Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington, DC

Artists and WritersUnited States51-200 Employees

The Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington, DC is the only training program of its kind in the United States. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Adrienne Dellas Thornton and Executive Director Jonathan Park.

Founded in 1989, and opening its doors in 1990, the Kirov Academy of Ballet is the epitome of world-class ballet training. Serious students from around the world attend this institution to prepare for a professional career in classical ballet. Our internationally-recognized faculty teaches aspiring young dancers using the methodology of the St. Petersburg based Vaganova Ballet Academy, the most famous and influential classical ballet school in the world with a legacy more than 270 years old. The Vaganova Ballet Academy and its unique training method has created the world’s most famous dancers.

“The mission of the Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington, DC is to prepare students to become the next generation of classically trained ballet dancers through the principles and aesthetics of the Kirov tradition. Concurrently, students pursue a multifaceted academic program including the core subjects and the arts, each furthering the objectives to build a solid educational foundation, and to create, cultivate, and prepare the student for life as a professional artist. The proactive resident life program supports the Academy’s mission as it strives to refine and broaden the student’s experiences through constructive cultural, artistic, and creative endeavors that support the development of professional dancers.” 

The Kirov Academy of Ballet (KAB) exists to continue that legacy in the United States and make it relevant to today’s dancers. Each year KAB places more than 75% of its graduates with professional dance companies around the world, while other KAB graduates go on to further their education at universities with prestigious dance programs.

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