Logo of Michigan Ballet Company with stylized ballet dancer silhouette integrated into the letter M.

Michigan Academy of Dance + Arts – Official Training School of the Michigan Ballet Company

Michigan Academy of Dance Arts is proud to be the official affiliate school of the Michigan Ballet Company (MBC), formerly Macomb Ballet Company, the region’s premier pre professional youth ballet company. Founded in 1982 by Ann Parsley, MBC offers dedicated dancers ages 7 to 19 the opportunity to bring classical ballet to life on a professional stage.

Each season, MBC presents two full length productions: the beloved holiday classic The Nutcracker in December and a spring ballet in April, both performed at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts. These productions provide dancers with invaluable performance experience while developing confidence, discipline, and artistry in a professional setting.

While MBC welcomes dancers from studios across the region, many of its members receive their foundational training at Michigan Academy of Dance Arts. As the official school of the company, MADA prepares dancers with the strong technical foundation and artistic refinement needed to succeed in a pre professional environment.

MBC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the cultural landscape of Southeast Michigan. The company has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, and the Anton Art Center in Mount Clemens.

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A ballet performance with dancers dressed as characters from a holiday scene, including a female dancer in a white dress and male dancer in a red coat, with a backdrop depicting a snowy winter landscape and a group of ballerinas dressed as angels wit
A stage performance featuring ballet dancers in pink and green costumes with a colorful, whimsical castle backdrop and elaborate set design.
Girls in colorful costumes performing a dance on stage in front of a playful, decorated background with pink, blue, and yellow elements.
A ballet performance on stage featuring dancers in colorful costumes with a whimsical, fairy-tale backdrop.
Children and adults in Victorian costumes reaching towards a toy soldier on a stage with pink walls and Christmas decorations.
Group of dancers dressed as toy soldiers performing on stage with Christmas tree and starry backdrop.
Children in colorful costumes performing on stage with a whimsical backdrop, featuring a princess at the center and dancers with striped and solid-colored dresses.
A group of children dressed in colorful costumes performing in a holiday-themed stage play with a Christmas tree and gifts in the background.
Ballet dancers in white and blue tutus perform on a stage with a winter landscape backdrop, featuring snow-covered trees, a castle, and a moon.
Performers in colorful costumes dancing on stage with a backdrop resembling a gingerbread house.
Ballet dancers dressed as mermaids performing on stage with a colorful underwater-themed backdrop featuring a castle, coral, and fish.
Ballet dancers performing on stage in a blue-lit scene with costumes and props simulating a night scene or underwater setting.
Ballet dancers perform on stage with a colorful underwater scene backdrop, featuring a castle and aquatic elements.
Young dancers in colorful costumes perform a ballet on stage with an ocean-themed backdrop.
Two men on a ship's bow, one steering and the other pointing, with a sail and ocean background, on a dark stage.
A theatrical stage performance featuring a central female performer dressed in an elaborate black and purple costume with large, decorative skirt, surrounded by dancers in black costumes with glowing green and blue accents, set against a dark, dramat
Performer dressed as a grapevine queen with a large purple gown and crown, holding a staff, surrounded by dancers in black costumes, on a stage with a forest backdrop and misty atmosphere.
A group of young ballet dancers in red costumes with ladybug-themed headbands practicing on stage with a painted backdrop of a seaside town.
Four young women dressed as princesses sit on a bed, reading a storybook. To the left, a girl in a yellow fairy costume peeks out from behind white curtains on a stage.
Stage scene from a theatrical production with four women in colorful dresses and one man in historical costume, all in mid-air jumps, holding hands or reaching out, with a bedroom set and starry night backdrop.
A ballet dancer dressed as Tinker Bell, wearing a yellow tutu, performing on stage with a backdrop of dark stars and painted trees.
Stage scene from a theatrical production displaying a bedroom set. A male actor is mid-air, jumping above the window frame, with arms outstretched and smiling. Two female actors are present: one dressed in a bright fairy costume with wings, standing
Four ballet dancers performing on stage with a starry background and blue lighting.
Ballet dancers perform on stage with a backdrop of twinkling lights and a tree, surrounded by colorful oversized flowers.
Stage with ten women in colorful ruffled dresses holding parasols, performing a dance under a starry backdrop with forest-like scenery.
Group of performers dressed in green and black lizard-patterned costumes, carrying a large fabric resembling a dinosaur or lizard body on stage
Ballet dancers in black feathered costumes performing on stage, with six dancers visible and a dark background.
People dressed in costumes performing a theatrical scene on a stage with a forest backdrop, illuminated with blue stage lights and surrounded by an audience.
Children performing on stage in a play with a large skull and crossbones backdrop, dressed in costumes representing pirates and fairy tale characters.
Children in costumes performing on stage, dressed as animals with fluffy costumes and white paws, in a theatrical production set with a backdrop resembling a forest.
Four young girls dressed as characters from The Wizard of Oz performing on stage with painted backdrop of green towers and a yellow brick road.
Theatrical stage scene depicting characters in a farmyard with a large black fabric, a girl in a blue dress kneeling on the floor, a woman in costume standing on a mound of fabric, and other performers around. Background includes a barn, a small hous
A group of young girls dressed in colorful costumes and flower accessories on stage, taking a bow after a dance performance.
Ballet performance on stage with dancers in colorful costumes, backdrop depicts whimsical village with rounded houses and large flowers.
Children's theater performance of The Wizard of Oz. A girl dressed as Dorothy is placing a silver cone hat on a clown-like figure dressed as the Wizard. A woman dressed as Glenda the Good Witch stands to the right observing, with a backdrop of painte
A ballerina in a red dress performing a dance on stage surrounded by six women holding a large, pink, flower-patterned fabric, with a backdrop of a cloudy sky and trees.
Young ballerinas in colorful costumes performing on stage with floral decorations in the background.
Young girls dressed as reindeer performing a ballet on stage, with some girls kneeling and others standing, wearing costumes with antler headpieces and plush white chest accents.
Ballet dancers performing on stage with a green backdrop, some on pointe and others surrounding a cart with a woman in a teal dress standing on it.

