Tulsa Ballet…Then and Now
The story of Tulsa Ballet began in 1956. Husband and wife Roman Jasinski and Moscelyne Larkin, and musician Rosalie Talbott, founded Tulsa Ballet Theatre, blending classical dance with dramatic theatre. Internationally known dancers in the Ballet Russe tradition, Jasinski and Larkin set the tone for artistic excellence—a foundation that has been preserved and built upon for decades.
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Marcello Angelini since 1995, the company has reached new heights on the stage. Tulsa Ballet was the first arts organization in the state to be named an Oklahoma Cultural Ambassador and has brought unprecedented recognition to Tulsa and the State of Oklahoma by developing an artistic reputation marked by innovative works with international impact. Regarded as one of the top ballet companies in North America, Tulsa Ballet consistently brings the finest works in classical and contemporary dance to the Midwest region, giving audiences a unique opportunity to view world-class ballet in the heartland of America.
Tulsa Ballet strives to be an asset for our city by providing meaningful arts experiences that have enriched the quality of life in our community for the past 64 years.
Featuring 22 main company dancers and 13 second company dancers from 11 different countries, Tulsa Ballet presents more than 65 performances each year for audiences, young and old. More than one-third of those performances are presented at no cost specially for public school children and clients of local social service agencies. Ballet classes are also offered for all ages at the Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education (CDE), located both in midtown Tulsa and in Broken Arrow. Additionally, Tulsa Ballet’s community outreach programs aim to make the arts inclusive for underserved populations in northeastern Oklahoma.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has jeopardized the future of performing arts organizations worldwide, and Tulsa Ballet is no exception.
In February 2020, the nearly $1.5 million raised at Icons & Idols allowed the company to reach more than 50,000 individuals with the highest quality artistic programming. Funding from this annual gala is more important than ever to ensure the future of the performing arts in our community and beyond.
Tulsa Ballet is resilient, and once this crisis ends, we will still be here to provide the mental, physical, and emotional benefits of world-class ballet programming.
We are creative. We are determined. We are in this together. With the support of our Ballet Family, we know the curtain will rise again!
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Marcello Angelini since 1995, the company has reached new heights on the stage. Tulsa Ballet was the first arts organization in the state to be named an Oklahoma Cultural Ambassador and has brought unprecedented recognition to Tulsa and the State of Oklahoma by developing an artistic reputation marked by innovative works with international impact. Regarded as one of the top ballet companies in North America, Tulsa Ballet consistently brings the finest works in classical and contemporary dance to the Midwest region, giving audiences a unique opportunity to view world-class ballet in the heartland of America.
Tulsa Ballet strives to be an asset for our city by providing meaningful arts experiences that have enriched the quality of life in our community for the past 64 years.
Featuring 22 main company dancers and 13 second company dancers from 11 different countries, Tulsa Ballet presents more than 65 performances each year for audiences, young and old. More than one-third of those performances are presented at no cost specially for public school children and clients of local social service agencies. Ballet classes are also offered for all ages at the Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education (CDE), located both in midtown Tulsa and in Broken Arrow. Additionally, Tulsa Ballet’s community outreach programs aim to make the arts inclusive for underserved populations in northeastern Oklahoma.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has jeopardized the future of performing arts organizations worldwide, and Tulsa Ballet is no exception.
In February 2020, the nearly $1.5 million raised at Icons & Idols allowed the company to reach more than 50,000 individuals with the highest quality artistic programming. Funding from this annual gala is more important than ever to ensure the future of the performing arts in our community and beyond.
Tulsa Ballet is resilient, and once this crisis ends, we will still be here to provide the mental, physical, and emotional benefits of world-class ballet programming.
We are creative. We are determined. We are in this together. With the support of our Ballet Family, we know the curtain will rise again!
