes theme was fun to watch. It was essentially a dance battle with a lot of integrated scenes in between, the dancers also had crowd interaction as well. Which was something I didn't expect. As usual I would say the boys def won the battle whoop whoop!! During intermission we were able to re-up on "refreshments" they second portion of the performance was definitely more up beat. You can't lose with Michael Jackson and Queen alternating songs!!! My girl friend especially enjoyed the Queen integration. With we are the champions and we will rock you!! Very fun and upbeat performance!!!! The dancers were amazing looking forward to the next one! read more

See all

2019 Review 14/100 Just fantastic. I've been dancing since I was very young. After graduating from college a few years ago I haven't been keeping up with it as much as I would like. Until recently. I love that Orlando Ballet offers adult classes that aren't just for beginners. They have great options for someone like me who has been dancing most of their life and is just looking to get back into it, not start from scratch. The teachers are great and the classes are a lot of fun. read more

5 Stars for a company full of world-class dancers that is not afraid to take risks! I've been to a number of Orlando Ballet shows in the past year (Vampire's Ball, A Choreographers' Showcase, Battle of the sexes, Swan Lake, etc) as well as their more intimate, stripped down Uncorked at The Abbey, and have fallen in love. I would recommend anyone with the slightest interest to attend a show, or better yet, attend an Uncorked! performance. This is a more casual evening with wine where you get to watch the creative process unfold and get to interact with the dancers and the fabulous, David Hill (the choreographer). We find out that these dancers are practicing all day and many of them have to have second and third jobs as the wages of a professional dancer is not always enough. These are dedicated dancers from around the world who have decided to dance in Orlando because of the amazing school they have here and the prestige that David Hill brings with him. The benefit of going to a smaller show is that you start to really pick out your favorite dancers. This makes the future shows that much more special as you wait for your favorite ballerina to take the stage. Another thing that makes this company a definite 5-star experience is the venue where they are now performing. I had been to a few shows at the Bob Carr, but the Dr. Phillips Center blows that away! What a stage for such a great group of dancers (aka artists, aka athletes). Finally, I'll leave you with this. If you've never been to see a ballet I encourage you to get tickets - even the cheapest ones - and go see the Orlando Ballet. It would be hard to leave uninspired! read more

I have lived in Orlando for 11 years and just today (Vampire's Ball) was my first trip to the Orlando Ballet... shame on me. What a fabulous production, this may have been my first trip but it is definitely not my last. Thanks to Yelp's Culture Club, I was introduced to such an amazing company and fabulous Artistic Director, Robert Hill. He went above and beyond what is expected of a ballet performance with Vampire's Ball. I was intrigued from the first moment and couldn't wait till the closing curtain so see each element of this awesome show. The dancers were incredible. The 3 kids who played a small roll literally made my jaw drop with their skills. The costumes, the music, the set... literally everything was awesome, well beyond what I was expecting. I love that Robert Hill stepped out of the ballet "norm" and delivered such a dramatic, funny and entertaining show. Also... They have classes! Classes for all. http://www.orlandoballet.org/school/classes.html I am entertaining the idea of checking out the Intro to Ballet class as I have always wanted to learn. I can't wait to see another production! read more

See all

WOW!! Thank you Yelp for allowing to me to see this amazing show. I saw Battle of the Sexes on Friday and I was amazed by the performance. Orlando Ballet I am a big fan. From start to finish the dancers, the choreography, the costume changes, the music, everything was fantastic and beautiful. I truly had a great time and I am looking forward to seeing more shows by the Orlando Ballet. read more

Fun and elegant night at the DPAC watching the Orlando Ballet Battle of the Sexes performance. Enjoyed the creative aspects of the show and found it very abstract, beautiful, and avant garde. It was breathtaking to see the controlled and detailed technical movements of the dancers, it's really spectacular to see this up close. The first half of the show was very moody and emotional, but the high-energy feel of second act was my favorite part. I enjoyed the mix of ballet and modern dance routines set to the music of Michael Jackson and Queen. The end ballet act set to Ravel's Bolero was a standout, so elegant and pleasing to watch. Our seats were in the Orchestra area and just fantastic, what great night out! In the past I have not been a huge fan of watching ballet, but this was very interesting and way more fun than I had anticipated. Love that the Orlando Ballet is producing limited run shows with fresh choreography, so check out a show here! read more

