Our History: A Legacy of Dance in the Chattahoochee Valley
The Columbus Ballet traces its roots back to 1994, when Maria Hirsch and Beth Griffin (now with Arizona Ballet) founded The Ballet Workshop, a privately-owned ballet school dedicated to reviving interest in classical dance across the Chattahoochee Valley. Just two years later, in 1996, the founders staged the region’s first full-length production of The Nutcracker in a generation — an ambitious and inspiring performance that would become a beloved annual tradition. They followed this with a repeat performance in 1997 and a spring repertory in 1998 that featured excerpts from iconic ballets Giselle and Swan Lake. That same year, The Ballet Workshop transitioned into a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and officially became The Columbus Ballet.
In 2002, The Columbus Ballet partnered with Columbus State University to establish the CSU Youth Dance Conservatory, which previously served as the organization’s official school. This collaboration brought high-caliber ballet instruction and performances to more than 150 students weekly through master classes, school demonstrations, mini-performances, and community outreach — furthering the organization’s mission to promote, educate, and inspire through dance.
Over the past three decades, The Columbus Ballet has presented numerous full-length classical works, including Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Coppélia. The Columbus Ballet is most widely known for its cherished annual production of The Nutcracker, an annual touchpoint that has introduced generations of families to classical ballet. In 2026, as The Columbus Ballet reaches its 30th anniversary, the organization is stepping forward with:
A new independent studio.
A newly launched Youth Company.
An expanded performance season.
After years of operating in connection with other training environments, The Columbus Ballet now offers a dedicated studio space, giving the organization the freedom to define itself independently. Thirty years after its inception, The Columbus Ballet continues to serve as a cornerstone of the local arts scene, showcasing the talent of local dancers and performers and enriching the cultural life of the Columbus community through performance, outreach, and collaboration.
