World Directory
The companies
The houses and ensembles that define the world’s ballet and opera — from London to Tokyo, Paris to New York.
31 companies found
New York · United States
America’s national ballet company, a star-driven ensemble famed for its full-length classics at the Met.
Munich · Germany
Munich’s Bavarian State Opera, a leading European house with a celebrated Wagner and Strauss tradition.
Birmingham · United Kingdom
The Royal Ballet’s sister company, which left London for Birmingham in 1990 and made the city a centre of British ballet.
Moscow · Russia
Russia’s legendary company, renowned for its grand, heroic style and monumental classical productions.
Moscow · Russia
The opera company of Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre, central to the Russian operatic tradition.
Boston · United States
New England’s leading company, balancing the Balanchine legacy with a strong appetite for European contemporary work.
Amsterdam · Netherlands
The Netherlands’ largest company, balancing the classics with a strong Balanchine and Forsythe line.
London · United Kingdom
Britain’s touring company, founded to carry classical ballet beyond London and now a byword for bold new commissioning.
Hamburg · Germany
John Neumeier’s company, renowned for symphonic and literary full-length ballets of rare depth.
Houston · United States
Texas’s flagship company, shaped by Australian choreographer Stanton Welch and housed in one of America’s largest dance facilities.
Saint Petersburg · Russia
The cradle of classical ballet, where Petipa created the masterpieces that define the art form.
Tokyo · Japan
Japan’s national centre for opera, presenting a distinguished international repertoire in Tokyo.
New York · United States
Balanchine’s company and the home of American neoclassicism, defined by speed, musicality and abstraction.
Sydney · Australia
Australia’s national opera company, performing at the iconic Sydney Opera House and in Melbourne.
Paris · France
France’s national opera, presenting grand repertoire across the Palais Garnier and the modern Opéra Bastille.
Paris · France
The world’s oldest national ballet company, founded by Louis XIV, home of the celebrated étoile system.
Stockholm · Sweden
One of the oldest companies in the world, founded by Gustav III in 1773 and still dancing at the Royal Swedish Opera.
San Francisco · United States
America’s oldest professional ballet company, a pioneering force on the West Coast.
Berlin · Germany
Germany’s largest company, formed in 2004 by uniting the ballet ensembles of Berlin’s three opera houses.
Stuttgart · Germany
The cradle of the German narrative ballet, transformed by John Cranko into a world force.
Milan · Italy
The temple of Italian opera in Milan, and home to a distinguished ballet company and renowned school.
Buenos Aires · Argentina
Buenos Aires’ legendary opera house, acclaimed for its acoustics and its resident ballet and opera.
Melbourne · Australia
Australia’s national company, blending classical heritage with a bold, distinctive antipodean voice.
New York · United States
North America’s preeminent opera company, presenting grand-scale productions at Lincoln Center.
Toronto · Canada
Canada’s premier ballet company, performing the full-length classics at Toronto’s Four Seasons Centre.
London · United Kingdom
Britain’s flagship classical company at the Royal Opera House, custodian of the Ashton and MacMillan heritage.
Copenhagen · Denmark
Guardian of the Bournonville heritage, one of the oldest ballet companies in the world.
London · United Kingdom
One of the world’s great opera companies, presenting a sumptuous international repertoire at Covent Garden.
Tokyo · Japan
Japan’s most internationally celebrated company, the first to be invited to tour the great houses of the West.
Vienna · Austria
Austria’s national ballet, performing across the Vienna State Opera and the Volksoper.
Vienna · Austria
Vienna’s State Opera, one of the busiest and most storied opera houses in the world.