The Academy of Ballet Arts performs and participates in numerous events each year. Our St. Petersburg Ballet Company performs our annual production of the Nutcracker as well as a Spring Performance each year. Our dancers perform at a number of venues in the Tampa Bay area throughout the year.

Dancers and instructors from our studio participate in the Great American Teach-In each November. We perform at First Night in St. Petersburg and at numerous other area events.

2025 Nutcracker Ballet

Presented by The St. Petersburg Ballet Company

Friday, December 5, 2025 at 10:30am (Download School and Group Performance Flyer)

Friday, December 5, 2025 at 7:30pm
Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 2:00 pm
Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 7:30pm
Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 3:00 pm

Doors open for seating 1 hour prior to showtime

Tickets:
General Admission:  $30

The Palladium

253 Fifth Ave. N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 822-3590

ABOUT THE SHOW: 

The story of the “Nutcracker” begins on a magical Christmas Eve in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1872.  It is told through the eyes of an eccentric toy-maker, Herr Drosselmeyer and his beloved God-daughter, Clara. Clara must find the courage to believe in the power of love for the enchanted Nutcracker Prince in order to save him from the evil Mouse King. 

The Ballet features dancing children, mischievous boys, a Siamese Warrior, toy soldiers, giant mice, sword fights, Snowflakes, Spanish dancers, Buffoons, Waltzing Flowers, and the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.

Cast:

Coming soon.

Crew:

Stage Manager: Elisa Duka
Stage Crew: Rico Navedo, Bianca Rotondo
Set Design: Troy Reamsnyder
Choreographers: Marsha Wilson, Michelle Kuusela, Troy Reamsnyder, Isabelle Poole
Technical Director: Troy Reamsnyder
Scenic Painters: Troy Reamsnyder, Denise Highshaw, Isabelle Poole
Costumes: Troy Reamsnyder, Denise Highshaw, Michelle Kuusela, Viktoria Muhari, Lily Delhagen

ABOUT St. Petersburg Ballet Company:

The St. Petersburg Ballet Company is the official company-in-residence at the Academy of Ballet Arts Inc. (a 501(c)3 Nonprofit). The Academy has trained professional dancers since 1969 and provided professional productions through the St. Petersburg Ballet Company since 1971.

In addition to our guest artists the two institutions have launched the careers of dozens of local residents: Calvin Royal III (Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre) Saela Rivera-Martinez (Houston Ballet) Eileen Gerdes (San Francisco Ballet) Danielle Glynn (Ballet Palm Beach); Marquis Floyd (Dance Theatre of Harlem, Bad Boys of Ballet) and Briana Reed (Former member of Alvin Ailey).

2025 Spring Performance

Saturday, May 3rd at 7 PM &
Sunday, May 4th at 3 PM

Reserved Tickets: $30

In this performance you will see the first release of brand-new choreography by Michelle Kuusela & Isabelle Poole with additional works created by Marsha Wilson & Suzanne Pomerantzeff, exploring the beauty of friendship and love. These heart -touching pieces are mesmerizing incarnations of emotions that dance can capture in art form. Our performance features everything from contemporary ensembles and pas de deux, to classical works. We will also present Act 2 from the romantic ballet Swan Lake. A ballet featuring a beautiful musical score, love, heartbreak, and triumph. This is a performance enjoyable by all, with something for the child-like wonder, the music enthusiast, and the lover of dance.

The St. Petersburg Ballet Company is the official company-in-residence at The Academy of Ballet Arts (a 501(c)3 Nonprofit).

The Palladium

253 Fifth Ave. N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 822-3590

Welcome to the 2024-2025 Ballet Dance Season! With so much in store this year, we wanted to take a moment to share some exciting updates and insights before the season gets into full swing.

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An image of two ballet dancers in a park. Academy of Ballet Arts in St. Petersburg, FL.

Upcoming Performances

The Academy of Ballet Arts will be performing selections from our Summer Intensive Programs at the ArtWalk this Saturday, September 9, 2023. The following performances will take place in the studios located in the Pruitt Art Center: 

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An image of the Academy of Ballet Arts studio in St. Petersburg, FL

By Markus Gottschlich
Creative Pinellas

March 29, 2023

It is a rare occurrence that a business founded in 1969 has a chance to redesign its community impact, but the renaissance of the Academy of Ballet Arts Inc is happening on April 1 in St. Petersburg. 

The Warehouse Arts District Association (WADA) has invited the Academy of Ballet Arts to relocate their professional ballet school to the Pruitt Education Center on the WADA ArtsXchange Campus.

By Greg Evans
Associate Editor/Broadway Critic

November 3, 2021

By Marina Harss for Pointe Magazine
October 15, 2021

An image of a dancer in The Biggest Wall from the Bottom of My Heart | Academy of Ballet Arts in St. Petersburg, FL.

Academy of Ballet Arts very own Emily G will be presenting work this weekend at the Momentum Choreographer’s Showcase at The Studio@620

Saturday October 2, 2021 @ 7:00 PM
Sunday October 3, 2021 @ 2:00 PM

General Admission $15
Studio@620 Members/Students $10

By Alexandra Martin for Pointe Magazine
September 27, 2021