Very poor experience during their 2021 summer intensive. The choreography was sloppy especially coming from company dancers and staff. The intensive attendees could have choreographed a better show. Did not take a positive COVID result seriously. Overall very poor experience. Not impressed at all. read more

Wow! Wow! Wow! Last night's performance of Battle of the Sexes was amazing! This was my first time attending a ballet and it will not be my last. I applaud Orlando Ballet for having such talented dancers in their company. I was amazed at how I was able to totally understand the different scenes and storyline behind them. I definitely related with most of them. The music was awesome! I even downloaded a couple on ITunes this morning because they were such great songs. I wanted to get up on stage and dance to a couple of them too. Lol. What was totally surprising was the ending that took my breath away. They performed Bolero which gave me goosebumps! The strength and agility of all the dancers was amazing! I am so happy that I was able to attend this show. I can't wait to go back to see more. read more

I am obsessed. What a fun company to watch perform! They seem to always add incredible twists or humor to their dance prices and I've been pleasantly surprised by everything I've seen thus far. With the assistance of Yelp, I've been able to see a whole lot more than I would be able to normally. In October, a Yelp Elite friend invited me to be her plus one for Vampire's Ball. Holy wow. Not only was the dancing gorgeous, there were parts that were ethereal and mysterious. I read up on the dancers since that show and it's been fun to see some of my favorites in subsequent shows (Daniel Benavides, Alberto Blanco, Arcadian Broad, David Kiyak, Kate-Lynn Robichaux, Chiaki Yasukawa) In January, I brought my little sister (who was actually accepted on scholarship into the Orlando Ballet's summer intensive - she's an awesome dancer and only 11!) to see Swan Lake as a Christmas Present. It was my first time at DPAC and it was altogether an amazing experience. Outside of the beauty of the venue itself, the dancing was perfect but with the style of the individual dancers themselves which makes all Orlando Ballet shows special. Because of the Yelp discount on tickets to A Choreographer's Showcase at Cirque du Soleil, we were able to purchase those. This was really neat! To see the choreography of the dancers themselves in a smaller venue was awesome. At the risk of sounding like some crazy fan, I was transfixed with Arcadian Broad at this show. He's a very talented dancer and choreographer with a vibrant personality. Finally, I got Elite tickets for Battle of the Sexes and was beyond excited. Not only did I get to see this show the weekend of my birthday for FREE, but I knew it was going to be a creative mashup and had been told it was an amazing show. Wow. Again, Arcadian killed it and the rest of the dancers followed right behind. They added enough humor to their work to know they have a good time doing what they do. I'm looking forward to seeing more from this group and plan to attend every show I can this season! read more

See all

What an awesome performance! On March 6th, I was able to see the performance of Battle of the Sexes and it was simply amazing! This was such a cool way to spend a Friday evening. The various story lines ranged from intimate and intense to fun with a touch of comedy...just a brilliant mix of emotions. This was my first trip to the Orlando Ballet and I wasn't really sure what to expect. I have to admit that I am quite pleased with the level of talent displayed. I really enjoyed the performance and I do hope to attend more performances here. read more

The Orlando Ballet deserves five solid stars. Talented and creative, Robert Hill, Orlando Ballet's creative director, displays his true leadership abilities by not only developing world class talent, but also displays great character and security in letting and encouraging members of his ensemble, also create and direct. Orlando Ballet is refreshing, dynamic and captivating. We are fortunate to have such a cast here in Orlando, and I am looking forward to enjoying many more of their performances in the future. Their most recent one, Battle of the Sexes, was masterfully closed with an amazing rendition of Ravel's Bolero. I feel like there is so much more to come. Looking forward to return. read more

