Performances

2025-2026 Performance Season

  • Promotional poster for the 25th season of Philadelphia Nutcracker ballet featuring dancers in costumes on stage, with colorful text and decorative elements.

    A Philadelphia Nutcracker

    December 19th, 20th & 21st, 2025

    Learn More
  • Poster for Philadelphia Dance Theatre's 25th anniversary season featuring ballet dancers, with event titled 'A Midsummer Night's Dream and Sinatra Songbook,' scheduled for April 5th and 6th at Montgomery County Cultural Center.

    The Wizard of Oz

    May 1st, 2nd & 3rd, 2026

  • Young woman performing a dance move outdoors on a stage with a stone wall and greenery in the background.

    Breaking Ground

    June 6th, 2026

  • Young girl in a blue dance costume jumping in mid-air during a dance performance, surrounded by seated children in matching costumes, some wearing colorful bows in their hair.

    June Showcase

    June 5th, 2026

PDT Performing Company

Group of young ballet dancers in white costumes posing in a dance studio.

Dancers in PDT’s Primary and Pre-Professional Divisions are invited to join PDT’s Performing company. At Philadelphia Dance Theatre we believe that performing is an essential part of the growth and development of any aspiring dancer.

As company members, dancers will have numerous performance opportunities throughout the year and will work with both in house and visiting professional choreographers. We pride ourselves in our ability to provide our dancers and audience members with professional grade performances.

Joining the PDT Performing Company comes requires a great deal of time and commitment from both the dancer and family, so we ask all families to read through the Company Commitments and Company Handbook to see if the company is right for you.

From choreography, costume and set design, and lighting design, our productions stand out and reflect the the hard work and dedication of our dancers, faculty, and our impressive cohort of volunteers.

Company Commitments

  • Junior Company Member Levels 1-3x

    You are committing to participate in shows as needed by the artistic staff, you will attend the minimum number of ballet classes as appropriate to your level. It is expected you will take the training seriously. You are required to purchase the company leotards and tights.

    Minimum hours per week / level

    • Ballet 1 - 1.0 hour of class per week

    • Ballet 1x/2 - 2.0 hours of class per week

    • Ballet 2x -3.0 hours of class per week

    • Ballet 3 – 4.5 hours of class per week 

    • Ballet 3x- 5.0 hours of class per week

    Fees

    Nutcracker + Spring Show

    Levels 1 through 2x: $250

    Level 3/3x: $300.00

    *All fees cover rehearsal, costume rental, performance t-shirt, and performance DVD

  • Open to levels 4, 4x, 5

    This commitment is for younger dancers working towards Senior Company membership. You are committing to participate in shows as needed by the artistic staff.  You will attend the minimum number of hours of ballet class as appropriate to your level per week and it is highly encouraged you study Jazz and /or Modern. It is expected you will take your training seriously, spend at least 40 hours in summer study.  It is highly encouraged that you attend the RDA Festival with the Senior Company. You are required to purchase the company leotards and tights. Parents must agree to volunteer or pay a $100 opt out fee.

    Minimum hours per week / level

    • Ballet 4 – 6.0 hours of class per week

    • Ballet 4x – 7.5 hours of class per week   

    • Ballet 5 – 9.0 hours of class per week

    Fees

    Nutcracker + Spring Show

    Levels 4/4x/5: $300

    *All fees cover rehearsal, costume rental, performance t-shirt, and performance recording

  • Open toLevels 5x & 6

    This commitment is to a full season of dancing including The Nutcracker, Breaking Ground, Spring Concert, outreach events, and the RDA Festival. You will attend the minimum number of hours of ballet class per week for your level. It is expected you will take your training seriously by spending at least 60 hours in summer study. You are required to purchase the company leotards and tights. Parents must agree to volunteer support.

    Minimum hours per week / level

    • Ballet 5x - 10 hours of class per week

    • Ballet 6 - 12 hours of class per week

    Fees

    Nutcracker + Spring Show

    Levels 5x/6: $300

    *All fees cover rehearsal, costume rental, performance t-shirt, and performance recording

Company Handbook

Repertoire

PDT company members have the opportunity to perform throughout the year at PDT in a range of different venues and styles. Performances range from classical ballet to modern and jazz, and from full length works to multiple bill shows. Company members have the opportunity to work with visiting choreographers and make connections with working professional dancers.

