Our Mission

The Eglevsky Ballet endeavors to develop a distinct artistic identity through performance and outreach programs furthering the appreciation of the art form.  The company aspires to develop a unique and innovative repertoire of classical and contemporary works to enrich the Long Island community and to strive for national and international recognition.

Our History

In 1961 Andre Eglevsky, premier danseur of George Balanchine's New York City Ballet, founded the Eglevsky Ballet.  Eglevsky was often acclaimed as the greatest male dancer of his generation, and was the guiding creative force behind the company's growth.  The Eglevsky Ballet remains the only professional ballet company on Long Island.  For over four decades the company has grown and prospered, receiving rave critical reviews, under the direction of Edward Villella and Michael Vernon.  It has garnered financial support from the National Endowment of the Arts, The New York State Council on the Arts, the Nassau County Office of Cultural Development, various town councils, as well as corporate sponsors.  The Eglevsky Ballet is presently engaged in an exciting transformation under its current Artistic Director, Ali Pourfarrokh.

Our Philosophy

The Eglevsky Ballet is a versatile company of young, highly trained dancers.  With its roots in classical ballet tradition, the company continues to offer performances through a diverse program designed to enhance the appreciation of dance;  to challenge itself and its audiences through exploring variations of the art form;  and to improve the quality of life through enjoyment of the artistic experience on Long Island.  The company aims to achieve acceptance by the national and international dance communities.

In conjunction with performance of ballet, the Eglevsky Ballet encourages cultivation of future artists and audiences through educational programs, lectures, demonstrations, and workshops.  The annual Summer Residency Program at Hofstra University exemplifies this effort.  Designed to reflect our goals, it provides pre-professional training for young dancers.  The company also strives to develop the artistic resources of the community through the activities of its affiliate school, the American Theater Dance Workshop.

Our Repertoire

Currently, the Eglevsky Ballet is most noted for its series of performances consisting of contemporary and classical works expressly created for the company and adaptations of favorite classics including holiday performances of The Nutcracker.  To be reflective of our time, the company now seeks to develop further a repertoire that explores and defines its talents through creation of innovative contemporary works.