The Best Ballet Performances in Pasadena

Long a gathering place for artists and artistic expression, Pasadena's performing arts scene is among the most vibrant in Southern California. Regularly showcasing various mediums, from theater and film to a wide variety of sonic expositions, the appreciation for live performance runs deep here. Among the most popular of these artistic expressions, you'll find a thriving ballet culture. Offering an indelible blend of classic storytelling, contemporary innovation, and local artistry, this graceful art form elevates Pasadena's status as a cultural destination for dance lovers.

For those seeking the best ballet performances and most anticipated shows coming to local stages in the months ahead, we highlight five of the region's top ballet companies.

At the heart of Pasadena's ballet community is the Pasadena Civic Ballet (PCB), a distinguished pre-professional school and home to the Pasadena Civic Ballet Company. Founded on the idea that dance should cultivate both the artist and the individual, the center offers an expansive curriculum—ranging from ballet and jazz to hip-hop, character dance, and musical theatre. There's also a deep commitment to philanthropic efforts that serve community groups and non-profits in the Pasadena area.

The company is known for presenting full-length productions spotlighting student dancers in beautifully staged performances. Previous seasons featured standout revivals of Alice in Wonderland, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid—choreographed with a charming theatricality that delighted audiences of all ages. This past season, the PCB performed Let Them Eat Cake, an immersive original production at The Langham Huntington. Their take on The Nutcracker, a seasonal staple, continues to draw sell-out crowds with its lush costumes, spirited dancing, and live narration tailored for family audiences.

A jewel in Pasadena's performing arts crown, Pasadena Dance Theatre (PDT) delivers a rigorous, conservatory-style education while cultivating some of the region's most promising ballet talent. PDT's programs blend classical ballet with pointe, modern, and contemporary instruction, offering year-round enrollment for pre-professional dancers.

For its 2024/2025 season, PDT's spring performance season explored tradition and experimentation. Audiences were treated to The Développé Project, featuring emotionally resonant pieces choreographed and performed by PDT's in-house students. The studio's annual Nutcracker production remains one of the most technically refined interpretations in the region and has become a December tradition for many families across the San Gabriel Valley.

California Dance Arts, home to California Contemporary Ballet (CCB), also contributes to Pasadena's cultural rhythm. Located to the northwest, in La Cañada Flintridge, this school and company are known for blending classical training with innovative, community-minded programming.

2024 brought a thoughtful calendar of performances, including the company's annual The Snow Queen performance. The highly anticipated show has become a favorite tradition and a winter-season alternative to The Nutcracker. Dancers also appeared at several Southern California community events, showcasing pieces that merged contemporary ballet with accessible, narrative-driven themes. The company will return in 2025 with an expanded series of regional performances, continuing its mission of bringing high-level ballet to diverse audiences throughout Los Angeles County.

For those willing to make the short drive west, American Contemporary Ballet (ACB) offers something rare—intimate ballet experiences performed to live classical music. Based in downtown Los Angeles, this company delivers original works and masterfully curated repertory in a studio-style setting where the audience is just as much part of every performance as the company of dancers.

ACB's 2024/2025 season showcased a number of performances, including Inferno, The Rite, and Burlesque, ACB Jazz, Homecoming, and its own unique take on The Nutcracker Suite. Each show highlighted the company's signature style: musicality, precision, and immersive storytelling. Audience engagement is also central to ACB's ethos, with post-performance receptions, educational programs like Conversations, and "Dancing School" talks designed to deepen appreciation for the art form. Upcoming is ACB's performance of George Balanchine's Serenade coupled with the original The Euterpides, the first ballet from celebrated composer Alma Deutscher.

Though based in LA, Los Angeles Ballet (LAB) frequently performs in Pasadena at the Civic Auditorium, blending world-class productions with hyperlocal accessibility. In addition, two of the LAB's former principals—Petra Conti and Eris Nezha—are part of the Pasadena Civic Ballet faculty. LAB remains one of the West Coast's most respected ballet companies known for its balanced repertory of classic story ballets and fresh, original works.

LAB's 2024/2025 season included an emotionally stirring interpretation of Memoryhouse by Melissa Barak. The company's production of The Nutcracker toured multiple venues, including stops at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and UCLA's Royce Hall. To close the 2025 season, LAB features a staging of Cinderella, with a live orchestra at the company's home venue, the Dolby Theatre.

In Pasadena, ballet isn't just an art form—it's part of the cultural fabric that makes this city one of Southern California's most refined places to live. From conservatory-caliber companies to guest productions and contemporary reinterpretations, there's a performance for every palate—and every season.

For residents and potential buyers drawn to the elegance and sophistication of Pasadena's lifestyle, these performances serve as a reminder: here, art is not just appreciated—it's experienced. If you're interested in learning more about Pasadena's real estate market, contact Amy Engler today to start your home-buying—or selling—journey.