Butler Ballet, the performance component of the program, is modeled after a professional company. Butler Ballet performs the classics because they are the foundation of the department’s philosophy and training. Being central to artistic development, students learn historically and technically while performing lengthy 19th century grand ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia, Cinderella or Giselle.

The department of dance recognizes that versatility is essential to the work of a professional dancer. Butler Ballet contributes to that training by performing licensed and commissioned choreographic works along with original works by the faculty. Recent masterpieces performed by the Butler Ballet include George Balanchine’s Serenade and Paul Taylor’s Cloven Kingdom and students have experienced the creative process with such masters as James Kudelka and Stephen Mills.