About

BalletNova Center for Dance, founded in 1981 by Kathryn and Kenneth Fredgren, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to educating and mentoring dancers in a positive, nurturing environment and preserving the traditions of classical ballet through quality dance productions and education.  

Formerly Arlington Center for Dance/Center Dance Company, the organization moved to a beautiful six-studio 20,800 square foot state-of-the-art facility in  2008, and offers classes in ballet, modern, tap, jazz, and hip hop for children, teens and adult dancers.

The pre-professional ballet program is recognized as one of the best in the Metro Washington DC area, and BalletNova also has an extensive Adult Dance Division with classes in several levels of Ballet, Contemporary, Tap, Jazz and Theater Dance.

BalletNova presents two major theatrical performances each year - the Nutcracker (a popular holiday tradition for thousands of families each year) and a Spring Concert (featuring the works of local choreographers as well as BalletNova dancers). Additionally, we present numerous free public performances such as the Clarendon Day Festival and the Tysons Activity Fair as well as Barnes & Noble Storytimes.

BalletNova offers outreach programs in the local schools, and gives away hundreds of performance tickets each year to economically challenged populations.  

We offer a free “Boys Day” where boys from 7 – 15 learn martial arts, hip-hop, conditioning, and stretching.

BNCD gave out over $47,000 in financial aid and scholarships last year, as we believe a quality dance education should be accessible to all children who have the desire and commitment to learn regardless of their economic circumstances. We offer senior centers such as Goodwin House and the Sunrises, a 20% group ticket discount. Tickets are donated to the USO, and seniors over 65 and military families receive a 10% class discount.

BalletNova Center for Dance continues to hold an outstanding reputation for excellence in dance training and performances throughout the Northern Virginia region. We are thrilled to report that the Youth America Grand Prix International Ballet Competition (YAGP) bestowed us with the honor of Outstanding School in 2014. In addition three of our dancers won honors in both classical and contemporary categories, and one went on to the prestigious New York Finals, where he won a full scholarship to the Houston Ballet Academy, in the pre-trainee level.

Our excellent faculty continues to guide our students expertly, with many of our dancers continuing to go on to professional careers with ballet companies throughout the United States, including Washington Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Houston Ballet and Ballet Magnificat. One recent graduate was accepted to the Milwaukee Ballet II, and another apprenticed with the Chamber Dance Project and was accepted to the Suzanne Farrell Ballet.  Other alums are dancing internationally at the Royal Ballet and the Dresden State Opera Ballet.

In 2014, we launched our newest project, a black box-style theater designed for dance, the Fredgren Studio Theater.  This intimate 150-seat space features sprung dance floors, professional lighting and sound, and free parking.  The Fredgren is a community resource for the arts, and offers non-profit discounts for rentals.

Known as an incubator for both emerging and established dance companies, BalletNova is home to resident companies Chamber Dance Project, GInDance, Karen Reedy Dance, and DanceArts Theater.

Active in the community, BalletNova is a member of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, the Fairfax County Dance Coalition, Dance/Metro DC, the West End Business Association, and the Alexandria Arts Forum.

In 2015, BalletNova was proud to announce its new Artistic Director! Laveen Naidu from the Dance Theatre of Harlem joins BalletNova in September 2015.