The Richmond Ballet, named the State Ballet of Virginia in 1990 by then Governor Douglas Wilder, is an education and performance institution, founded in 1957.

In 1957, the Ballet Impromptu, founded by Richmond natives Robert C. Watkins Jr.^[1] and Marjorie Fay Underhill^[2] and Donna Comstock Forrest, became Richmond's first ballet company.^[3] Later, the Ballet Impromptu became the Richmond Ballet. The Richmond Ballet existed for more than twenty years as a small, civic company until 1975, when the School of Richmond Ballet was created. In 1980, Stoner Winslett became the founding artistic director. In 1984, Richmond Ballet became the first professional Ballet company in Virginia and was designated the State Ballet of Virginia in 1990, by then Governor Wilder. Richmond Ballet's educational outreach program, Minds In Motion, was founded in 1993. It features a pedestrian based movement curriculum that is taught to 4th graders all over the commonwealth. In 2000, Richmond Ballet moved into a renovated facility in Richmond.

In his 2011 article on American productions of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, the New York Times' Alastair Macaulay singled out the Richmond Ballet production as one of the best in the country.^[4] The company debuted in New York City in 2005 with performances at the Joyce Theater.^[5] In October 2013, during the company's 30th season, the ballet premiered the contemporary work "Phoenix Rising", choreographed by Philip Neal, a former student of the Richmond Ballet school and dancer for 23 years with the New York City Ballet. Richmond Ballet returned to The Joyce Theater in April 2007 as part of a tribute to American master choreographer John Butler, and again in 2010. In 2012 Richmond Ballet made its international debut when they traveled to London where they performed in the Linbury Theatre at the Royal Opera House. In 2015 Richmond Ballet embarked on a tour of China. While in China they performed at the "Meet in Beijing" Arts Festival at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. They also performed in the cities of Jinan, Dezhou and Shanghai.

Richmond Ballet has commissioned many ballets, including

...as an old shirt Todd Rosenlieb 2008, Always, at the Edge of Never Colin Connor 2010, Ancient Airs & Dances Stoner Winslett 1986, Astormix Philip Neal 2001, Attention, Please Val Caniparoli 1999, At the Edge of Thira Chris Burnside 1997, Avalon Stoner Winslett 1995, Between the Lines Alan Hineline 2004, Bouncing Light Vladimir Angelov 2002, Bow Out Val Caniparoli 1995, Chasing Cello William Soleau 2013, Cinderella Malcolm Burn 2000, City Life Mark Annear 2016, Closing Doors William Soleau 2002, Complete Trust Malcolm Burn 1997, Dark Hugs Me Hard Susan Shields 2006, Djangology Val Caniparoli 1997, Echoing Past (Das alte Jahr) Stoner Winslett 1996, Ershter Vals Ma Cong 2009/10, Estampie Miriam Mahdaviani 1995, Faces Malcolm Burn 2003, Gargoyles Philip Neal 2012, The Howling Cat (Imaginary Tango) Kirk Peterson 2001, Hymn William Soleau 1990, Inconsequentials Agnes de Mille 1981, Into The Air Colin Connor 2005, iNVERSION Darrell Moultrie 2014, La Belle Danse Jessica Lang 2007, Lift The Fallen Ma Cong 2014, Lines Squared Jessica Lang 2009, Luminitza Ma Cong 2012, A Maiden's Hymn Jessica Lang 2003, Mephisto Walz Philip Neal 2002, Misa Criolla William Soleau 2008, Now and Then Mauricio Wainrot 1999, Nuevo Tango William Soleau 1998, The Nutcracker Stoner Winslett 1984, Octavo Gina Patterson 2011, Orchestra Stoner Winslett 1985, Other Places Stoner Winslett 1990, Phoenix Rising Philip Neal 2013, Realms of Amber Edgar Zendejas 2016, Setting Sun Chris Burnside 1994, Silence Gina Patterson 2008/09, Solace Philip Neal 2002, Sojourn Stoner Winslett 1988, Stolen Moments Val Caniparoli 2015, Streets & Legends Colin Connor 1997, String Sketches William Soleau 1996, Surfside Michael John Lowe 2002, Swipe Val Caniparoli 2011, Tandem Spaces William Soleau 1994, Terra Colin Connor 1996, To Familiar Spaces in Dream Jessica Lang 2005, A Tribute (To Marcel Marceau & Bip) Malcolm Burn 2008/11, Triumph of Spring Stoner Winslett 1988, Vestiges Colin Conor 2000, Ciolin Val Caniparoli 2006, Vortex Kirk Peterson 1999, Voyages Mauricio Wainrot 2008

New Work Festival Pieces

All Something and Light Julie Job-Smithson 2009, Chance Favors the Prepared Mind Todd Rosenlieb 2008, Diversions James Frazier 2009, Dominant Curves Sasha Janes 2013, The Edge Of Place Amy Seiwert 2013, Eos Chasma Melissa Barak 2014, Exulto Peter Quanz 2014, From My Life Nicole Haskins 2015, Inventory Matthew Frain 2015, Lenton Rose Rex Wheeler 2015, Morning Overtures Patti D’Beck & David Leong 2008, Ninfee Jacqulyn Buglisi 2009, Polaris Katarzyna Skarpetowska 2015, Reiffe Edgar Zendejas 2014, Saideira Darrell Moultrie 2013, Shadows On The Inside Gavin Stewart 2014, Touched Viktor Plotnikov 2008, Vanish Starrene Foster 2013, Y Por Ti Eloy Barragan 2008

The School of Richmond Ballet was founded in 1975. The professional company of the Richmond Ballet was formed in 1984.