  • In 2011 we premiered a re-fashioned version of our traditional “Nutcracker,” entitled A Philadelphia Nutcracker set right here in Northwest Philadelphia. 

  • Each spring, PDT presents an original children’s story ballet featuring dancers from our primary and pre-professional divisions. Past productions have included, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Emperor and the Kite,  Cinderella, The Emperor and the Kite, Peter and the Wolf, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Rough Face Girl, and The Wizard of Oz.

  • PDT has been a member company of Regional Dance America since 2006, giving PDT company members the opportunity to participate in the numerous experiences RDA provides throughout the year. Beginning in the fall, choreographers are invited to come to PDT to create new works on our dancers. These pieces then go through RDA’s annual adjudication process where some are picked to be performed at RDA’s annual Festival alongside other participating companies. Dancers who attend the regional and national Festivals enjoy 4 days of master classes, performances workshops, and numerous scholarship opportunities. Through Regional Dance America, PDT dancers have received scholarships to well renowned Summer Intensives as well as scholarships to college dance programs and job opportunities.

  • The June Showcase is PDT’s end of year performance celebrating the growth of all of our students throughout the year. The performance features a broad range of styles and showcases the many talents of our Pre-School and Primary Division Students.

  • Philadelphia Dance Theatre presents Breaking Ground; an annual performance featuring new works from classical to contemporary commissioned specifically for the individual talents of PDT's dance artists. The concert presents works choreographed by today's most talented dance-makers and highlights the broad range of styles that PDT's training provides.

Scene from a theatrical performance showing five actors in colorful costumes, celebrating with facial expressions of joy, against a dark background with small lights resembling stars.
Ballet dancers in tutus during a performance, with four dancers behind a central dancer, against a dark blue stage background.
A male ballet dancer kneeling on one knee holding the hand of a female ballerina who is performing a split with one leg extended upward, on a stage with a colorful cartoon backdrop.
Ballet dancers in colorful tutus and costumes perform on stage, holding hands, with a painted backdrop of a grand theater.
Four young girls in pink and white dresses performing a dance on stage during a Christmas-themed event, with a decorated Christmas tree in the background.
A group of female ballet dancers in white dresses performing on stage with a large painted tree backdrop and blue lighting.
Two female ballet dancers performing on stage with blue background, one in a red leotard and the other in black.
A ballerina dressed as the Snow Queen dancing on stage with a wintery forest backdrop.
A female ballet dancer performing a leap with her right leg extended forward, left leg extended backward, arms raised, wearing a black top and a flowing black skirt, against a dark background.
Six dancers perform on stage, holding hands in a line against a dark blue background.
Children performing on stage in a ballet recital dressed as clowns and princesses, with a colorful backdrop of a toy store.
Two dancers wearing white tops and black pants perform on stage with a red background. The female appears to be floating or flying in the air, supported by the male dancer.
Ballet dancers in black dresses perform on stage with a blue background, synchronized in elegant poses.
Multiple ballet dancers performing a lift on stage with an orange background. The dancer on top wears a purple tutu and a feathered headpiece, while the base wears purple shorts and beige ballet shoes.
Ballet dancers performing on stage with a dark background, wearing maroon tops, cream skirts, and pointe shoes, with one dancer in the center on pointe.
A ballet dancer in a red tutu and feathered headpiece is captured mid-jump against a green background.
Ballet dancers in colorful costumes perform on stage with black background.
Ballet dancers performing on stage against a blue background, with some dancers en pointe and others mid-air in graceful poses.
Ballet dancer performing a pose on stage with a blue background, wearing a white dress and pointe shoes.
Five ballet dancers on stage performing a dance in colorful costumes against a dark blue background.
A ballerina in a red costume performing on stage with arms raised and head tilted back.
A male ballet dancer guiding a female ballerina in a dance pose during a performance.
Group of children and adults performing a folk dance on stage, dressed in traditional costumes, with a painted backdrop of a tree behind them.