About the Ensemble

Kansas City Youth Ballet, previously known as the MidWest Youth Ballet, was founded in the spring of 1997 as a non-profit ballet ensemble comprised of talented and dedicated young dancers. 

The ensemble's ’s focus is on excellence in training and developing a professional performance atmosphere for the dancers.  The goal has been to promote the art of ballet through education and performance for the dancers and the community. 

The ensemble is made up of 21 dancers ranging in age from 15-18, who study under the faculty of the Kansas City Ballet School. Auditions for the company are usually held in May and students enrolled or enrolling in Kansas City Ballet School Women Level 6 or higher and Men level 5 or higher are eligible to audition. There is an annual fee to participate with the KCYB in addition to School class fees.

The Youth Ballet presents two major performances each season as well as several concert series including a bi-annual collaboration with the Kansas City Philharmonia which showcase many original works by local and national choreographers. In the spring of 2004, the company debuted its first full length ballet, “Sleeping Beauty” with a cast of 79 dancers. 

The KCYB has been blessed to have award winning choreographers Keelan Whitmore, Robert Mills, Patrick Corbin and Paula Weber set multiple ballets for them to perform at RDA festivals and in Europe.