Academy of Cleveland Ballet

Have you ever dreamt of performing with a professional ballet company on one of the most iconic stages of Playhouse Square ?

Cleveland Ballet is holding an audition for select roles in The Nutcracker on Saturday, September 19th!
🔗link in our bio for more information. Pre-registration required.

Excited to welcome our intermediate/advanced level adult ballet students to the studio this evening at 6:30! More information and registration can be found at the link in our bio.
Drop in and dance with us! 🩰✨

Yesterday marked Kevin Bakers final class here in our studios with the Academy of Cleveland Ballet before he starts his next chapter in Seattle. ✈️

While the Cleveland Ballet family will miss this dedicated teacher who deeply cared about his students, we wish him so much success and love on this next chapter.

A former Cleveland Ballet company dancer and truly gifted character artist, Kevin brought unforgettable personality, storytelling and artistry to the stage. Enjoy some of our favorite roles Kevin has portrayed over the years as well as the many reasons why he will be missed.

Thank you for everything, Mr. Baker. Bravo. 💪✨

📸Mark Horning & Co. Photography & Kaela

Announcing open auditions for Cleveland Ballet's
"The Nutcracker!"

Dreaming of dancing on stage this holiday season at Playhouse Square? Here's your chance! Join The Academy of Cleveland Ballet for open auditions for our 2026 production of
"The Nutcracker."

🗓️WHEN: Saturday, September 19, 2026
📍WHERE: Cleveland Ballet | 23020 Miles Road
🩰WHO: Roles available for ages 5 through adult (18+)
🎭Performance Dates: December 11-20, 2026 at Connor Palace, Playhouse Square

Details and audition times vary by age and level. Visit cleveballet.org/academy-auditions to learn more. Roles offered will include (but are not limited to): Party Children & Parents, Soldiers & Cadets, Little Mice, Rats, Angels, Truffles, Gingerbreads, and Entourage dancers for Chocolate and Tea.

Questions? Send us a message, email [email protected], or call 216.320.9000 ext. 108.

📸: Mark Horning & Co. Photography

Last but certainly not least, the newest addition to our dedicated faculty at the academy, Alexandra Veronese-Milin! ✨🩰
Alexandra Veronese-Milin began her ballet training at the age of five at San Francisco Ballet School, where she studied under Patrick Armand and Tina LeBlanc. During her years at the school, she performed alongside San Francisco Ballet in productions of Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, Coppélia, and Don Quixote. She continued her training at the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, graduating with honors in Classical Ballet and earning a degree in Ballet Pedagogy under the direction of Marina Leonova. Her studies included state examinations in classical ballet, pointe, character dance, historical dance, modern dance, pas de deux, acting, music theory, and teaching methodology within the Vaganova system.
While studying at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Alexandra served as a teaching assistant, working with students from Levels 1–5 and gaining hands-on experience with the Academy’s progressive Vaganova curriculum. She has also taught ballet, pre-pointe, variations, and coaching as a guest instructor in California, working with dancers from beginner through pre-professional levels.
Alongside her teaching, Alexandra has performed professionally with Oklahoma City Ballet, English National Ballet, and currently Cleveland Ballet. She has also trained at summer programs including the Paris Opera Ballet School, Kirov Ballet Academy, Bolshoi Ballet Academy, and IBStage Barcelona, and has been a finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix, the World Ballet Competition, and the Varna International Ballet Competition.
In addition to her dance career, Alexandra graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Environmental Studies and has completed coursework through Harvard University.
Leave her lots of love in the comments! Thank you for joining us this summer learning all about our amazing educators!

As we kick off our final week of our Summer Training Program, we would like to introduce Katharine Cowan!✨🩰

Katharine Cowan has been a company member with the Cleveland Ballet since 2019. She is an accomplished teacher specializing in ballet and contemporary dance. Katharine’s love for dance began at the age of 3, and since then she has studied ballet, pointe, contemporary, modern, jazz, musical theatre, and hip hop. Her extensive training includes prestigious institutions such as the Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Ballet Austin, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and Studio West Dance Academy. As a dedicated educator, Katharine has taught outreach programs in the greater Cleveland area, with the goal of spreading the joy of dance to diverse communities. Her performance repertoire includes lead roles like Giselle, Cinderella, Sugar Plum, and Caroline/Clara and features works by acclaimed choreographers such as George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Jerome and Laura Tisserand, Dawn Fay, Claudia Schreier, and Ilia Zhivoi. As a teacher, Katharine’s goals as a teacher extend beyond technical mastery, aiming to instill a deep appreciation for the art form, promote personal discipline, cultivate creativity, and build confidence in her students. She hopes to develop a dynamic and supportive learning environment in her classroom that encourages individual expression and fosters a love for dance.
Join us leaving love for Miss Kat in the comments! ❤️

🚨Due to popular demand, we are excited to be able to add a new beginner adult ballet class starting the week of August 17th, on Thursday evenings! Grab a group of friends and come dance with us🩰

🔗Link in our bio for more information and to register.

This weekend we are highlighting another incredible teacher, Tiera Peters! ✨🩰

Tiera Peters began dancing with the Cleveland Ballet in 2023, after graduating from the Academy of Cleveland Ballet’s Trainee Program in June 2023. She was born and raised in Rockland County, New York, receiving training at Ballet Rockland under the coaching of Rebecca Tew. She has taught ballet and creative movement to students of all ages through Ballet Rockland, North Rockland Central School District, Cleveland Ballet’s Community Outreach, and the Warrensville Heights Y.M.C.A. She is also a certified Indoor Cycling Instructor and brings her knowledge of kinesiology and physical fitness to the dance studio. She aims to cultivate a community of care and growth in the classroom that facilitates both artistic development and furthering oneself as a person. 
FUN FACT: ever wondered who you were talking to when you called to purchase tickets from us or a season subscription? Likely it was Tiera on the other end! 😉 leave her some love in the comments below. ❤️🩰