My husband and I had the great pleasure of going out and seeing the Battle of the Sexes the other night featuring the Orlando Ballet. First of all, I am so in love with our new venue here in Orlando. The Dr. Phillips Center is such a beautiful event location and I am so proud of it. Simply gorgeous... and yay bathroom space! Second and most importantly... this ballet company has some extreme talent and as I watched each performance I envied all of their grace and talent. It literally made me wish I was a dancer. My hands started to hurt from all the clapping I was doing :o) With the battle of the sexes I could see how much fun the dancers were having. I especially loved watching that some of the dancers themselves got to choreograph and create part of the show. It shows how much talent our ballet company has! I particularly liked the Bolero at the end of the night. Who doesn't love the classic Ravel piece and ballerinas performing a spectacular performance to match the consistent crescendo of the piece to the very end. I hope everyone takes the opportunity to go watch the Orlando Ballet. Men and women alike. Kids too. Classical and contemporary. Go see this company!!! Bravo, Orlando Ballet!!! read more

As a dancer, I have seen MANY dance companies in my short lifetime and let me just say I was blown away by the performance (Battle of the Sexes) I saw last night! With last night being my first time seeing this group of dancers I didn't really know what to expect, but I was immensely excited. I am a true lover of the arts and I couldn't wait to see what these performers had in store! It was evident by the performance they all put on that they truly love what they're doing. Having danced since the age of three and starting out my dancing career in ballet, I felt this crazy flood of emotions come over me and even got a little teary eyed. Whenever I start to second guess whether or not I should dance, all I'll ever need to do is watch a performance by the Orlando Ballet to get some more inspiration! Let me also add that the venue they perform at is awesome. I really loved how intimate the performance felt. The Dr. Phillips Center is a really great facility! If you haven't seen these incredible dancers yet, what are you waiting for?? I'll definitely be back, and I encourage everyone who hasn't gone to go buy tickets to see the Orlando Ballet right now! read more

Beautifully inspiring. I saw Vampire's Ball with much hesitation. I think of vampires as dark, and dreary, and depressing-- not light, entertaining, or delightful. I wondered how this show would come together leaving the audience feeling good. My concerns were unfounded as the show was exceptionally done, and ended with me on my feet dancing in a fantastic mood! How did that happen? Costuming. Modern Music. Exceptional talent. Comedy. . . It just worked. Very clever and lovely. I wish I could somehow transport myself back in time and somehow start training in dance at the age of 3. Is it too late for me? That's a hypothetical question. Props to Robert Hill for such a unique concept. Well done! read more

Today I saw the production Giselle courtesy of Yelp. First of all I was absolutely blown out of the water by the aesthetics and environment of the new Dr. Phillips Center. The center gives a very modern feel and is well illuminated, providing a cornerstone for the arts in a bustling downtown area. The moment you walk in, you feel like a celebrity among the beautiful spiral staircases; I can't emphasize how spectacularly put-together the building is and how it takes advantage of open spacing. Finally the concert hall is large but spread out well so that there really aren't any seats extremely far away from the stage. You can get a fairly decent view regardless of where you're sitting. The Orlando Ballet was extremely passionate in their rendition of Giselle. I appreciated the cohesion of the chorus, as well as the expressiveness of the lead Giselle. The exposition felt a little long; however, at the conclusion of Act I, the transition between innocent love to tragic heartbreak was seamless and the moment Giselle lost her bun was hauntingly beautiful. The quality of the male dancers was exceptional as well. Despite the fact that one of the males fell during his solo, it went unnoticed by the majority of the audience and the dancer adjusted well to the circumstance. The set design is on the simplistic side, but it's sufficient in not detracting from the rest of the play. Overall I really enjoyed Giselle and will definitely be back to enjoy further productions like the Nutcracker Suite in December. Tips if new to the Ballet: 1) Refrain from clapping excessively during a performance. Often there might be a lull or pause in a solo; however, it's often only for a few moments. 2) Refrain from cell phone usage; it can be seen by the people behind you. 3) Read the synopsis before the play. You will be left confused by the story if you rely solely on the dances. read more

