Ballet Austin
Classical ballet company, academy, and fitness centre in downtown Austin sinc…
A ballet-focused dance school offering classical ballet training along with related dance disciplines.
Photo: Ballet Austin via Google
Before your first class
First adult dance classes cost $5; the Academy serves ages 15 months and up across four divisions by age and level.
Free parking in Ballet Austin's surface lot (first-come, first-served) and at Austin City Hall Garage (up to 1.5 hours with validation).
About this studio
Ballet Austin is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation established in 1956, based at the Butler Dance Education Center in downtown Austin. It ranks among the 15 largest classical ballet companies in the United States. The organisation encompasses multiple divisions: the main Ballet Austin Company, which employs 22 full-time professional dancers; Ballet Austin TWO, an apprentice company established in 1999 for post-high school advanced dancers; the Ballet Austin Academy, serving over 900 students annually; and the Butler Fellowship Program, which provides 15 fully-underwritten scholarships to outstanding dancers.
The company performs an annual season of productions including A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Nutcracker, Director's Choice / Rhythm of the Heart, Roses for the Last Dance, Giselle, and The Seventh Night Sky. Stephen Mills, the artistic director, is commissioned for original work and has created full-length pieces including Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles, POE / A Tale of Madness, Light / The Holocaust & Humanity Project, BELLE / A Tale of Beauty & the Beast, Grimm Tales, Hamlet, and Exit Wounds. The company has performed at the Kennedy Center, Joyce Theater in New York, and international venues including Paris and Montreal. Mills' Light / The Holocaust & Humanity Project was awarded the Audrey & Raymond Maislin Humanitarian Award by the Anti-Defamation League in 2005.
The Ballet Austin Academy runs four divisions: Young Children's Division for ages 15 months to 5 years, Pre-Ballet for ages 6–7, Elementary Division for ages 8–12, and Intermediate & Advanced Divisions. Classes operate at two locations: downtown and at the Dell JCC in Northwest Austin. Summer Intensive programmes are offered, described as featuring "classical yet innovative" training under an outstanding faculty.
The Butler Center for Dance & Fitness, founded in 2007, serves over 10,000 people annually with dance and fitness classes for all ages and skill levels. It houses one of Austin's top-ranked Pilates Centres with Reformer studios. Adult Dance & Fitness offerings include drop-in classes, workshops in ballet, hip hop, heels, and tap, private lessons, and on-demand pre-recorded classes. Active Aging Programs serve participants aged 50+. The Pilates program offers group Reformer classes and private lessons at both downtown and Dell JCC locations, plus specialised offerings such as Therapeutic & Rehab Sessions and Pink Pilates for Breast Cancer Survivors.
The company is a founding resident at the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts and operates its own 287-seat AustinVentures StudioTheater for intimate performances. Parking is extensively available, including free parking in Ballet Austin's surface lot and at Austin City Hall Garage (up to 1.5 hours), and discounted $3-rate parking at Google Building Garage. The organisation reaches 31 Central Texas school districts through educational outreach and engages families through community programming.
What to expect
Your first visit
Classes range from toddler introductions through professional training. You'll find drop-in adult classes in ballet, hip hop, heels, and tap; group and private Reformer Pilates; and structured academy programmes by age and level. Downtown parking is free or low-cost. First-time dance classes are $5.
Instructors
Who teaches here
Stephen Mills serves as the Sarah and Ernest Butler Family Fund artistic director. Michelle Martin is the Associate Artistic Director and established Ballet Austin TWO in 1999. The company works with 22 full-time professional dancers and maintains Academy staff and faculty (full names not specified in source). Pilates instructors are listed as available, though specific names are not provided.
New to dancing?
What beginners can expect
First adult dance classes cost $5; the Academy serves ages 15 months and up across four divisions by age and level.
Studio history
Ballet Austin was established in 1956 as a nonprofit organisation. The Butler Dance Education Center downtown was developed as a combined training facility owned and operated by the organisation. The Butler Center for Dance & Fitness was founded in 2007 through the generosity of Sarah and Ernest Butler. Ballet Austin became a founding resident company of the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts in 2008.
Styles offered
4 dance styles taught here
Gallery
The people, the parties and the dancing here
Amenities
Pricing
Approximate lesson costs
Class schedule
Weekly classes and workshops
Ballet Austinhasn't set up a public class schedule yet.
If you own Ballet Austin, claiming the studio lets you add a public schedule in about 2 minutes. A free Google Calendar is the easiest path — visitors see your class times inline + can add events to their own calendar.
Frequently asked about Ballet Austin
Quick answers to the most common questions
What dance styles does Ballet Austin teach?
Ballet Austin teaches Ballet, Hip-Hop, Heels (Stiletto Dance), Tap. The full list of styles is shown above on this page along with each genre's classes and lesson options.
Where is Ballet Austin located?
Ballet Austin is located in Austin, TX. See the map above for the exact address and one-tap directions.
Does Ballet Austin offer private lessons?
Contact Ballet Austin directly to ask about private lessons and current class options — their website has the latest details.
Does Ballet Austin teach kids and adults?
Ballet Austin welcomes students of varied ages and experience levels. Contact the studio to learn which classes fit your age group and level.
How do I sign up for classes at Ballet Austin?
The fastest path is to visit Ballet Austin via their website or check the class schedule above. Many studios offer a free or discounted intro lesson — contact them directly to ask.
Is there parking at Ballet Austin?
Free parking in Ballet Austin's surface lot (first-come, first-served) and at Austin City Hall Garage (up to 1.5 hours with validation). Discounted $3 parking available at Google Building Garage directly behind the studio.