Regarded as one of the top ballet companies in North America and internationally recognized, Tulsa Ballet consistently brings the finest works of the classical and contemporary repertory to the Oklahoma stage, presenting the same works and sharing the same world-renowned choreographers with the top dance organizations in the world. Tulsa Ballet believes in giving local audiences the opportunity to view truly world class ballet in the heartland of America. The company employs a multi-cultural roster of dancers currently comprised of 30 highly skilled professionals representing 9 states and 15 foreign countries, attracted by the challenging and varied repertoire, as well as the company’s reputation for engaging the world’s best choreographers.
Tulsa Ballet was founded in 1956 by husband and wife Roman Jasinski and Moscelyne Larkin, 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.
In 1995 Marcello Angelini was appointed Artistic Director following 37 years of multifaceted history created by the Jasinski family. Mr. Angelini has been called by Dance Magazine “The Italian Tornado” for undertaking an ambitious repertory building program. In the last decade, Tulsa Ballet has added more then 70 new works to its repertory that were either Oklahoma Premieres, American Premieres or World Premieres. Tulsa Ballet has also claimed a spot on the international scene, performing in three European countries and South Korea during the past seven years.
Tulsa Ballet is committed to the task of creating art in Tulsa and exporting it to the world. With this concept in mind, the company built and opened a proper 300 seats, $6 million theater, Studio K, built around the project of creating new art, in the spring of 2008.