Honoring our service members with Military Appreciation Night

Each holiday season, The Columbus Ballet hosts a special Military Appreciation Night as part of its beloved Nutcracker production at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. This meaningful evening pays tribute to service members by offering them a night out at the ballet. More than just a performance, Military Appreciation Night is a celebration of unity, gratitude, and civic pride that captures the spirit of the season — joyful, generous, and deeply connected to the heart of Columbus.

Bringing ballet to every child with school outreach and performances

The Columbus Ballet is committed to making classical dance accessible to all — especially young audiences who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience a live performance. Through partnerships with local schools, our dancers present abbreviated versions of productions like The Nutcracker at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. We also take the stage to the classroom by touring local schools and letting students see the characters and costumes from the show. These special outreach performances introduce area students to the beauty and discipline of ballet in a format that is engaging, educational, and age-appropriate.

By working with local schools to make the ballet accessible to children, The Columbus Ballet helps foster a lifelong appreciation for the arts while breaking down barriers related to cost, transportation, or exposure. For many children, these performances are their very first experience with classical music and live theater — moments that can spark imagination and inspire future participation in the arts.

Highlighting the Visual Artists in our Community

At The Columbus Ballet, our passion for artistic expression extends beyond the stage. While ballet is at the heart of everything we do, we also celebrate the power of the visual arts and the creative voices within our community. For each performance, we collaborate with a local artist to create the distinctive imagery that represents our production. These original works become the foundation of our marketing and promotional materials, helping to tell the story of each ballet before the curtain ever rises.

Every artist brings a unique perspective, style, and creative vision to the project, resulting in artwork that is as individual as the performance itself. We are deeply grateful to the talented artists who generously donate both their time and their artwork to support our nonprofit organization. Their contributions enrich our productions, strengthen our connection to the local arts community, and help us share the beauty of ballet through multiple artistic forms.

View our Artist Gallery