HISTORY

YOUR CITY. YOUR BALLET.

Since the 1960s, ballet has been a prominent fixture of the Oklahoma City arts community, fostering exceptional artistic direction and renowned performers. Today, Oklahoma City Ballet is home to an elite dance school, accessible community-wide programs, and an extensive repertoire with something for everyone to enjoy.

  • < class="bb-timline-title bb-tm-title-left"> [blank] Do not remove

    NOTE: A blank timeline item is needed to start the timeline on the right. Do not remove unless you want the timeline to start on the left.

  • 1963

    < class="bb-timline-title bb-tm-title-left"> 1963

    Oklahoma City Ballet first opened as the Oklahoma City Civic Ballet with the Company under the artistic direction of Yvonne Chouteau and Miguel Terekhov of Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.

  • 1967

    < class="bb-timline-title bb-tm-title-left"> 1967

    The Oklahoma City Ballet Society was incorporated to support the Company.

  • 1970

    < class="bb-timline-title bb-tm-title-left"> 1970

    The Board of Trustees formed the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Ballet Society with Yvonne Chouteau staying on as founding Artistic Director. International ballerina and Oklahoma native Maria Tallchief worked together with Ms. Chouteau to audition dancers for the company.

  • 1973-1979

    < class="bb-timline-title bb-tm-title-left"> 1973-1979

    Chouteau was succeeded by New York City Ballet Principal Dancers Conrad and Joy Ludlow as the Company’s new directors. During this time, the Ludlows founded the Company’s affiliate school.

  • 1979

    < class="bb-timline-title bb-tm-title-left"> 1979

    American Ballet Theater dancers Bojan Spassoff and Stephanie Wolf-Spassoff attained direction of the Company and began the change from a civic company to a semi-professional company with three productions in addition to The Nutcracker in a single season.

  • 1981

    < class="bb-timline-title bb-tm-title-left"> 1981

    The Company name changed to Ballet Oklahoma and moved into a newly renovated facility the following year.

  • 1983

    < class="bb-timline-title bb-tm-title-left"> 1983

    New York City Ballet star Edward Villella joined the Company as Artistic Director and brought the work of George Balanchine into the repertory during his three seasons.

  • 1986

    < class="bb-timline-title bb-tm-title-left"> 1986

    Dallas Ballet dancers Bryan Pitts and Laura Flagg-Pitts joined the company as Artistic Director and Assistant to the Director, respectively. During the Pitts’ tenure, the Company instituted its annual ArtsReach program to bring students from across the state to the Civic Center for a live ballet performance. This program received the Governor’s Arts Award in 1997.

  • 2008

    < class="bb-timline-title bb-tm-title-left"> 2008

    The Company pulled from within the organization for the first time by appointing former dancer Robert Mills the new Artistic Director and changed its name to Oklahoma City Ballet.

  • 2017

    < class="bb-timline-title bb-tm-title-left"> 2017

    The School name changed to The Oklahoma City Ballet Yvonne Chouteau School, stemming from a generous gift from Kirkpatrick Philanthropies to honor our founder Madame Chouteau.

    Oklahoma City Ballet purchased and renovated the Susan E. Brackett Dance Center, their new home, as part of the Turning Pointe Campaign.