Academy of Ballet Arts

Congratulations to Lane and Ava in placing 1st 🥇 for their Pas de Deux at Irvine! We are so proud of you both for all your hard work this season. Your artistry, technique and dedication shined through in your performances!

Lane and Ava have also been invited to perform their Pas "La Fille du Bandit" in addition to their solos at YAGP finals and we are so excited to see them take the stage in Houston amongst so many incredible dancers from around the world!

We cannot wait to see these two continue to grow and work towards their dreams♥️

Summer Intensive 2026!

World renowned master instructors!

Ballet•Contemporary•Pas de Deux•Variations•Pilates•Stretch/Conditioning•Musical Theater•Ballroom•Jazz

Visit academyofballetart.org for audition details.

What a weekend! A weekend full of beautiful moments, growth, challenges, opportunities and so much more. Our dancers shined from beginning to end✨

Thank you for the many opportunities for dancers and the chance to perform as they each work towards their dreams.

Irvine this weekend was memorable for so many reasons. Wonderful achievements and for a few of our senior dancers, this was their last competition which is always so bittersweet🤍

Weekend recap/recognitions:

Academy of Ballet Arts
🌟Outstanding Teacher Award 2026🌟

Lane Whitehurst
🥇 - 1st in Men's Classical
🥉 - 3rd in Men's Contemporary

Lane and Ava Whitehurst
🥇 - 1st in Pas de Deux

Dominika Pedras
💫 Top 24 - Classical

Special shout out to our incredible director, Miss Dana for being awarded the outstanding teacher award this weekend! It's absolutely so well deserved in every way! Your families are so proud to be a part of this amazing studio you've created. You are not only an outstanding teacher but you lead your staff with excellence, profound knowledge and immense kindness. Thank you for all you do Miss Dana, you are ABA in every beautiful way!

We have wrapped up our competition season and couldn't be more proud of our dancers this season. They've all flourished in so many ways and each one of them has succeeded in the best of ways!

✨Next stop ..... see you in Houston for YAGP finals !!! Let's gooooo ✨

Have you heard, the circus is coming to town! 🎪

Academy of Ballet Arts' brand new production of "The Big Top Ballet" is set to hit the stage on June 6th and 7th! If you loved our Nutcracker and previous productions such as Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, and Midsummers Night Dream, be prepared to transcend into the whimsical journey alongside and through the eyes of a young girl as she ventures into a magical world under, The Big Top.

The Big Top Ballet is a brand new production created from ground zero and directed by Academy of Ballet Arts' innovative and imaginative owner/director, Dana Nelson. Every production is filled with creativity, original choreography, custom costumes (mostly all handmade by Dana Nelson herself), beautiful stage sets that add to the magic and your experience when you come to our productions, starts from the moment you enter the theater doors!

Tickets Are on Sale NOW!

To show our love this weekend, please use the coupon code "LOVEABA" for 15% off ♥️ Saturday through Sunday until midnight only.
https://26250.danceticketing.com/r/events/

We can't wait for you to experience The Big Top Ballet and featuring original works from New Classics Ballet Theatre's The Secret of the Old Clock with us!

See you at the show! 🐩 🎩 🎠 🎈 🐍 🗡️

A weekend full of inspiration and special moments! Thank you
for providing such a supportive environment and wonderful opportunities.

Congratulations to our Aspire team for shining through and through this weekend. You all danced from your hearts and we could not be more proud of each of you for stepping out on stage and truly doing your best!💫

Sabine Del Rosario
🥈2nd place - Junior division

Nalani Neilson
🏆Judges Award
🌟Scholarship - State Street Ballet summer intensive

Such a great start to the competition season and we're looking forward to what's next!

Winter Intensive!
December 29-31, 2025

•Stay Strong
•Perfect Technique
•Get ready for audition season

Start off the new year stronger than ever! Soon after the new year begins, you will dive right into your auditions, competitions, and performances ready to go.

❄️Join Us❄️

Registration is open for our 2025-26 season! Nutcracker auditions Aug 29th & 30th. We'd love to welcome you to our beautiful dance family!