New Orleans Ballet Association

New Orleans Ballet Association Founded in 1969, NOBA is the Central Gulf region’s premiere presenting and service non-profit organization dedicated solely to the art of dance.
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Mission:

New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) cultivates understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of dance through performance, education, and community service. Community Profile:

Dynamic programs and innovative strategies position NOBA as the leading dance presenting and service organization in Louisiana. Over 30,000 people are served annually through two programming arms:

• The Main Stage

Series, a full season of performances by world-class dance companies of all genres presented at the Mahalia Jackson Theater and in partnership with NOCCA and Tulane University.
• Comprehensive, internationally recognized education, health/wellness, and arts healing programs that educate, train, and nurture individuals ages 3-80+ through 5,000+ tuition-free classes and outreach activities annually at up to 20 neighborhood sites, as well as virtually since March 2020. Since 1992, NOBA has made the art of dance accessible to underserved families – tuition-free –to fill the urgent need presented by parents, community organizations, and schools. NOBA's lead partnership with the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORD) established the Center for Dance (CFD), a nationally renowned cultural community partnership. NOBA has leveraged the CFD's success to address the ongoing need and growing demand for meaningful arts programming through collaborations with schools, community centers, housing developments, and churches in Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Bernard parishes. Key priorities and objectives:

•To reduce and eliminate barriers to ensure equal access for all
•To provide high-quality arts education programs that develop the talent of today's youth.
•To enhance and strengthen the cultural workforce through employment and ongoing professional development opportunities for local artists.
•To produce and present high-caliber dance
•To create and sustain partnerships to further extend and execute NOBA's mission and priorities. For more information and current class offerings, please visit http://www.nobadance.com.

Tickets are officially ON SALE for this year's BRAVO Boo Bash! 🦇🕷️🎃👻💀Chairs Valerie Grubb and Raven Palmer invite you to...
08/14/2026

Tickets are officially ON SALE for this year's BRAVO Boo Bash! 🦇🕷️🎃👻💀

Chairs Valerie Grubb and Raven Palmer invite you to the fourth annual BRAVO Boo Bash, returning to the Metairie Country Club on October 20. Join us for a fabulous three-course lunch, costume contest, silent auction, and more!

🎟️ Tickets are selling fast! Reserve yours today at https://nobadance.com/performances/2026-boo-bash/

Interested in getting involved?
We always welcome new faces to join our troupe of BRAVO volunteers! Over 180 dedicated community members (who keep the FUN in fundraising) support NOBA’s programs and events throughout the year.

Learn more about volunteering at https://nobadance.com/support/support-bravo/

✨ Tuition-Free Dance Classes for Ages 4–18! ✨Give your child the gift of dance with NOBA’s award-winning, tuition-free d...
08/11/2026

✨ Tuition-Free Dance Classes for Ages 4–18! ✨

Give your child the gift of dance with NOBA’s award-winning, tuition-free dance programs! With convenient community locations across the Greater New Orleans area, we offer professionally taught, sequential instruction from first steps through advanced training.

📍 Locations Across the Area
• Classes for Ages 4–18
• No Experience Needed
• Opportunities to Perform & Advance

🗓 Class Dates: September 2026 – May 2027 (dates and schedules vary by class & location)
Registration Details:
🗓 Online Registration Opens: Wednesday, August 12
💲 Registration Fee: $60 per student per class for the full school year. Need-based financial assistance is available.
Limited spots available in each group, offered first-come first-served.

👉 https://nobadance.com/classes/youth-classes/

✨ Tuition-Free Dance Classes for Ages 6-18 at Chalmette High Cultural Arts Center! ✨Give your child the gift of dance wi...
08/07/2026

✨ Tuition-Free Dance Classes for Ages 6-18 at Chalmette High Cultural Arts Center! ✨

Give your child the gift of dance with NOBA’s award-winning tuition-free ballet and jazz classes! 🩰

📍 Chalmette High Cultural Arts Center | 2600 Palmisano Blvd.
• No experience needed
• Costumed performances
• Classes held August 17, 2026 – May 3, 2027
🗓 Online Registration Opens: Monday, August 10

Registration Fee: $60 for the school year (limited spots available)
👉 Learn more: https://nobadance.com/classes/youth-classes/preparatory-program-in-person/

Sponsored by Chalmette Refining, LLC.

