Indianapolis Ballet (IB) seeks its next Artistic Director, who will carry the organization’s mission forward, embracing the history and future of classical ballet through dynamic performances, visionary new works, extraordinary training, and by providing transformative community outreach programs to the widest possible audiences. Entering its eighth season as a professional company, IB is the largest professional dance company in the state of Indiana.
Founded first as a ballet school in 2006 by Victoria Lyras, IB has grown into a dynamic force, presenting up to nine productions annually. Its partnership with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra provides extraordinary live musical accompaniment on select programs. Through performances, community programs, and educational classes, IB seeks to make the joy of dance attainable to all, create community pride, enhance classroom success through arts integration, and shape the future of dance through formal instruction. More information on Indianapolis Ballet’s vision, mission, and history may be found on its website.
CURRENT ENVIRONMENT
Season, Venues, Facility
This season, IB will present seven productions: five mainstage, one for IndyFringe Theatre Festival, and one family series. The company’s home is a 20,000-square-foot facility in downtown Indianapolis. The leased building is shared between the professional company and school. The facility also includes administrative offices, shops, and production storage. For full-scale productions, IB performs at Clowes Memorial Hall (1900-2100 seats). Mixed-rep programs are presented at Tobias Theatre (530 seats), which is part of Newfields: A Place for Nature and the Arts, a 152-acre cultural campus. IB occasionally presents new work programs in The District Theatre (120 seats).
The School
The Indianapolis School of Ballet is an integral part of IB’s mission. It currently has an enrollment of approximately 250, including a Young Children’s Program, a Pre-professional Program, and a Professional Trainee Program. Trainees often perform with the professional company in large-scale productions.
Community Engagement and Education
IB has a significant commitment to community engagement and education, including:
- Community Nights, free before most season performances;
- Indy Ballet Classrooms, introductory classes in area schools;
- Lecture Demonstrations;
- Student matinee performances;
- IB for Parkinson’s Disease, providing classes to those with Parkinson’s free of charge;
- Family Series Performances.
Size and Scope
IB’s current annual budget is $2.75 million with an earned/contributed ratio of approximately 54/46. There is a healthy balance sheet with no accumulated debt and an endowment of approximately $2.1 million. IB has 11 full-time and many part-time, contract, and seasonal employees. The professional company includes 24 dancers on a 32-week contract, five apprentices, and eight trainees, totaling 37 dancers. IB is a non-union company.
LEADERSHIP
Michael Vernon, Interim Artistic Director
A distinguished figure in the international dance community and longtime faculty member at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Vernon will lead the company through the conclusion of the 2025-26 season. Trained at the Royal Ballet School, Vernon performed with the Royal Ballet, Royal Opera Ballet, and London Festival Ballet. As a teacher, he has worked with important companies including American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Dance Theatre of Harlem.
