Ballet is performed at the highest level by a relatively small group of companies whose names are known worldwide. These organisations set the artistic standards, train future generations of dancers, and maintain the classical and contemporary repertoire. This guide covers the world’s most celebrated ballet companies — where they are based, what makes each one distinctive, and what students and dance lovers should know about them.
The Royal Ballet (London, UK)
Founded in 1931 by Ninette de Valois, The Royal Ballet is headquartered at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London. It is widely regarded as one of the two or three finest companies in the world. The company is closely associated with the British choreographic tradition and with landmark productions of Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, and the works of Frederick Ashton and Kenneth MacMillan. It also maintains a commitment to new choreography through its New Works programme.
The Royal Ballet School — a feeder institution — is one of the most respected vocational ballet schools in the world. Students in the RAD system who reach Vocational level often audition for the Royal Ballet School’s upper school.
The Bolshoi Ballet (Moscow, Russia)
The Bolshoi Ballet traces its origins to 1776, making it one of the oldest ballet companies in the world. Based at the historic Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, it is famous for its large scale, dramatic intensity, and powerful technique. The company performed the world premieres of many of the most beloved ballets: Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake (1877), Sleeping Beauty (1890), and The Nutcracker (1892) all premiered under Bolshoi or imperial Russian management.
The Bolshoi’s training tradition is rooted in the Vaganova method, which emphasises back flexibility, expressive port de bras, and dramatic characterisation. Many of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century trained in the Russian system — Maya Plisetskaya, Galina Ulanova, and Natalia Makarova among them.
American Ballet Theatre (New York, USA)
American Ballet Theatre (ABT), based in New York City, was founded in 1940 and is the national ballet company of the United States. It is distinctive for its eclectic repertoire, ranging from 19th-century classics to contemporary works, and for its historically diverse roster of principal dancers. Misty Copeland, who became ABT’s first Black female principal dancer in 2015, is its most celebrated recent figure. See our Misty Copeland biography for her full story.
New York City Ballet (New York, USA)
NYCB was co-founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and impresario Lincoln Kirstein. It is philosophically distinct from ABT: where ABT is eclectic and story-driven, NYCB focuses on neoclassical and abstract ballet — works that prioritise musicality and movement over narrative. Balanchine’s choreography (Serenade, The Four Temperaments, Jewels) remains the core of the company’s identity. NYCB is based at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
Paris Opéra Ballet (Paris, France)
The Paris Opéra Ballet is the world’s oldest national ballet company, with origins in the 1669 Académie Royale de Danse founded by Louis XIV — the same institution that standardised French ballet terminology. Based at the Palais Garnier and the Opéra Bastille, it employs the most formal hierarchy in the ballet world: the French system of ranks (Quadrille, Coryphée, Sujet, Premier Danseur, Étoile) is the oldest ranking system still in use. The highest rank — Étoile (Star) — is conferred directly from the stage by the artistic director, never by audition.
The Mariinsky Ballet (St. Petersburg, Russia)
The Mariinsky Ballet (formerly the Kirov) is the institution most responsible for defining classical ballet as we know it. Based at the historic Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, it was home to Marius Petipa (choreographer of Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker) and trained legendary dancers including Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, Rudolf Nureyev, and Mikhail Baryshnikov. The Vaganova Academy, adjacent to the Mariinsky, remains one of the most prestigious ballet schools on earth.
Other Major Ballet Companies
- The Australian Ballet – Australia’s national company, based in Melbourne; known for both classical and contemporary works.
- The National Ballet of Canada – Toronto-based; internationally recognised for its productions of The Nutcracker and Swan Lake.
- Birmingham Royal Ballet – Second company of the Royal Ballet family; based in Birmingham with strong regional touring programme.
- Dutch National Ballet (Het Nationale Ballet) – Based in Amsterdam; distinctive for its mixture of classical and contemporary repertoire.
- Stuttgart Ballet – German company famous for the dramatic full-evening narrative ballets of John Cranko (Romeo and Juliet, Onegin, The Taming of the Shrew).
What to Look for When Watching a Ballet Company
The company’s style tells you a great deal about its training heritage. Russian companies tend toward large, dramatic gestures and powerful jumping. British companies (Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet) emphasise musicality and clean academic technique. French companies prize refined épaulement (shoulder placement) and expressive arms. American companies blend influences from all these traditions.
For students following the RAD syllabus, watching Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet productions is the most directly instructive, as the training heritage is closely aligned with the RAD’s own methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous ballet company in the world?
There is no single answer — different companies are famous for different reasons. The Royal Ballet (London), the Bolshoi Ballet (Moscow), the Mariinsky Ballet (St. Petersburg), and American Ballet Theatre (New York) are all considered among the finest companies in the world. The Paris Opéra Ballet holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest national ballet company. Artistic preferences vary enormously between audiences and critics.
What is the difference between ABT and NYCB?
American Ballet Theatre (ABT) and New York City Ballet (NYCB) are both based in New York but are artistically very different. ABT is an eclectic company presenting the full range of classical and contemporary works, known for dramatic storytelling and diverse casting. NYCB was built around George Balanchine’s neoclassical aesthetic, focusing on abstract musicality rather than narrative. ABT is associated with the Russian classical tradition; NYCB with the Balanchine school.
How does the Paris Opéra Ballet ranking system work?
The Paris Opéra Ballet has a formal five-tier hierarchy: Quadrille (corps de ballet), Coryphée (featured corps), Sujet (soloist), Premier Danseur (first dancer), and Étoile (star — the highest rank). Étoile is the only rank not determined by an audition panel: it is conferred by the artistic director publicly from the stage, after a performance, in front of the audience — a tradition unique to the Paris Opéra.
Do ballet companies have their own schools?
Most major ballet companies have associated training schools. The Royal Ballet School feeds The Royal Ballet; the Vaganova Academy feeds the Mariinsky; the School of American Ballet feeds NYCB; and the Paris Opéra Ballet School feeds the Paris Opéra Ballet. Acceptance into these schools is highly competitive and typically begins with children as young as 10–11 years old. The schools follow intensive vocational curricula alongside academic education.