MBC BELIEFS

CULTIVATE. INSPIRE. EDUCATE. CREATE. NURTURE.

Cultivating Artists. Inspiring Audiences. Enriching Ballet in Michigan.

Michigan Ballet Company believes in the power of classical ballet to shape not only skilled performers, but confident, compassionate, and creative individuals. As Michigan’s premier pre-professional youth ballet company, our core values guide every rehearsal, performance, and interaction.

  • At the Michigan Ballet Company, to cultivate means more than just training dancers-it means nurturing potential from the inside out. We foster discipline, artistry, and personal growth in every rehearsal, class, and performance opportunity. Whether on stage or in the studio, our dancers are guided to grow not only in technique, but in confidence, character, and connection to their craft.

  • At the Michigan Ballet Company, to inspire is to spark imagination, passion, and purpose—on stage and beyond.

    We believe in the transformative power of performance. Through high-quality, full-length ballets, meaningful mentorship, and a commitment to excellence, we ignite a lifelong love of the arts in both our dancers and our audiences. Every step, every story, and every stage moment is a chance to uplift, connect, and inspire.

  • At the Michigan Ballet Company, to educate means equipping our dancers with a deep understanding of classical ballet while also enlightening audiences about its beauty, history, and relevance.

    We believe in educating not just dancers, but audiences—making ballet accessible, inclusive, and community-centered. As a nonprofit organization, we are committed to enriching Michigan’s cultural landscape and providing opportunities for dancers of all backgrounds to shine.

    Our mission is not just to produce beautiful ballets—but to develop artists of integrity, elevate the standard of youth ballet, and serve as a vital cultural resource in our region.

  • At the Michigan Ballet Company, to create is to bring stories to life with passion, precision, and purpose. From original choreography to reimagined classics, we offer dancers the opportunity to be part of something imaginative and meaningful. Creativity is woven into every rehearsal and performance, encouraging dancers to express themselves artistically while contributing to a shared vision that captivates and connects.

  • At the Michigan Ballet Company, to nurture is to support the whole artist-mind, body, and spirit. We foster a compassionate, encouraging environment where dancers feel seen, valued, and empowered to grow. Through mentorship, community, and care, we cultivate resilience, confidence, and a lifelong love of the arts in every dancer who walks through our doors.

The Nutcracker ballet scene with four dancers in colorful costumes jumping in a bedroom set with beds, dresser, painting, and starry night backdrop.

  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

  • Cinderella

  • The Little Mermaid

  • The Nutcracker

  • Once Upon a Time (featuring selections from Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and The Little Mermaid)

  • Peter Pan

  • The Sleeping Beauty

  • Snow White

  • The Wizard of Oz

Each production is reimagined with original choreography, colorful costumes, and detailed sets—creating a fresh experience for returning audiences and an inspiring first introduction to ballet for new patrons.

PERFORMANCES