Community Calendar

A Victorian Nutcracker

Join Portland Ballet this holiday season for its gorgeous production of the beloved classic, in which a young girl travels through her dreams to the Land of the Sweets alongside her favorite gift—a Nutcracker. This version is unique to Portland, with the first act drawing upon the Victoria Mansion's own history and characters. Don’t miss the chance to see this lush holiday production, perfect for the whole family.

Saturday, December 6th at 2:00pm - Sanford Performing Arts Center
Saturday, December 6th at 7:00pm - Sanford Performing Arts Center
Tuesday, December 16th at 7:00pm - Merrill Auditorium (Featuring the Portland Ballet Orchestra at Merrill)
Saturday, December 20th at 11:00am - Westbrook Performing Arts Center
Saturday, December 20th at 5:00pm - Westbrook Performing Arts Center
Sunday, December 21st at 2:00pm - Westbrook Performing Arts Center

A Victorian Nutcracker

Join Portland Ballet this holiday season for its gorgeous production of the beloved classic, in which a young girl travels through her dreams to the Land of the Sweets alongside her favorite gift—a Nutcracker. This version is unique to Portland, with the first act drawing upon the Victoria Mansion's own history and characters. Don’t miss the chance to see this lush holiday production, perfect for the whole family.

Saturday, December 6th at 2:00pm - Sanford Performing Arts Center
Saturday, December 6th at 7:00pm - Sanford Performing Arts Center
Tuesday, December 16th at 7:00pm - Merrill Auditorium (Featuring the Portland Ballet Orchestra at Merrill)
Saturday, December 20th at 11:00am - Westbrook Performing Arts Center
Saturday, December 20th at 5:00pm - Westbrook Performing Arts Center
Sunday, December 21st at 2:00pm - Westbrook Performing Arts Center

A holiday tradition for all ages, Bangor Symphony Orchestra proudly presents the annual production of The Nutcracker with the Robinson Ballet and Bangor Area Youth Choirs. Beloved by audiences throughout Maine, please join us for a magical afternoon as Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and the Nutcracker grace the stage of the Collins Center for the Arts as the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Bangor Area Youth Choirs, and Music Director and GRAMMY-award winning Conductor Lucas Richman bring Tchaikovsky’s score to life. Arrive early to shop at the BSO’s Nutcracker Store, offering a variety of holiday gifts, Nutcrackers, and treats.

A Victorian Nutcracker

Join Portland Ballet this holiday season for its gorgeous production of the beloved classic, in which a young girl travels through her dreams to the Land of the Sweets alongside her favorite gift—a Nutcracker. This version is unique to Portland, with the first act drawing upon the Victoria Mansion's own history and characters. Don’t miss the chance to see this lush holiday production, perfect for the whole family.

Saturday, December 6th at 2:00pm - Sanford Performing Arts Center
Saturday, December 6th at 7:00pm - Sanford Performing Arts Center
Tuesday, December 16th at 7:00pm - Merrill Auditorium (Featuring the Portland Ballet Orchestra at Merrill)
Saturday, December 20th at 11:00am - Westbrook Performing Arts Center
Saturday, December 20th at 5:00pm - Westbrook Performing Arts Center
Sunday, December 21st at 2:00pm - Westbrook Performing Arts Center

A Very Nutty Nutcracker
Sunday, December 21st at 7:00pm
Westbrook Performing Arts Center

Portland Ballet delights and surprises audiences with A Very Nutty Nutcracker—the classic story turned on its head, with comedic twists in every scene. Audience members are invited to wear festive sweaters and attire as we all embrace the funny side of ballet and the holidays!

Mixed Level Belly Dance:

Authentic Belly Dance, or raks sharqi, is an ancient form of dance. Raks sharqi means “dance of the east” in Arabic. Belly dance celebrates every body type and every stage of life. The dance is proud and powerful and soft and sinewy with elegant and isolating movements emanating from the core. It’s the Pilates of dance. And so much fun! In this Mixed Level (Beginner through Intermediate/Advanced) class, we will work with improvisation and group choreography, as well as continually working with subtleties of technique at whatever level you are.

Please wear comfortable clothing, similar to what you might wear to a yoga class that will allow for free movement and the ability to see your movement. Hip scarves make it even more fun. You can dance barefoot or in a pair of comfortable dance shoes. Zils (finger cymbals) and veils will also be used in class and are available for purchase from the instructor.

Fall 2025 & Winter 2026 Session I (Beg/ML)

10-week Session: 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 6-7:15pm
9-10 & 24, 10-8 & 22, 11-12, 12-10-25 & 1-14 & 28, 2-11 & 2-25-25
$150 per person for the 10-week session; $20 drop-in rate per class.

@ People Plus, 35 Union Street, Brunswick, ME

Register through Merrymeeting Adult Education for the current session.

Mixed Level Belly Dance:

Authentic Belly Dance, or raks sharqi, is an ancient form of dance. Raks sharqi means “dance of the east” in Arabic. Belly dance celebrates every body type and every stage of life. The dance is proud and powerful and soft and sinewy with elegant and isolating movements emanating from the core. It’s the Pilates of dance. And so much fun! In this Mixed Level (Beginner through Intermediate/Advanced) class, we will work with improvisation and group choreography, as well as continually working with subtleties of technique at whatever level you are.

Please wear comfortable clothing, similar to what you might wear to a yoga class that will allow for free movement and the ability to see your movement. Hip scarves make it even more fun. You can dance barefoot or in a pair of comfortable dance shoes. Zils (finger cymbals) and veils will also be used in class and are available for purchase from the instructor.

Fall 2025 & Winter 2026 Session I (Beg/ML)

10-week Session: 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 6-7:15pm
9-10 & 24, 10-8 & 22, 11-12, 12-10-25 & 1-14 & 28, 2-11 & 2-25-25
$150 per person for the 10-week session; $20 drop-in rate per class.

@ People Plus, 35 Union Street, Brunswick, ME

Register through Merrymeeting Adult Education for the current session.

New Works
Friday, March 20th at 7pm
Westbrook Performing Arts Center

This year's program of New Works features stunning, original pieces created hand-in-hand with other artists and organizations from across the State of Maine. Developed with the theory that artistic partnership creates new forms of beauty and bonds us to each other, Portland Ballet is proud to be the incubator for these newly co-created works. Come witness this year’s New Works, as they take the stage for the first time.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Friday, April 24th at 7pm
Saturday, April 25th at 2pm
Westbrook Performing Arts Center
https://www.portlandballet.org/a-midsummer-nights-dream

Portland Ballet is proud to present one of Shakespeare’s most enchanted stories–A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Witness how dancers gracefully articulate this whimsical tale of mischievous fairies and lovelorn couples! Set to a euphonic score by Mendelssohn, the dancers of Portland Ballet bring this timeless tale to life with abundant charm, a little comedy, and plenty of grandeur.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream will run coupled with Nell Shipman’s contemporary work Impetus, which first premiered in 2021.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Friday, April 24th at 7pm
Saturday, April 25th at 2pm
Westbrook Performing Arts Center
https://www.portlandballet.org/a-midsummer-nights-dream

Portland Ballet is proud to present one of Shakespeare’s most enchanted stories–A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Witness how dancers gracefully articulate this whimsical tale of mischievous fairies and lovelorn couples! Set to a euphonic score by Mendelssohn, the dancers of Portland Ballet bring this timeless tale to life with abundant charm, a little comedy, and plenty of grandeur.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream will run coupled with Nell Shipman’s contemporary work Impetus, which first premiered in 2021.