Never had a chance to experience a ballet so when Yelp offered from the Culture Club I had to jump at the new experience to watch the Vampire Ballet. Being that this was my first time I had no idea what to expect. The stage was smokey and gloomy kinda resembled Halloween Horror Nights, especially when the vampire popped out to make the grand entrance on the piano. Although this was creepy in a way he made it seem so elegant. Once the other Vampires came out on stage I immediately noticed the way they were dancing was so captivating and mesmerizing. The makeup, wardrobe was completely on point for everyone on stage. Especially the vampiress's, she was a gloomy beauty throughout the whole show her toe point was flawless, it looked like she was gliding across the stage. All the dancers were expressive to the point that they didn't need to talk for you to understand the story line. They painted out the story line with their amazing dance moves. Overall a very enjoyable show, I will be back for the Nutcracker in Dec! read more

I went to see Orlando Ballet's production of Carmen. I'm more of a Magic fan than a ballet girl but I still really enjoy the ballet. I've never seen a ballet in NYC so I really don't have anything to compare the performance to. I thought the dancers were amazing :) There were some really cute little dancers who stole the show. At times the older dancers were memorizing. The thing that ruined this whole experience was that the music was on a cd and it didn't even feel like the music was in surround sound. I've seen lots of other live dance performance and the music is usually live. I got the tickets on discount (I think from Living Social). If I got a deal like that I would go see the ballet again. But I don't think I'll ever pay full price for a place where the music is on a cd. read more

"Uncorked" presented by the Orlando Ballet at the Abbey is a treasure . Watching the artistic director, Robert Hill, turn over the moves for spontaneous choreography to his dancers is a delight. Ever a surprise. Tonight wonder boy Arcadian Broad is asked to compose music for the ballet on the spot. This further complicates the drama of the newly choreographed piece called Romeo and Juliet and featuring Daniel Benavides( whose looming presence as Dracula will not be forgotten). His partner, Ani Boer did the impossible things asked of her by the ambitious young choreographers. Several of the dances were accompanied by members of the Orlando Philharmonic. One of those, "The Dying Swan" performed by Kate Robichaux with special guests, Eric Jacobsen, Music Director of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and Deniz Uz, accompanist was especially moving. The entire company was charming. When asked for one word Orlando Ballet brings to mind, many answered family. This unity gives their work the transcendence it so often achieves on the big stage and makes the whole bunch of them a lot of fun. Don't miss another "Uncorked" at the Abbey. The intimacy here brings a whole new dimension to seeing the dancers in the big shows like Dracula and Beauty and the Beast. read more

Attended "Battle of The Sexes" performance at Dr. Phillips Performing art center Saturday...wow, what a treat! Beautiful, somber, energetic and fun all rolled up into one show! Music varied from pop to classical with ensemble numbers and couples as well. We particularly loved the Bjork song chroegraphy.... The queen and Michael Jackson pieces were fun too! The last piece "Bravado" I believe was so well done and very classical ballet. This show really showed off the diversity of style and talent this troupe posseses ! I'd definitely book another show in the future, a great night! read more

I just went to see Orlando Ballet's production of "Vampire's Ball" tonight, courtesy of Yelp's Culture Club! It was incredible! I really didn't know what to expect... I had some preconceptions about what a ballet is like, so I expected the traditional, stuffy, and conservative type. Boy, was I in for a surprise... Vampire's Ball was a fun, modern, and hilarious production! The music was unique and the dancers were great. I mean how can you not like a ballet that includes "Lovesong" by Adele? OH and there were dancing zombies! I mean, it doesn't get more entertaining than that. The performance ended with all the dancers coming on stage and saying goodbye with an awesome rendition of the dance from "Thriller." All in all, it was a great performance and I'm looking forward to seeing another Orlando Ballet production again soon. read more

I went to the Vampire Ballet with eager anticipation, unlike others I wasn't there to enjoy the unveiling of the architecture of the building but rather to see how a Vampire ballet can be developed into a fun artistic and well articulate expression through dance and movements. I was electrified by the choices of music, the bright costumes, the glitter, the makeup. I was elated when they played Adele and interpret that song fabulously. The level of talent for a small market like Orlando is amazing, the up and coming new talents in our own backyard is amazingly portrayed by 3 fabulous children. The battle between good and evil is portrayed from both set that you can have good and bad in everything. This was a delightful way to spend the night with my daughter enjoying a great nite. I am looking forward to the Nutcracker :) Maggie read more

