The Festival Ballet of North Central Texas is a vibrant company with a broad reach and a longstanding partnership with the Denton community. Festival Ballet first presented the well-known and cherished classical tale The Nutcracker in 1988, and it has become a holiday tradition in Denton. Dancers for the company are chosen through open auditions held in August of each year. The performances showcase over 130 dancers representing over 30 communities in the North Central Texas region, along with guest artists from around the United States and Europe. We are deeply grateful to the area dance schools and their talented dancers whose contributions help bring this production to life. The production allows local youth talent a unique opportunity to experience the intricacies and dedication required for a full-length professional ballet. By working together, we make the season a magical one for our audience and our cast.
Festival Ballet’s mission is to provide a professional and quality performance experience that transports our audience into a magical world that is filled with enchanting characters, beautifully choreographed ballet sequences, and artfully designed costumes and sets for its 130-plus cast and over 2,000-plus audience members.
Each year, highlights from Festival Ballet’s The Nutcracker are showcased at the Denton Holiday Lighting Festival on the Denton Downtown square, as well as at other special events. Full performances take place in December at the University Theater in the RTFP Building at the University of North Texas, with multiple showtimes available.
Festival Ballet of North Central Texas is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our Board of Directors—Eldar Valiev, Jennifer Day, Katie Hart, and Ashley Odom—bring a wealth of experience and diverse expertise from both within and beyond the realms of ballet and theater.
We are deeply grateful for the unwavering dedication of our more than 100 volunteers, as well as the generous support of our sponsors and local businesses. Their contributions are vital to our mission.
By staging productions locally, Festival Ballet is proud to offer a unique opportunity to share the timeless beauty and expressive artistry of classical ballet with the community we cherish.