Northeast Pennsylvania's pre-professional ballet company and dance school founded in 1978 by Helen M. Gaus.
The professional standard of instruction at the Civic Ballet is focused on achieving a disciplined technique centered on strength, flexibility, coordination, grace, musicality, body alignment and poise. We believe our role is to guide your dancer through the increasingly disciplined levels of dance in a friendly, caring atmosphere. It is our priority to teach students responsibility and respect fo
r their art, their teachers, themselves and each other.
Founded in 1978 by Miss Helen Gaus, the Scranton Civic Ballet Company focuses on the objectives of educating its students and the public in the art and appreciation of dance. Our two annual major performances are full-scale theatrical productions showcasing all aspects of the performing arts and the creations of local artists as represented in our costumes and sets. All of our dancers are invited and encouraged to participate in both of our annual productions. We at Scranton Civic Ballet Company are truly as much “Civic” as we are “Ballet”. By joining our community, dancers will be proud to be a part of our annual programming that includes:
•Annual “In Concert” performances in which we showcase Miss Helen Gaus’ original choreography and the Scranton Civic Ballet Company’s talent.
•”Arts Engage” day camp, Poetry in Motion, a partnership with Lackawanna County Children and Youth and NEIU where children can express the imagery of their words through movement.
•”Eye on Dance” the Civic Ballet’s Friday morning school performance of The Nutcracker offers 1,700 tickets to area school children and senior citizens for the cost of facility fees.
•”Arts on the Square” the Lackawanna County Arts fair in July where Civic offers a “barre” experience for ballet newbies and a chance for the community to get to know everything available at the Civic Ballet Company.
•Ballet Master Class where members of the Ballet Company and other ballet students are invited to attend a master class taught by a distinguished guest instructor.
•You will also find the Scranton Civic Ballet Company “around town” at the Santa Parade, Mostly Opera’s annual fundraising performance, and the UNICO annual fundraiser. The resume of the Scranton Civic Ballet includes the first modern ballet performed and presented in Scranton by a resident dance company and the first to offer modern and contemporary dance. The Company has performed the works of such distinguished and prominent choreographers as Joseph Levinoff (Dance Educators), Jim Snyder (director of Joffrey Concert Group), Ron Altman (Joffrey Ballet), Scott Hunt (NYC teacher and choreographer) and Ellen Cornfield (NYC Company and choreographer). Workshops have been offered by Dorothy Lister of Joffrey Ballet, Laura Alonso of National Ballet of Cuba, Dan May from New York City, Trinette Singleton of Joffrey, Cherie Noble, principal dancer with Pennsylvania Ballet Company, former Rockette Jennifer Sagan, and Ellen Cornfield of NYC Cornfield Dance Company.
Our treasure and our greatest accomplishment are our dancers! Their smiling faces reflect their joy of working hard while having fun, learning to persevere through challenges, and becoming prepared for their lives ahead.
The Scranton Civic Ballet Company has students training every summer at various professional ballet companies and schools across America which include: American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet School, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Ballet Austin, Boston Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, The Rock School for Dance Education, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and many more.
07/10/2026
What a magical way to kick off our Summer Dance Courses! ✨🌈
This week, we welcomed our youngest dancers (ages 3–5) for our annual FREE Lilliputian Program, where this year’s theme, The Witches & Wizards of Oz, brought imagination to life.
Throughout the week, our little performers explored the basics of dance, movement, and music while creating wonderful crafts, making new friends, and building confidence in the studio. Their week concluded with a special performance for family and friends, where they proudly shared everything they learned.
A heartfelt thank you to all of our amazing students, families, and faculty for making this first week of summer so memorable. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the summer has in store! 💚🩰✨
07/04/2026
Happy 4th of July from Scranton Civic Ballet Company🇺🇸❤️
07/01/2026
Summer Dance Buddies is BACK at Scranton Civic Ballet Company!
A heartfelt thank you to Angelo's Italian Restaurant for hosting Scranton Civic Ballet Company’s Board of Directors annual summer meeting. A special thank you to the gracious staff for their hospitality and kindness as we prepare for another exciting season ahead🩰
06/24/2026
We’ve been busy behind the curtain🖤
The 48th season of Scranton Civic Ballet Company arrives this fall. A season packed with surprises, including the upcoming 40th anniversary of Helen Gaus’ The Nutcracker, a brand-new full-length premiere coming this spring, and so much more still waiting in the wings.
We’ve been creating, dreaming, rehearsing… and keeping a few secrets. Trust us, we wish we could tell you what’s coming, but some magic is worth the wait.
The curtain rises soon✨
Register now at
scrantonballet.org
06/22/2026
06/20/2026
“Miss Helen and Robert are the sole reason behind civic; the beautiful, well-known, friendly, and supportive school that we all know and love.
Throughout my experience as a dancer at civic, i have been taught resilience, respect, grit, determination, and confidence, all of which are important life lessons i will carry with me beyond civic. Moreover, civic gifted me a loving community of friends, which i will take on for the rest of my life. To me, dance is an expression of emotions, supported by strength and power.” -Angelina Rumyantseva
Become part of NEPA’s leading institution for dance education, the Scranton Civic Ballet Company. Register now at scrantonballet.org
06/19/2026
REGISTER NOW || The next chapter begins in movement, grace, and artistry.
Scranton Civic Ballet Company’s 2026–2027 Season is coming this fall…. inspiring dancers and shaping the performing arts in Northeast Pennsylvania under the artistic leadership of Helen Gaus, Founder and Artistic Director, and Robert Zaloga, Assistant Artistic Director and Principal Dancer.
For nearly five decades, Civic Ballet has been the city’s leading institution for dance education and has looked toward the future while honoring the beauty of tradition.
Now accepting registration for the upcoming season. Step into something timeless✨
scrantonballet.org
06/19/2026
Coming into focus. . . A new season begins in whispers before it takes the stage. The 48th season of Scranton Civic Ballet Company is almost here.
scrantonballet.org
06/08/2026
A heartfelt thank you to Bob Cordaro for the wonderful comments shared on today’s radio show following yesterday’s performance of On Stage Please.
His kind words about our Artistic Director Helen Gaus, Assistant Artistic Director Robert Zologa, the entire Scranton Civic Ballet Company, and the beautiful Theater at North mean so much to all of us.
Thank you for supporting the arts and for helping share the magic of dance with our community✨❤️
07/10/2026
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