This is our second trip for a show and, like before, it was wonderful! On our first visit we saw The Nutcracker, this time, Battle of the Sexes. The venue is wonderful and all of the staff are extremely kind and helpful. What really impressed me is that all of the seats are good ones. Every production is beautiful and the dancers are very skilled. We're really looking forward to more date nights here! It's nice to be able to grab dinner and a show ay such an upscale venue. We'll surely be back, we bought tickets to Shen Yun! read more

See all

I attended the Orlando Ballet's performance of "The Nutcracker" today, and have been on a holiday high ever since! This was my first time seeing this company, and after seeing many performances of The Nutcracker by everything from local community productions to tours from the Moscow Ballet, I had high expectations. First, my dislikes: The main thing I had a problem with was some of the artistic liberties and interpretations on some of the pieces. Maybe I'm too much of a purist, but a group of characters shaking their butts at the audience, and a wayward and crazy elderly couple breakdancing during the party scene all for comic relief wasn't my cup of tea-others seemed to like it, so maybe it's just me. In addition, I felt that a lot of the choreography was far to repetitive. It seemed like every group sequence involved dancing diagonally across the stage in a specific motion, then turning and doing the same thing the opposite way-I felt that way more could be done. And my big thing...the snowflakes throwing glitter all over the stage? Seemed like little more than simple "crowd-pleasing" glitz and glamour. Now on to the good: First off, there is some absolutely fantastic talent in this company-plain and simple...and that is what I came to see. Watching the members of the company perform was at time mesmerizing-especially the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavileer. Second, the costumes were beautiful-making the entire experience visually dazzling in every aspect. Finally, it's no secret to anyone that I'm not a big fan of the Bob Carr, but for some reason the acoustics from the recorded track seemed very crisp...maybe I was just in the spirit of everything, but the music sounded so crisp at times. All in all, a wonderful performance! The talent of this humble company shines, and makes for a memorable and enjoyable afternoon. I will be sure to catch another performance from the Orlando Ballet, and can't wait to see them again! read more

I haven't had the opportunity to go a ballet in years so I was super stoked to be offered the opportunity to see The Vampires Ball. What a fantastic way to be reintroduced to the ballet experience. I absolutely loved it! I was seated in the front row and able to see everything perfectly. The dancers were all so talented. One even played the piano for a few of the dances as well as danced. The story being told through music and dance was so vivid. It was if someone was reading the story to you verbally. The set and a costumes were extremely well thought out as well. Everything was just perfect. Again, I loved it! If given the opportunity I would gladly go see another performance put on by the Orlando Ballet. read more

Orlando Ballet - Just a few shots taken at The Vampires Ball - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Orlando, Florida

We are so lucky to have such an amazing ballet company here in Orlando! The "Orlando Ballet" performs several times throughout the year. And tickets can be purchased at several different price levels. Right now the show that is storming up the stage is "The Vampire Ball" a hot, sexy time at the ballet. This is sure to be an Orlando staple for each Halloween season. If you get a chance to see a show, go check it out! read more

The Orlando Ballet productions are always amazing! I saw Romeo & Juliet last night and you could have heard a pin drop in the Bob Carr because the audience was SI riveted by the end. Robert Hill's vision bring a new take on ballet and I really enjoy their performances. read more

Orlando Ballet - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Orlando, Florida

I've attended the Orlando Ballet three times starting with their annual Battle of the Sexes, then the Vampire's Ball, then Swans: Black & White. Needless to say after attending such creative and fabulous productions I'm a fan. Located in the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre near I-4 in downtown Orlando, the Orlando Ballet is one of Orlando's gems. You may order tickets in advance online or through the box office located outside the theater. Tickets start at $15. As a college student who doesn't have much extra spending money but still enjoys going to cultural events, I love how the Orlando Ballet offers student rush tickets an hour before show time for $10 if you present a valid student ID. In the lobby before the show starts you will see people of all ages dressed down in jeans to dressed up for a night on the town. The productions themselves are gorgeous with props and costumes that add to the story without distracting from the dancers and their hypnotizing movements. I like how the company offers unique shows putting their own spin on well-known stories with oftentimes modern music. The theater ushers are extremely helpful as well. In the three times that I have been to the Orlando Ballet, I haven't heard one person around me say that they haven't enjoyed the show. I've been in parties of two to eight people and everyone that I have attended with has said that they would like to return for another production. There is a bar located on the first level of the Bob Carr and restaurants are within driving distance (there is a restaurant located across the street in the Marriott Hotel). Options for parking include several nearby garages (I think it was $8) or valet parking at the Marriott. I also recommend connecting with the company on Facebook as they offer a behind the scenes look and run contests as well, I won free tickets to the Vampire's Ball and they were great seats! They also offer a family series with child friendly shows. Looking forward to the 2012-2013 season with shows such as The Vampire's Ball, The Nutcracker, and Hollywood en Pointe. read more

