Our Mission
Central New York Ballet is an artist centered, inclusive professional ballet company dedicated to uncompromising artistic excellence. We are changing lives through dance. We are a new organization with deep roots. Our dancers and artistic staff have decades of combined experience dancing in and directing ballet companies. Our management team is comprised of business owners, attorneys, and others with deep experience in the arts, who are committed to bringing excellent art to our community while also giving dancers more control over their artistic lives.
Artist Centered
We are creating a more artist centered company that lets artists have more influence over the critical decisions that shape the organizations where we work, so we can continue to bring the joy and beauty of dance to the audience and help others do the same.
Many ballet dancers in the U.S. work long hours to make barely over $11,000 a year, but that does not mean they need to fear reprisals if they speak up for better working conditions and competent artistic leadership.
We are consulting with other pioneers on new ways to govern arts organizations and working to create something not just for CNY Ballet, but that can be replicated elsewhere.
As first steps, company members selected the company’s artistic leader for the inaugural 2024 Spring Season and chose two dancer representatives to consult with the artistic and management teams on decision making. Dancer reps also have the right to attend and call board meetings and to make proposals on which all board members must vote.
What We Value
· Reflecting The Whole Community
We create an environment of mutual respect and trust in which artists are free to take risks and dream big. We strive to make dance accessible to all members of the Central New York Community regardless of means.
· Collaboration
We want to create bonds with individuals and arts institutions to help to build a vibrant artistic community in Syracuse. Within the company, we understand the importance of every piece of the chain to guarantee success.
· Integrity
We respect and trust our coworkers, artists, board, staff, student artists, community, and patrons. The teams we create encourage the best of dance as an art form.
· Excellence
We nurture artistic experiences and education with a wildly creative environment that instills passion, curiosity, and hard work.
Photo by Royce Burgess
