About Us
Rochester City Ballet’s rich history began in 1987 when it was founded by Timothy M. Draper as a student-based company. Upon the death of its founder in 2003, the Rochester City Ballet (RCB) contracted professional dancers, achieving status as the only professional ballet company in Western New York. In July 2010, RCB presented its first New York City season and in July 2013, Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival selected RCB to perform in the Inside/Out series. The company has become a nationally significant dance company and a cherished cultural institution in the Finger Lakes region.
RCB has a long-standing relationship with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra with its production of the holiday classic The Nutcracker, and special projects with Jeff Tyzik, Principal Pops Conductor. The Company has collaborated with many musical groups and individuals, including The Cello Divas, Arabesque Winds, and bassist James VanDemark, as well as with visual and virtual artists. In addition to touring regionally, RCB regularly performs locally at Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theatre, the Nazareth College Arts Center, the Auditorium Theatre, and the School of the Arts in Rochester.
RCB is committed to making dance accessible through its educational and community outreach, with programming in the Rochester City School District, as well as community centers and colleges, and specially produced sensory friendly productions that allow families with special needs to experience the joy of live dance.