Wonderful choreography and dancers!!! Shows are terrific. Don't like classical ballet? Try one of their contemporary ballet productions like the upcoming Hollywood en Pointe Feb 15-16, 2013. You won't believe what a great show Orlando Ballet puts on. One of the upcoming new pieces is previewed on vimeo. Ticket prices are very reasonable. You won't be disappointed. A great date night. I don't work for the ballet I am just a big fan. http://vimeo.com/57686372 read more

To say I am a fan of the Orlando Ballet would be an understatement. As a former dancer and someone who takes vacations to NYC or Seattle just to see a ballet, I am critical and have a huge appreciation for the art. It is so great to see such talent and high quality productions in little old Orlando. These dancers are killing it show after show. Nothing could be better than the show at The Abbey this year..getting to talk with the dancers after the show and learn about them as people and their process felt like meeting local celebrities. I have been to Vampire's Ball, Uncorked, Swan Lake, Choreographer's Showcase at Cirque du Soleil and Battle of the Sexes this year and each one somehow managed to top the last one. Favorite moments of this year- anytime you have a professional ballet company dancing to Michael Jackson (thank you Thriller in Vampire's Ball and Man in the Mirror at Battle of the Sexes!) The audience can feel how much fun the dancers are having and it makes me want to get up and dance along in the aisles. Orlando Ballet has managed to keep their audiences interested in classical ballet, which isn't easy. Keep showing us the classic ballets and reminding us how perfect a Romeo and Juliet pas de duex, waltz of the flowers, and the Black Swan solo are! But the times when the Orlando Ballet has mixed it up and surprised us have been some of the best moments. I love to see real life emotions, trials and celebrations depicted by the ballet. Arcadian Broad (or as I like to call him...this generation's Mikhail Baryshnikov) is unstoppable. Here's what people want to see from him: more piano playing, more pirouettes, more grand jete's, more choreography! He can handle the stage by himself and is so entertaining to watch. And let's not forget David Kiyak- so much talent, easy on the eyes, and a leader of the company. He is a joy to watch on his own, and always makes his female partners look flawless. I also love the diversity of the dancers...they look like a normal beautiful group of incredibly talented people that truly enjoy dancing. it is great to see all heights, ethnicities, ages and body types represented! Here's what the audience also wants: more instagram and social media photos of dancers, rehearsals, costume fittings, choreographer's ideas, feet, the studio, etc. Marketing on social media could definitely be improved. Some dancers are doing their own, but compared to what other ballet companies are doing, there is room to grow and the followers are out there! We are using the hashtag and love to interact with the dancers. Streamlined visual media would add to the hype around the ballet and may attract people who have not yet discovered what a treasure the Orlando Ballet is. Keep up the great work! We can't get enough Orlando Ballet! read more

Orlando Ballet's Battle of the Sexes was dynamic and bursting with youthful creativity as many dancers choreographed pieces, although they naturally didn't reach the artistic level of their director. -- I was blown away by the first and last piece masterfully choreographed by it's Artistic Director, and performed wonderfully by the company!! It ended on a HIGH NOTE!! read more

