In the late 1950s, native New Jerseyan Carolyn Clark conceived the idea for a top-notch New Jersey-based ballet company as she toured the world with the renowned American Ballet Theatre. In 1958, at a time when the state had few cultural entities to call its own, Miss Clark and her fellow dancer, George Tomal, formed the Company with the dream of making it one of national significance.

That first “season” consisted of only two performances for a few hundred people, but it also set the stage for the artistic growth, accomplishment, and critical acclaim that were to follow. In 1998, the Company was designated a Major Arts Institution by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for “artistic excellence, substantial programming, and broad public service.”

Today, New Jersey Ballet is an integral part of the state’s cultural landscape. The Company brings the magic of dance theatre to thousands every year in every part of the state. It makes ballet accessible to New Jersey seniors and families with children through subsidized low-cost tickets. It performs the state’s premier production of Nutcracker, one that has been a cherished holiday tradition for thousands of families for nearly three generations. And, through its highly successful educational outreach programs, New Jersey Ballet has given hundreds of thousands of public school students their first introduction to ballet, and inspired in many a lifelong appreciation of the arts.

The Company’s artistic advisors include three of the greatest international dancers of the 20th century: Eleanor D’Antuono, Leonid Kozlov, and Edward Villella who bring with them years of experience with American Ballet Theatre, The Bolshoi, and New York City Ballet.

NJB’s annual Nutcracker run at Paper Mill with the Paper Mill Orchestra is one of the high points of the year. The production debuted at Paper Mill in 1971 with Edward Villella guesting as the Cavalier. The production also tours to bergenPAC in Englewood, the Cape May Performing Arts Center in Cape May Court House and Stafford Township Arts Center in Manahawkin.

In its Matinees for Kids and FamiliesSM, New Jersey Ballet offers one of the largest collections in the nation of well-known fairy tales and children’s stories, fully-staged productions accompanied by original “storyteller” narration, providing children with an easy-to-follow introduction to the magic of dance.

Dance, choral, opera, and symphony audiences alike have enjoyed New Jersey Ballet performances with New Jersey Symphony, New Jersey State Opera, and over 50 other major performing arts organizations throughout the state. During the 1990s, New Jersey Ballet established an international reputation for excellence with tours of Taiwan, the Soviet Union, Bermuda and Italy. The Company is composed of artists from ten nations – Argentina, Bulgaria, Colombia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Tatarstan, the United States and Zaire.

The Company’s annual gala at NJPAC, featuring contemporary works by renowned choreographers, as well as works from the classical repertory, showcases the Company’s wide range of styles and versatility.

New Jersey Ballet is one of the most important arts organizations in the state today, with not a single canceled appearance in its history. The Company’s priority continues to be to raise the state’s cultural profile here and abroad and to enrich the quality of life for all the people of New Jersey.