Starting a new ballet company can be daunting as an established artist with a dedicated fan and donor base. To do so as new college graduates is almost unheard of. To do so as women, in a field dominated by male leadership, is even more audacious. New Classics Ballet Theatre, founded by four recent University of California, Irvine graduates, aims to break the mold and offer a new paradigm of what a ballet company looks like and, more importantly, how one is run.
I had a conversation with the Founders and Artistic Directors, Katie O’Gara and Lauren Steele, to discuss the company’s formation and growth, both present and future. The leadership team is rounded out by Resident Choreographer Gabriella Padilla and Sterling Tu, who serves as Media Coordinator and Interim Director of Finance.
New Classics Ballet Theatre dancers – Photo courtesy of NCBT.
(Disclaimer: I am also a graduate of UCI’s Dance Department, albeit eons ago.)
Ms. O’Gara and Mrs. Steele are clearly passionate and knowledgeable about ballet. Both grew up in Southern California, participated in various summer programs, and competed on the ballet circuit before attending UCI as BFA students. What sets them apart is their intellectual curiosity and their comprehensive approach to ballet; the website includes academic papers written by the four creative principals. They are ballet dancers, but they are also scientists and professionals in marketing and finance. They value education and the full spectrum of life experience. They hope to meld all of these values into a company that is fresh and new, featuring family-friendly ballet, stories that utilize classical vocabulary but tell new stories with fresh faces in the roles of composer, choreographer, and the dancers.
New Classics Ballet Theatre – Photo courtesy of NCBT.
The idea for the company evolved through a class taught by Southern California dance icon Molly Lynch.
Our final project for that was to create a hypothetical dance company or organization. Lauren and I decided to partner on our final project. And we said, hey, let’s propose a ballet company. As we figured out the details and worked through it, we realized we could actually do this. This could work! We weren’t really thinking much of it. I was trying to pursue ballet professionally in Los Angeles, realizing that there weren’t many opportunities available before graduating. The ballet class sat down with Diane [Diefenderfer]. We were all sharing our audition experiences, finding that there really aren’t many opportunities here for classical ballet dancers. I spoke up with Lauren and asked, What if we create a ballet company in Los Angeles? What would that look like? Everyone seemed interested and thought it was a great idea. And so a few months later, I reached out to Lauren and said, I think we should do this. And luckily, she agreed, and here we are! (Katie)
New Classics Ballet Theatre – Lauren Steele teaching workshop class – Photo courtesy of NCBT.
These leaders have an ambitious plan: new ballets, new scores, new stories. They are building slowly. They began with two workshops in November, one in Pasadena and one in Irvine. Dancers were invited to an open class and given the opportunity to workshop movement for the upcoming January auditions. While details are still under wraps, the ballet is based upon the exploits of a well-known literary heroine. The Secret of the Hidden Will, a new two-act ballet told through secrets, curiosity, and courage, will premiere in April of 2026. A beloved 1930s mystery novel inspired the creation of the work. The story follows a clever young heroine who stumbles into a puzzle that will require her wit, courage, and curiosity to solve. (The rights to the namesake are available on January 1, 2026. Can you deduce the name of the heroine?)
One of the reasons we chose this is that we want to showcase a female character who is not defined by romance or fragility. She’s capable, she’s curious, independent, all that good stuff.
New Classics Ballet Theatre – Lauren Steele teaching workshop class – Photo courtesy of NCBT.
By focusing on the plucky 1930s heroine, the directors fulfill another goal of the company: family-friendly fare.
We want families and children to be able to come to the theater together and experience the joy of story ballets that are imaginative, heartfelt, and easy to follow. We want parents to feel comfortable bringing their children to our shows that can entertain without relying on explicit content or suggestive choreography.
The directors have just as much respect for the music as they do for the dance.
At NCBT, we not only want to preserve the timeless art of classical ballet, but also classical music. Our productions will feature fresh, original music and new scores. We are working with composers, music students, and professionals from across the region to present live, brand-new, classical-style scores for our ballets and showcases. For our April production, live music is in the works (it was a little too fast a turnaround for an entire new score). By December, we plan to feature a completely original score performed live.
Katie O’Gara – New Classics Ballet Theatre – Photo courtesy of NCBT.
The company’s mission is two-fold. These leaders are joining the revolution but going even further than what appears onstage. While insistent upon physical, racial, and gender inclusivity; these directors and creatives are also looking for educated dancers, actively seeking college graduates.
We make a point to hire graduates from college dance programs. As college-trained dancers ourselves, we understand the depth, discipline, and knowledge that come from studying dance in an academic setting. We look for dancers who are not only strong but smart, and who understand how to sustain a long and healthy career in dance. Many young dancers are pressured to skip college in pursuit of company contracts, but we want to help shift that mindset. Going to college does not mean dancers give up their chance to dance professionally. By partnering with university dance departments, we hope to support both the next generation of dancers and the college programs that train them. We hope that encouraging dancers to pursue their education will help sustain a culture of intelligence, curiosity, and longevity within the dance world.
Lauren Steele and Katie O’Gara – New Classics Ballet Theatre – Photo courtesy of NCBT.
Ms. O’Gara and Mrs. Steele are ambitious but not naive. They recognize that there are numerous barriers to success.
We know that there is limited access to funding and professional networks. Often, women are looked down upon as not being capable of holding their own. This is something that we would like to change and be proactive in. We know how to enter a room and get the job done.
Entering a room and getting the job done is a great start. I look forward to following up with this ambitious company as they build partnerships with other small companies, musicians, and funders. They are creating a social media presence and spreading the word.
For more information about New Classics Ballet Theatre, please visit their website.
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Written by Nancy Dobbs Owen for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Logo for New Classics Ballet Theatre – Photo courtesy of NCBT.
