The Omaha Academy of Ballet is pleased to announce they are celebrating their 50th anniversary.  The anniversary celebration wraps up March 3rd with a gala reception from 5 to 7 pm in the OPPD atrium, followed by attendance at the Joffrey Ballet performance at 7:30 pm at the Orpheum Theater.

OAB’s initial goal was to develop a company of professionally trained dancers for Omaha. By 1965, it had formed its first performing unit, the Omaha Ballet Company. That year, the company gave its first public performance of The Nutcracker, beginning a tradition that has continued to the present day.

The Academy moved to its present home at 4950 Dodge Street in 2002. In January 2005 the Academy returned to its performing roots with a new initiative, the Omaha Dance Project (ODP.) ODP stages an annual dance concert in January that is open by audition to performers from all area studios. Today, the Academy works to carry on the  tradition of quality dance training in a traditional, non-competitive academy environment that emphasizes caring, individualized instruction and a focus on personal accomplishment.

Information about The Omaha Academy of Ballet and reservations and tickets can be found at oabdance.org/50 or by calling (402) 346-0469.