In ballet, the stage is almost as important as the dancer. The theatres below are among the most significant in the world, each playing a unique role in the development and evolution of the art form. A cultural and architectural landmark, their stages attract performers and audience members alike.
- Opera House, Boston: The majestic Opera House, formerly called the Boston Opera House, is located in the heart of Boston and has a beautiful interior. The second entry, the Citizens Bank Opera House in Boston, was paraphrased from the first.
- Lyric Opera House in Chicago. © GettyThe Lyric Opera House, Chicago. Spanning a century and a half, opera houses are distinguished by their Art Deco glamour, dramatic curves, and vast stage. They have defined Chicago as the cultural capital of the Midwest since 1929. Its cavernous acoustics transport the listener into a world of reverberations.
- Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington, D.C.: As one of the flagships of the renowned Kennedy Center performing arts complex, the Opera House is a living monument to the performing arts at the highest national level. Its contemporary style and superior technical equipment make it the perfect home for exceptional visiting ballet companies.
- Academy of Music, Philadelphia: A grand old dame of Locust Street near the city center, this former gathering place and orphanage (opened 1857) is still the oldest US opera house. Its ornate interior fascinates ballet companies, and its plush seating and superb acoustics make it a centerpiece of Philadelphia’s arts offerings.
- Paramount Theatre, Seattle: The Paramount Theatre is a former movie palace founded in 1928. Its Spanish Gothic architecture is tastefully combined with modern technological appliances, creating a particular atmosphere that complements ballet performances. The auditorium has a more intimate feeling than a large opera house.
- Orpheum Theatre, New Orleans: The Beaux-Arts facade and baroque interior of this famous performance venue have anchored the city’s cultural scene since it opened in 1921. Photo by: Courtesy Historic New Orleans CollectionFollowing a retrofit, the historic theatre has been refashioned to reflect current technological standards better while maintaining its original character and ornamentation. Step inside the theatre for an elegant residential-style home that happens to be fitted out to present ballet.
- Kings Theatre, Brooklyn: After extensive restoration, this movie palace has been turned back into a top-class theatre in all its original 1920s French Renaissance splendor. With a vast auditorium and gracious ornamentation, this theatre is an awe-inspiring setting for a ballet opera.
- War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco: Home to the San Francisco Ballet. Beaux-Arts design was completed in 1932. Part of the grand civic ensemble of Civic Center, San Francisco. The city’s cultural heritage should also be acknowledged: San Francisco Ballet in its home – War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco. Beaux-Arts design was completed in 1932.
- Ziff Opera House is at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. Live opera and ballet performers make the most of the modern grandeur combined with the traditional flourish that informs this opera house, one of Miami’s leading performing arts centers.
- Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto: The first purpose-built opera house in Canada, this modernist space has incredible acoustics. It is home to the National Ballet of Canada and is a contemporary house for classical and modern ballet.
- Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater, Washington, D.C., is another gem. Although more intimate than the opera house, this theatre is flexible enough to accommodate avant-garde ballets and classic repertoires.
- Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts, Montreal: This is the largest theatre in Quebec and the heart of Montreal’s cultural life. The vast stage and all its facilities house that theatre.
- David H Koch Theater, New York City: Although part of the larger Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the New York State Theater (now David H Koch Theater) has served as the home of the New York City Ballet since 1964. The Philip Johnson-designed building is an iconic Modernist site, and the medium- to large-scale auditorium is one of the most intimate venues that hosts ballet in the United States.
- Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary: This mid-century modern theatre, which doubles as a performing arts center, embodies the intersection of tradition and modernity. The Alberta Ballet and other performers take the stage here.
- Durham Performing Arts Center, North Carolina: This modern live-performance theatre designed specifically with state-of-the-art acoustics and 2,800 comfortable seats brings ballet productions from around the world to the heart of Durham, contributing to its burgeoning alternative arts scene.
- Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center, Midland, Texas: Balancing classic elegance and midcentury modernist design, the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center is the finest venue for touring ballet companies in West Texas.
- McCaw Hall, Seattle: Home to the Pacific Northwest Ballet, McCaw Hall features innovative, contemporary design and state-of-the-art technical facilities, making it suitable for ballet, both classical and modern.
- Manitoba Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg: This hall boasts an ample stage and modern facilities, which helped to make the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and other significant events at home.