American Ballet Theatre Named Resident Company of Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Five-Year Agreement Secures Annual Spring Engagements and Extends the Companies' Longstanding Partnership

COSTA MESA, CA - American Ballet Theatre (ABT), America's National Ballet Company®, has been named a resident company of Segerstrom Center for the Arts, marking a new chapter in a partnership spanning nearly four decades. Under a five-year agreement through 2030, ABT will present an annual spring engagement at the Center, strengthening its longstanding relationship with Southern California audiences.

The residency began with Sylvia in April 2026 and continues with The Sleeping Beauty in 2027, Don Quixote in 2028, and Whipped Cream in 2029. The five-year commitment will culminate in 2030 with a new co-production by ABT and Segerstrom Center. The spring engagements complement the Company's annual holiday performances of Alexei Ratmansky's The Nutcracker, a beloved Southern California tradition.

"American Ballet Theatre has been part of Segerstrom Center's story for decades, and this addition as our resident company gives that relationship a new, lasting home," said Casey Reitz, president of Segerstrom Center for the Arts. "Audiences can look forward to welcoming ABT back year after year for a remarkable range of ballet from beloved classics to a new co-production."

"Segerstrom Center has been an extraordinary partner to American Ballet Theatre for nearly four decades, and we are thrilled to deepen that relationship through this new residency," said Barry Hughson, Executive Director of ABT. "Having a strong partnership on the West Coast allows us to share the extraordinary artistry of our dancers, introduce audiences to the breadth of our repertoire, and continue creating ambitious new productions. We look forward to building on this remarkable partnership for years to come."

The partnership between ABT and Segerstrom Center dates to ABT's first engagement at the Center in 1987. Since then, the organizations have brought world and West Coast premieres, major repertory works, and celebrated productions to Southern California audiences. Their collaborations include Ratmansky's The Nutcracker, Whipped Cream, and Of Love and Rage, as well as the North American premieres of Christopher Wheeldon's Like Water for Chocolate and Wayne McGregor's Woolf Works. The residency builds on this artistic history and creates opportunities for future productions.

This December, ABT's The Nutcracker returns for its 11th season at Segerstrom Hall, featuring the Company's internationally acclaimed dancers under the artistic direction of Susan Jaffe, with Tchaikovsky's score performed live by Pacific Symphony. The 2026 engagement will feature an extended season of 17 performances from December 10 through 24.

The 2026 engagement of The Nutcracker will also mark the final Segerstrom Center performances for two of the Company's most celebrated artists, Principal Dancers Herman Cornejo and James Whiteside. Cornejo, an ABT Principal Dancer since 2003, and Whiteside, a Principal Dancer since 2013, will give their final performances with ABT during the Company's 2027 Summer Season at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.

For more information on programming and ticketing, please visit SCFTA.org.

About Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Segerstrom Center for the Arts® is an innovative nonprofit organization that champions artistic excellence and fosters a vibrant, inclusive community in Orange County through the transformative power of live performance. As the region's leading cultural hub, the Center offers a diverse array of programming, featuring international dance companies, Broadway national tours, jazz and cabaret musicians, and an engaging speaker series. Its Education and Community Engagement departments present family-friendly events on the picturesque Julianne and George Argyros Plaza, including outdoor movie screenings, concerts, and lively festivals.

With six stunning venues nestled within a beautiful multidisciplinary campus, the Center is home to the region's most esteemed performing arts organizations, including the Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County, and Pacific Chorale, as well as two independently acclaimed organizations: Tony Award®-winning South Coast Repertory and UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art. Segerstrom Center is also home to the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School and Studio D: Arts School for All Abilities.

The Center continues to uphold the vision of its founder, Henry Segerstrom, remaining true to its mission as the premier arts center in Orange County since its inception in 1986 as Orange County Performing Arts Center®.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts applauds its corporate partner Kaiser Permanente, Official Health and Wellness Partner.

The information provided is accurate at the time of printing but is subject to change. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a public, nonprofit organization. "Segerstrom Center for the Arts" and "SCFTA" are registered trademarks.

About American Ballet Theatre

American Ballet Theatre is one of the greatest dance companies in the world. Revered as a national treasure since its founding season in 1940, its mission is to create, present, preserve, and extend the great repertoire of classical dancing for the widest possible audience. Headquartered in New York City, ABT is the only cultural institution of its size and stature to extensively tour, enchanting audiences for eight decades in 50 U.S. states, 45 countries, and over 480 cities worldwide. ABT's repertoire includes full-length classics from the nineteenth century, the finest works from the early twentieth century, and acclaimed contemporary masterpieces. In 2006, by an act of Congress, ABT was designated America's National Ballet Company^®.

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