Ballet & Identity Talk Series is an integral part of our innovative educational project Ballet & Identity.

Ballet & Identity Talk Series: World Ballet Classics on Screen is an engaging arts education program designed to introduce audiences to the beauty, depth, and cultural significance of classical ballet. Through curated screenings of iconic works such as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Giselle featuring outstanding Ballet Artists, participants are invited into a rich artistic world where storytelling, music, and movement come together.

Each session combines high-quality on-screen ballet performances featuring renowned international artists with accessible, guided discussion. Audiences will explore the timeless themes embedded in these ballets—love, transformation, courage, betrayal, and redemption—while being introduced to mythology, archetypes, and their relevance to personal identity and emotional development.

The program also highlights the contributions of influential choreographers and composers, including Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa, helping participants understand how these masterpieces were created and why they continue to resonate across generations.

Presented in collaboration with community partners and designed for a broad audience—including children, families, and lifelong learners—each event fosters cultural appreciation, critical thinking, and meaningful dialogue. The program creates an inviting, inclusive space where audiences not only watch ballet, but also reflect on how universal stories shape our understanding of ourselves and others.

By bringing world-class ballet to the screen through our community partners such as LA Public Libraries, Ballet & Identity Talks opens the door to the performing arts for those who may not otherwise have access, inspiring curiosity, imagination, and a deeper connection to cultural heritage.