You are invited to the dance

The Center’s 2026–27 Dance Series celebrates 40 years as the West Coast’s leading presenter of classical ballet and contemporary dance. From iconic story ballets to thrilling new artistic discoveries, we champion ballet’s enduring ability to excite and inspire. Don’t listen to actor Timothée Chalamet (“no one cares about ballet”); dance is more electrifying and relevant than ever! 

In October the Center will host Houston Ballet, which brings Sons de L’âme (“Sounds of the Soul”) for its West Coast premiere. It was choreographed by Australian dancer-turned-choreographer Stanton Welch AM, who took the role of artistic director of the company in 2003. It’s an intimate and elegant evening-length ballet set to the romantic work of Frédéric Chopin. Music will be performed live on stage by pianist George Li, who has established an international reputation and performs regularly with the world’s leading orchestra and conductors. He shares the stage with 16 dancers who will dazzle audiences.

This is Houston Ballet’s debut at the Center. It is the 5th largest ballet company in the United States and has been revitalized with Welch at the helm. Hailed by The New York Times as “one of America’s best ballet companies,” Houston Ballet is among the country’s leading ballet institutions. 

In a whirl of dancing snowflakes and mice making mischief, The Nutcracker returns to Segerstrom Hall with American Ballet Theatre’s superb production of this classic ballet. As soon as the curtain goes up and you see Little Mouse scurrying around the kitchen you know you are in for an exhilarating performance. Choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky for American Ballet Theatre, there are surprises and wonderment that will tickle the audience. 

It’s hard not to get excited. It has amazing sets, colorful costumes, a cast of more than 100 performers, and of course, stellar performances from some of the world’s leading dancers.  The Orange County Register praises it as a “colorful, cinematic creation filled with spectacle, humor and eye-popping costumes,” and the Los Angeles Times calls it “A joyful Nutcracker that is ravishing and clever enough to inspire multiple viewings.” Pacific Symphony performs the evocative Tchaikovsky score.

Onegin returns to Orange County with all the romance and heartbreak that an innocent young girl can feel when she falls in love with an older man of the world. The Stuttgart Ballet presents the work choreographed by their late company director, John Cranko, and no company dances it like they do; they own it.  

“John Cranko made many fine ballets … his crowning glory must surely be Onegin,” says seeingdance.com. “It requires consummate actors as well as superb dancers. Stuttgart delivered.”

In the story, Tatiana goes from an innocent girl swept off her feet by Onegin, a handsome but jaded man, to her life as an aristocratic married woman who understands 
her place in society. Onegin realizes too late the mistake he made by ignoring her in her youth. “The role of Tatiana is seen as a dream role for ballerinas,” says the 
SF Chronicle, “requiring both innocence and tragic depth.” 

Based on Alexander Pushkin’s classic novel and set to Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score (performed live by Pacific Symphony), this lavish production reminds us why great ballet endures.

Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernandez* returns to the Center as a fan favorite. This is the company that brings together the music, dance and costumes of Mexican folklore from pre-Colombian civilizations to the modern era.  

The swirling skirts of the women, the sombreros of the men, the trumpets and violins of the mariachi—this is Ballet Folklórico de Mèxico. For more than 60 years, this dance ensemble has performed dances that reflect the traditions, cultures and beliefs of the individual regions of Mexico by way of dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernández. 

You don’t have to travel any farther than the Center to experience this dance phenomenon. As the company’s website says, “[Ballet Folklórico de Mèxico] is a living museum that transmits Mexico’s cultural traditions to the world.” Whether it’s “The Dance of the Deer,” “Dance of the Quetzels,” or Jarabe Tapatio—the famous hat dance that symbolizes a romantic courtship—the performances highlight the authentic Mexico. There are many folklorico companies out there, but Ballet Folklórico de Mèxico is the original and the best. 

Alexei Ratmansky’s inspired reconstruction of the classic ballet The Sleeping Beauty awakens the timeless story of love triumphing over evil. Presented by American Ballet Theatre and featuring lavish costumes and magnificent storybook sets, this expressive tale of the beautiful Princess Aurora, the evil sorceress Carabosse, and the handsome prince and his magical kiss is certain to cast a spell on your heart and spark your imagination.

This production is a bit different. Ratmansky has often referred to it as a “reconstruction”—in other words, a staging informed by historical sources. He and his wife, Tatiana, have researched production notes of the original choreographer Marius Petipa to take the ballet back to its roots. It means dancing that echoes the original late 19th-century steps—nothing too exaggerated, no spectacular jumps, but still magnificent movement.

“Much like a critical edition in music, it attempts to scrape back the layers of habit and performance tradition to rediscover something close to the original ‘text,’ in this case, Marius Petipa’s steps,” says Dancetabs. “It feels alive, filled with ideas about what Sleeping Beauty represents, about style, about classicism and Petipa, and about ballet itself.”  

The enchanting score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky will be performed live by Pacific Symphony. 

A major premiere anchors the season: Ballet Hispánico New York* performs Don Q: In Pursuit of the Impossible, co-commissioned by Segerstrom Center for the Arts^®. Choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa with Ludwig Minkus’ charming score performed live by Pacific Symphony, this bold contemporary reimagining of the classic story promises an unforgettable season highlight. The story is set in a fever dream, where forms shift, logic loosens, and imagination extends beyond the limits of what is real. This will be the first time the company has presented the work with a live orchestra. 

Ballet Hispánico is the nation’s leading Hispanic/Latin dance company and the largest cultural institution of its kind in the United States. “Ballet Hispánico dances with elegance and lyricism,” says The Washington Post. Their performances seamlessly blend dance excellence, contemporary innovation, and cultural authenticity. Ballet Hispánico continues to redefine what it means to be an American dance company.

Join us for a season of pure artistry that will stay with you long after the curtain falls. 

*Ballet Folklórico de México and Ballet Hispánico appear as part of ¡VIVA! The Spenuzza Series. Celebrating 257 Years of Hispanic Heritage.