American Contemporary Ballet

I've been a huge fan of American Contemporary Ballet for years now and I try not to miss a single show on their calendar. The Nutracker show is an annual tradition around Christmas time for my family and friends and Inferno has even recently become our annual spooky Halloween tradition. ACB Jazz in the spring and Balanchine in the summer are also great for any fans of dance and live music. The company is constantly putting out fantastic shows each season while also pushing the boundaries and challenging the form. There's few things in life that are more inspiring and worth supporting than live performance. I couldn't recommend ACB highly enough.

We attended the 2pm Nutcracker performance on 12/14/24. This is an OK event for children. Adult dance fans will find it very lacking. It felt like a pre-professional troop’s holiday recital for family.

Absolutely the most fabulous evening you’ll ever have with the most artistic ballet ever! So close and personal! The dancers are the best!

ACB is a relatively young company comprised of skillful and passionate dancers (many with years of experience with this company and others) and a director/choreographer focused on classical/Balanchine style but with a view to the future. Performances tend to be just a little over an hour with live, not canned, music so they are an excellent introduction for audiences new to, and perhaps a little intimidated by, the art form as well as those more knowledgeable looking for technical and artistic excellence. The upcoming Nutcracker performances will be very family friendly and a terrific way to introduce children to both the art of the performer and to the "art" of attending a performance. In addition to dance performances, the Company occasionally does demonstrations and lectures ("Dancing School" and "Conversations") that provide the audience with a way to learn more about, and to more profoundly appreciate (and to understand what to look for in), the technique, context and history of ballet and to develop a deeper appreciation of the art. All performances end with an opportunity to meet and talk to the performers, musicians and directors. With the dual focus on the art (technique, musicality, artistry) and education (for the dancers as well as the audience), this Company is unique here in Los Angeles and quite extraordinary throughout the dance world. Having attended performances for six or more seasons, I can recommend it wholeheartedly as a way to enjoy and learn about ballet.

My husband and I have been attending shows for about 4 seasons now. It makes for a fun date night. Friends that we’ve introduced to ACB are often blown away. Some of my favorite shows are Astaire Dances around Valentine’s Day and the Nutcracker Suite (an immersive experience) around the holidays. We love the intimate setting, the live music! Be sure to stick around after the show to get to know the dancers, the artistic director and executive director. They are super approachable and make themselves available if you want to learn more about the company. It’s a lovely ballet company I’m happy to support.