Academy of Ballet Arts Inc
Academy of Ballet Arts Inc is a ballet school in St. Petersburg, Florida, founded in 1969 and home to the St. Petersburg Ballet Company.
Ballet school in St. Petersburg, FL founded in 1969. Classes for ages 3 to adult, including pointe, character, and contemporary.
Updated August 2026
- Location
- St. Petersburg, FL
- Categories
- Ballet School, Ballet
Academy of Ballet Arts Inc is located at 515 22nd St S Suite C2 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The school offers ballet instruction for students ages 3 to adult across multiple levels and formats. Classes include Creative Movement for ages 3–5, Pre-Ballet for ages 5–8, Ballet Fundamentals for beginners, Ballet for any age and skill level, Pointe for advanced students, Boys Class, Character, Contemporary/Modern, and Adaptive Ballet for children with Down Syndrome, autism, physical, mental and emotional challenges. The school also offers placement classes and Musical Theater instruction. Adult classes are available. Academy of Ballet Arts is home to the St. Petersburg Ballet Company and its affiliated performance ensembles: the St. Petersburg Performance Ensemble and St. Petersburg Folk Ensemble. Students audition for roles in these companies rather than participating in traditional recitals. The St. Petersburg Ballet Company presents an annual Spring Show; in 2026, performances are scheduled for Saturday, May 2nd at 7 PM and Sunday, May 3rd at 3 PM, with reserved tickets at $30. The school also produced The Nutcracker at the Palladium in December 2025. The Academy is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Instructors include Lillian Stephenson and Ms. P. The school offers a Studio Pro app for engagement and scheduling. Reviewers describe many former students becoming professional dancers and note the school's professional standards and serious approach to dance instruction.
What dancers say · Florida Dancers review summary
Reviewers consistently praise the school's professional standards and instruction quality. Students describe becoming professional dancers and note the school's serious approach to dance training. Attendees highlight performances including The Nutcracker as well-executed and impressively professional, with tasteful production values allowing dancers to excel. Multiple reviewers emphasize the comfortable, welcoming atmosphere and strong teacher-student relationships.
Review highlights from Google
DM Kraft
The Academy of Ballet Arts delivered a truly wonderful performance of The Nutcracker on Saturday, 2025 at the Palladium. The hard work and dedication that goes into managing a cast of such varying ages was evident from start to finish, resulting in a show that was both enjoyable and impressively pro…
Jacqueline
My daughter had a ballet placement class. In the water break, she came out, said "I want to go here! The teacher is really nice!" Attended the Musical Theater class following, my tiny dancer is super pumped now! Decision made. 🤗🤸💃
Alecia Stephenson
Love this ballet studio.
Bill Turner
Excellent school for Ballet, Character classes. School does not hold recitals, students are encouraged to audition for parts in the St. Petersburg Ballet, St. Petersburg Performance Ensemble, St. Petersburg Folk Ensemble.
Tay Crawford
just want to know if theyre open, been calling and emailing for weeks with no response
Sourced from Google reviews.
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Frequently asked questions
What dance styles does Academy of Ballet Arts teach?
The school teaches ballet, pointe, character, contemporary/modern, and creative movement. Adaptive ballet is available for children with autism, Down Syndrome, and other physical, mental and emotional challenges.
What age groups does the school serve?
Academy of Ballet Arts offers classes for ages 3 to adult. Creative Movement is for ages 3–5, Pre-Ballet for ages 5–8, and Ballet Fundamentals through advanced Pointe for older children, teens, and adults.
Does the school hold recitals?
The school does not hold traditional recitals. Students are encouraged to audition for roles in the St. Petersburg Ballet Company, St. Petersburg Performance Ensemble, and St. Petersburg Folk Ensemble. The St. Petersburg Ballet Company performs an annual Spring Show.
What is the address and how is parking handled?
Academy of Ballet Arts is located at 515 22nd St S Suite C2, St. Petersburg, Florida. Parking spaces outside the studio are designated for Academy students and parents only.
Are there adult classes?
Yes, adult classes are available. The school offers ballet instruction for students of any age and skill level.