Greater Niagara Ballet Company

We are the longest-operating ballet company in WNY with a mission to make dance education and performances accessible to all.

The Greater Niagara Ballet Company (GNBC), previously known as the Niagara Civic Ballet, was founded in 1967 and reorganized in 1999 as a 501 C3 federal status not-for-profit organization.

For the past 58 years, the GNBC has developed a repertoire of over 23 different major ballet productions. Productions include Degas, Swan Lake, The Firebird and our most well known and beloved, The Nutcracker. As a semi-professional company, the GNBC is able to offer dance students the incredible opportunity to perform in large-scale ballet productions side-by-side with professional dancers from the WNY area, as well as from across the United States and the world. The GNBC is unique in that we have open auditions for both students and professionals from any dance school or company, which allows us to extend the opportunity to perform to dancers from all across the region.

Our recently implemented needs-based Scholarship program has allowed the company to fully cover tuition costs for nearly 1/3 of our ballet students for the past two years. The students who receive scholarships would be otherwise unable to enroll in dance or other activities due to the typical high costs of dance training; in many cases, our ballet classes and performances are the only activity the children engage in outside of school. Our dance classes are taught by highly-credentialed instructors and make a difference in the children's lives and well-being; dance classes help children to build confidence, make friends, get exercise and feel a sense of community.

Affordable ticket pricing is one of our most successful strategies for promoting ballet in the Niagara Region by increasing the number of children and adults who are able to experience the joy of ballet. We have also been able to offer free admission to our annual production of The Nutcracker to Niagara Falls City School 3rd grade students, including covering the cost for bussing, for many years running. It is through our donors’ generous gifts that we are able to make our highly acclaimed productions accessible.

For 2025-2026, we are asking for donations to allow us to not only expand our in-demand scholarship program which in turn will allow us to continue our mission of bringing high quality dance and dance education to the Niagara Region, but help us with production costs for our 59th season.

Greater Niagara Ballet Company Overview

The Greater Niagara Ballet Company (GNBC) is a dynamic nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the performing arts landscape in the Niagara Region through exceptional dance education and performance opportunities.

Mission and Purpose

Core Objectives

• Provide professional-level training for local dancers
• Create accessible dance education opportunities
• Develop a high-quality ballet performance center in Western New York

Community Impact

Dance Education

• Offer free and reduced-cost dance programs for local families
• Develop talent through professional theatrical experiences
• Provide workshops that enhance understanding of ballet arts

Why Support GNBC?

Transformative Opportunities

• Empowers local dancers of all ages and backgrounds
• Creates pathways for artistic development
• Establishes Niagara Region as a premier dance destination

Vision for the Future

GNBC aims to:

• Revitalize regional dance culture
• Provide inclusive performance opportunities
• Promote classical and contemporary dance forms

Making a Difference

Every donation supports talented dancers, enriches community arts, and helps young performers realize their potential. Your contribution directly funds educational programs, performance opportunities, and artistic development for aspiring dancers in the Niagara Region.