08/05/2026

✨ The wait is over! Single tickets and group sales are officially ON SALE for an unforgettable season of world-class dance! 🩰

Secure your favorite seats now for:
✨Pilobolus (Oct 17)
✨Alonzo King LINES Ballet (Nov 14)
✨Argentina's Tango After Dark (Feb 20)
✨Houston Ballet's Madame Butterfly (Apr 17)

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (Mar 13-14) single tickets go on sale November 18! But you can lock in your Ailey seats today by:

🎟️ Gathering a Group: Save 10% for groups of 10 to 19, or save 15% for groups of 20+ for any show in the lineup, including early access to Ailey! Visit NOBAdance.com/group-sales for more info.

🎟️ Subscribing or Building Your Own Package: Lock in the best seats at the best value with a Grand Package or a Build Your Own Package, both of which include immediate access to Ailey tickets.

Don't wait to grab your spots for an incredible lineup!

👉 Visit NOBAdance.com to book today!

Build Your Own packages are officially on sale!Mix and match any 3 or 4 Main Stage performances to save 15%, unlock excl...
07/29/2026

Build Your Own packages are officially on sale!

Mix and match any 3 or 4 Main Stage performances to save 15%, unlock exclusive subscriber benefits, and design a dance season that fits your life perfectly.
Choose your favorite combination featuring Pilobolus, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Argentina's Tango After Dark, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Houston Ballet’s "Madame Butterfly."

Want to see more and pay less? Choose one of our Grand Subscriptions, save up to 20%, and secure priority seating!

🎟️ Secure your seats today at NOBAdance.com

07/21/2026

🎶 "When I heard the piano playing, I said, 'Yeah, this is the place for me.'" - Dance for Parkinson's Participant

As Louisiana’s only licensed Dance for PD® affiliate, NOBA is proud to bring the highest national standard of specialized, research-backed dance and movement instruction to people with Parkinson’s and other similar neurological challenges right here to New Orleans.

Take a beautiful look inside the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Dance for Parkinson’s Program, captured by Henry Haber. These fun, completely free creative movement classes offer a welcoming community where dancers find joy and connection through movement. No experience is required, and classes feature live musical accompaniment! Caregivers, family, and friends are always welcome to join.

SUMMER SCHEDULE (Through August 3, 2026):
🗓️ Mondays | 2:30 PM to 3:45 PM
📍 Munholland Methodist Church (Metairie)
🗓️ Wednesdays | 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM
📍 JCC New Orleans (St. Charles Ave.)

ONGOING SCHEDULE (Resuming after August 3):
🗓️ Mondays | 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM
📍 Pontiff Gym (1521 Palm St., Metairie)
🗓️ Wednesdays | 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM
📍JCC New Orleans (St. Charles Ave.)

Deepest thanks to the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust for their steadfast sponsorship of our free community classes since 2017. 💙

✨ Ready to move with us? Click the link in our bio [ADULT CLASSES] for full details and latest updates!

✨ Elevate your dance training! ✨Auditions are coming up August 13-15 for NOBA’s 2026-2027 school year Pre-Professional P...
07/18/2026

✨ Elevate your dance training! ✨

Auditions are coming up August 13-15 for NOBA’s 2026-2027 school year Pre-Professional Program! This unique, tuition-free* program provides motivated and talented dancers ages 8 to 18 with intensive instruction in ballet, modern, pointe, and body conditioning, plus unprecedented opportunities to train and perform with world-renowned master artists.

