INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Indianapolis Ballet (IB) proudly announces the conclusion of a very successful holiday season marked by a historic collaboration for performances of The Nutcracker at Clowes Memorial Hall and the beloved Nutcracker Sweets at the Tobias Theater at Newfields.

A Historic Collaboration

This season’s performances at Clowes Memorial Hall represented a milestone in the city’s cultural landscape, featuring a burgeoning partnership between Indianapolis Ballet and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO). For the first time, IB dancers performed to the live accompaniment of the ISO, bringing Tchaikovsky’s iconic score to life with unprecedented depth. This collaboration was made possible through the generous support of the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, whose commitment to the arts continues to elevate the caliber of live performances in Central Indiana.

Artistic Excellence on Stage

Audiences were treated to exemplary performances by Indianapolis Ballet’s professional company, joined by nearly 50 talented students from the Indianapolis School of Ballet. The production was further enhanced by the debut of 130 sparkling costumes, adding a fresh visual brilliance to the timeless holiday classic. This included original designs by Abigail Marten, designs from Pegeen and Much Ado Tutus, as well as supplementary rentals from Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Dance Kaleidoscope, Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, and Indiana University Opera and Ballet Theater. The Indianapolis Ballet Guild and many volunteers provided additional wardrobe support as well.

Honoring a Founding Legacy & Looking Ahead

This successful run was led to the stage by Assistant Artistic Director Kristin Toner, with additional support by Rehearsal Director Francis Veyette, Head of School Lauren Fadeley Veyette, and Director of the Young Children’s Program Emily Nord Womersley. This production follows the conclusion of tenure for Founding Artistic Director Victoria Lyras, who remains a central figure in the organization’s history.

As Indianapolis Ballet transitions into the new year, the organization will announce an interim artistic director in January to lead the company in the upcoming productions of Ethereal Blue to Fiery Red in January, The Sleeping Beauty with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and concluding with the Family Series production in April.

For more information and updates on the 2025/26 season, visit www.indyballet.org.

Media Assets

Members of the press and the public are invited to view and download high-resolution highlights from the production, including performance stills and candid moments of patrons meeting characters like the Snow Queen in the Clowes Memorial Hall lobby. Production photos are by Sonja Clark, Moonbug Photography. Highlights can be viewed and downloaded here.

Indianapolis Ballet, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the advancement of professional ballet and dance education through extraordinary performances and world-class training. Centrally located in the heart of downtown, the Indianapolis School of Ballet (ISB) has served as Indiana’s premier destination for professional dance instruction since opening its doors to students in 2006. With its debut in early 2018, Indianapolis Ballet has established the presence of a fully professional, resident ballet company in the Circle City for the first time in over a decade. Both institutions are under the creative direction of Founding Artistic Director Victoria Lyras. For more information on how Indianapolis Ballet, Inc. is moving this timeless art form forward in Indianapolis, visit www.indyballet.org and follow @indyballet on Facebook and Instagram.