Alabama Ballet, based in Birmingham, is widely recognized as the state’s premier professional ballet company. The company upholds a strong Balanchine tradition and is one of only eight global companies licensed by the Balanchine Trust to perform George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker remains a hallmark of the company’s winter season, drawing audiences from across the Southeast.
In 2023, Christopher Stuart was appointed Artistic Director, bringing a refreshed vision that continues into the 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 seasons. Stuart’s leadership balances classical technique with contemporary storytelling, expanding the company’s repertoire while maintaining the high standards that Birmingham audiences expect.
Past leadership and ongoing initiatives have included the long-standing Gorham’s Bluff summer residency (since 1997), which provides immersive training and creative development in a picturesque setting, and CityDance, a robust outreach program that shares dance with communities throughout Alabama. Through these programs, Alabama Ballet nurtures the next generation of dancers and audiences.