AUDITION DETAILS
📍 Where: Lyons Rec Center (624 Louisiana Ave.)
⚠️ Note: Dancers must check in 15 minutes prior to start time.

AUDITION SCHEDULE
🗓️ Thursday, August 13
Ages 8–9: 5:15 PM to 6:30 PM (Ballet & Modern)
Ages 10–11: 6:45 PM to 8:15 PM (Ballet & Modern)
🗓️ Friday, August 14
Ages 12–18: 5:45 PM to 7:45 PM (Ballet & Modern)
🗓️ Saturday, August 15
Mandatory Placement Day for all accepted and returning students. (Individual call times will vary between 9:30 AM and 3:15 PM).

QUICK FAQS
Fees: $10 audition fee for new students / $5 for returning 2025-26 academic year students.
Commitment: Accepted dancers must commit to regular, timely attendance for their assigned weekly track (School Year: Sept 8, 2026 to May 16, 2027).
Registration: Online registration is required to audition! For full program details, attire guidelines, and to secure your audition slot, head to our website here:

*Programs are tuition-free. An academic year registration fee applies for accepted students; financial need-based scholarships are available.

2026 NOBA Summer Dance Concert! 🌟Our three-week Summer Intensive is officially underway! Local students and NOBA alumni ...
07/14/2026

2026 NOBA Summer Dance Concert! 🌟

Our three-week Summer Intensive is officially underway! Local students and NOBA alumni are diving into rigorous training to prepare for a spectacular final showcase.

This year, our dancers are training with an incredible lineup from the Los Angeles-based contemporary powerhouse, BODYTRAFFIC. The faculty includes Artistic Director & Co-Founder Tina Finkelman Berkett, Julie Opiel, Guzmán Rosado, and Jahnell Boozer, alongside Rehearsal Directors Joan Rodriguez and Katie García, who are not only teaching during the intensive but are also joining the dancers on stage!

Through this rare opportunity, the dancers will perform acclaimed professional BODYTRAFFIC repertoire to conclude the intensive.
Come experience the immense talent, artistry, and energy of these incredible dancers.

🎟️ Get Your Tickets Early & Save!
Tickets are just $20 when you buy before July 23. After that, the price increases to $25. Click the link in our bio to lock in your early bird pricing today!
🗓️ Friday, July 31 at 7 PM
📍 Freda Lupin Memorial Hall at NOCCA
🔗 Click the link in our bio to buy tickets today!
Photos by Jeff Strout

Flawless technique. Elite storytelling. 🩰🌸As we count down the days to the opening of our mainstage season, our final co...
07/08/2026

Flawless technique. Elite storytelling. 🩰🌸

As we count down the days to the opening of our mainstage season, our final company preview highlights the return of one of the nation's premier classical ballet companies: Houston Ballet .

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Julie Kent and Stanton Welch AM, the company brings Welch’s internationally lauded masterpiece, "Madame Butterfly," to our city. Set to Puccini's iconic score and brought to life with Peter Farmer's stunning scenic designs, this breathtaking production tells the poignant story of Cio-Cio-San, a young geisha whose unwavering devotion to an American naval lieutenant leads to one of ballet's most powerful and heartbreaking love stories. Through sweeping choreography and unforgettable performances, "Madame Butterfly" explores love, hope, sacrifice, and loss with extraordinary beauty and emotional depth. Swipe through for a glimpse of this spectacular story ballet and prepare to be swept away by an unforgettable night of world-class technique.

"One of the nation’s best ballet companies" - The New York Times

📍 Houston Ballet: "Madame Butterfly" 📅 Sat, Apr 17 | 7:30PM
🎟️ Get the Best Seats for the Best Price! Subscriptions are on sale now. NOBAdance.com
💃 Check out the rest of our season lineup at NOBAdance.com

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Photo credits in individual photo captions. Photos courtesy of Houston Ballet.

Address

935 Gravier Street, Suite 800
New Orleans, LA
70112

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5am
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 2:30pm

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