NJ Ballet School Summer Programs

NJ Ballet School Summer Programs take place at the NJ Ballet School / New Jersey Ballet Company facility and include summer offerings such as the NJ Ballet School Summer Intensive, Elite Youth Intensive, and Open Youth Intensive. The programs operate within the regular facility hours, which run throughout the week.

• Schedule: Hours of operation are Monday–Friday 9:30am–9:30pm, Saturday 9:30am–5:00pm, and Sunday with varying hours

New Jersey Ballet Company was established in 1958, and in 1971 it premiered its first performance of Nutcracker at the Paper Mill Playhouse. New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker is described as New Jersey’s longest running professional production, and the company was the first dance company in the United States to present the full-length Esmeralda. The Artistic Director, Maria Kowroski, was a principal dancer with New York City Ballet for more than 25 years, entered the School of American Ballet in 1992, became an apprentice with New York City Ballet in 1994, joined the company as a member of the corps de ballet in 1995, was promoted to soloist in 1997 and to principal dancer in 1999, and received the Princess Grace Award in 1994 and the Jerome Robbins Award in 2011. New Jersey Ballet’s leadership includes Artistic Director Maria Kowroski, Founder Carolyn Clark, and Co-founder George Tomal, and Ms. Clark’s stated vision was to establish a professional dance company for New Jersey while maintaining high standards of quality and artistry. Ms. Kowroski’s artistic vision includes forming new collaborations with arts organizations and growing community programming that focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Reviewers have described New Jersey Ballet as “that amazing,” have called the dancers “exquisite,” and have noted that the company has “improved significantly” since Maria Kowroski became Artistic Director.

Last updated July 28, 2026.