Orlando Ballet you have a new fan. Over the last few months I have had the pleasure of enjoying some great performances from Orlando Ballet. In December I reluctantly went to see The Nutcracker because I have seen it many times before. The dancers were great in their roles. I especially loved the skill of the dancers that I witnessed during the court performances. I was impressed by the skill of the Russian and Arabian dancers. My next peak into the Orlando Ballet was through the uncorked event. It was a behind the scenes look at how the ballets are choreographed. We got a sneak peak of the next two upcoming events. After the uncorked event we decided to purchase tickets to Swan Lake. Their adaption of Tchaikovsky was impressive. I could really tell the difference in the personality of both the white and black swan by dancing alone. Finally last night we were fortunate to get tickets to Battle of the Sexes; the ballet I highly anticipated. This ballet that incorporates modern dance moves to old and new music and did not disappoint. The artistic director Robert Hill gave the reigns to his dancers to choreograph the numbers. They did a fantastic job. We got to see a series of very unique acts. Telmo Moreira choreographed a very artsy love triangle using Bjork and Mozart. Use of pre-recorded video scenes really enhanced the act. The amazing dancer from Japan, Chiaki Yasukawa, had a unique take with her CIty Life numbers. The numbers used techno music and dances to show what it is like in the corporate world. I thought she did a good job at demonstrating both the power struggles between men and women in an office and the struggle against office politics (Gossip number). The second act started with some powerful numbers choreographed by Robert Hill (First time I Ever Saw Your Face sung by George Michael, and an interesting version of Nights in White Satin sung by Bettye LaVette). The crowd-pleaser MW2 was a "althetic" contest of a man and women set to hits of Michael Jackson and Queen. It was cute and playful. A very good work by Arcadian Broad. But it didn't end there. We were impressed and amazed by the final act Bolero. Robert Hill's interpretation of this Ravel symphony kept the crowd at the edge of their seat. He made good use of the ups and downs of the music. You could really see the dancers build up with the music. Such amazing choreography! Orlando Ballet I am hooked. Keep up the great work. My only improvement I would ask for is to have longer engagements for each show. 3-4 shows is not enough time to reach your potential fans. Shows like Battle of the Sexes should go on for at least of week or longer. Keep dancing! read more

I'm here at the Orlando Ballet school for National Dance Day. They're using all five studios, to accommodate a large amount of dancers here to celebrate National Dance Day. At this event you get free water and the studio had tons of water to give out to everybody participating. The studio has several offices that you can't tell where they are from the studios you practicing. The multiple studios have good floor and ballet bars for practice. There is good mirror coverage in the different studios and a good sound system for music to be played. The layout is a little bit weird with the largest studio being of an open format. However the teachers are knowledgeable and the staff is friendly. read more

Vampires Ball is returning this year, so buy your tickets early for a spectacular show! Also, per the complaint that the music isn't live, from what I understand, The Nutcracker and Carmina Burana will be danced to live music. Yay! read more

Went to see Vampire's Ball and had an enjoyable time. As billed, this was a modern piece, with camp and contemporary elements as opposed to being boring and staid. Some of it worked, some less so. Basically the story (from my eyes and seat) is a take off of Frankenstein, Dracula and Eyes Wide Shut (or any other media piece with an overly long masquerade party). Without giving things away, the story could have used some more narration. Things were a little confusing at times and since they used some narration already in very limited spots (and in the program) I don't think that's an unreasonable request. The female vampire lead was AMAZING...She was creepy, elegant, strong-the epitome of what I was expecting to see. The male vampire was much less so. He was more suited to perform Sweet Transvestite than to carry the whole load here. He was good in spots but uneven overall. The innocent couple was strong, the mad scientist and his clones were very good but uneven at times. There was a group of 3 children who had an integral, slightly confusing role who were all stunning. Their athleticism and excitement literally stole the show. Overall, Vampire's Ball was a great time. I was happy to enjoy the performance for what it was but I had a lot of questions coming home in the car. A stronger company might have ironed out the rough edges, a better theater might have provided better amenities but on the whole the Orlando Ballet is worth the time and effort if you can find fairly priced tickets. read more

I witness last night what had to be the worst Nutcracker performance that I have ever seen. My daughter and I have seen the Orlando Ballet perform The Nutcracker for many years. All I can say for last nights performance is "what happened?" The story was not even followed. The dancing was lackluster at best and the scenery blah. I think I will save the rest of my ballet money for this season and take my daughter to see The Nutcracker in New York next year. What a disappointment. read more