South Dakota Ballet is the state’s first professional ballet company. Established in May 2019, South Dakota Ballet is a 501C(3) non-profit organization with a mission to inspire, empower, connect and educate the state’s continuously diversifying communities through world class performances and educational outreach programming.

Before COVID-19, South Dakota Ballet was scheduled to launch with a gala performance and fundraiser at the Washington Pavilion on Friday, June 12. Dancers from some of the greatest ballet companies in the world would take the stage performing iconic repertoire passed down through generations as well as premiere several cutting edge contemporary works. South Dakota Ballet will resume with rescheduling the launch of the organization once it is safe to congregate again. Until that time, the ballet will proceed with innovative ways to reach our communities.

Despite the challenges South Dakota Ballet has faced over the past few months, the organization’s outreach program (South Dakota Ballet BEYOND) has done an outstanding job continuing with its mission. The ballet has impacted over 700 children at a regional and national level through in-person engagements prior to the pandemic and virtual classes with some of the nation’s best dancers after in-person activities were postponed.