The Lexington Ballet was founded in January of 1974 under the name Jorgensen Ballet, after the first director of ballet, Nels Jorgensen.  The company and school, Jorgensen Center, was established with a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts.  In August of 1974 the ballet reached non-profit status under the name Lexington Ballet Company.  The first performance of this newly formed company was held Saturday, March 23, 1974 in Haggin Auditorium of Transylvania University.  This feat was accomplished after working together for only four months.  The Lexington Ballet Company first performed The Nutcracker two years later in the weekend of December 22-23, 1976. 

The first artistic director of the Lexington Ballet, as stated above, was Nels Jorgensen.  Jorgensen came from the Louisville Ballet to create a ballet company and school in Lexington, Kentucky.  During his career as a dancer he studied at the School of American Ballet in New York City and at one time performed for President Kennedy, President Johnson and the Shah and Empress of Iran.  Under Jorgensen was the first Assistant Director, Pamara Perry Leach.  She also studied at the School of the American Ballet and studied under the infamous George Balachine.  After training she became a part of the New York Center Joffrey Ballet Company.

Following the direction of Nels Jorgensen was the Lexington Ballet’s second director, Norman Shelburn.  He became director in August of 1977, just three years after the ballet was founded.  In his career he was involved with Ballet West, the Norwegian Ballet and the National Ballet of Washing D.C.  It was under Shelburn’s direction that the School of the Lexington Ballet received performing status at the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association in 1978.  Shelburn remained director for the Lexington Ballet for seven years until he left and was replaced by Jan Hurst.  Hurst had arrived at the ballet in 1980, but it was not until September of 1984 that she received the position of director of the Lexington Ballet.

In August of 1985 Karl and Colette Kauffman became co-directors of the ballet.  They came from Butler University in Indianapolis, where they replaced Jan Hurst after less than one year of holding the position.  It is under Karl and his wife that the Lexington Ballet moved to their present location in ArtsPlace at 161 North Mill Street, following its renovation.  The intensive summer program was started in June and July of 1986.  The program offered training in technique, pointe, variations, pas de deux, jazz, music for dancers and dance history.  During Kauffman’s time the ballet also hosted, in April of 1987, the annual Southeastern Regional Ballet Association gathering.  Everyone in the southeastern region of the United States came to Lexington to participate in this event, in which dancers take class under renowned instructors, while parents, teachers and directors attend conferences to better the education of their school.  SERBA was attended by 650 dancers, teachers and choreographers. 

Karl Kauffman was followed by Rosemary Miles, who was brought to the Lexington Ballet as Assistant director under Kauffman.  Upon him leaving the company and school, Miles was made Artistic Director.  It was in this time that students from the School of the Lexington Ballet participated in a sister cities program that entailed visiting a ballet school and performing in Deauville, France.

Rosemary Miles left the Lexington Ballet for a similar job with the Atlanta Ballet, where Fu Xijun, a principal for the ballet at the time became Artistic Director.  Mario de la Nuez was made Executive Director in 1997 and Fu Xijun was made Artistic Director. 

In 1998 the season was closed after the February performances because of fiscal problems.  This same year the school was reopened and named Frank Galvez as Artistic Director in 1998.  Galvez started his career in Havana, Cuba where he was forced to leave in 1976.  Within his career he was the General Director of Los Ninos Cantores del Zulia Theater, founded The New Company, and was Artistic Director of Dance Theater West, Resident-Choreographer of Ballet Nova, as well as other numerous accomplishments.

His wife, Lucia Montero who held the positions of School Director and Assistant Director, accompanied Galvez.  Montero began her dance training in Maracaibo, Venezuela under Matilde Pierrefeu.  By the age of 15 she was dancing professionally with the ballet of Zulia.  Galvez and Montero remained at the Lexington Ballet until 2003 when Luis Dominguez was announced as the new director of the ballet, with his wife Nancy Dominguez as the Assistant Director.

Mr. Dominguez began his Ballet training in his hometown of Mexico City under Sonia Castañeda and Francisco Martinez, he received full scholarships to study in New York with The Dance Theatre of Harlem as well as The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
In 1988 he joined The Dance Theatre of Harlem and performed with the company around the world. After 18 years of performing with the company Mr. Dominguez worked with some of the most prominent figures in the dance world.

As director of  the Lexington Ballet Mr. Dominguez has choreographed numerous original works and collaborated with many arts organizations.
He brings to Lexington  principal dancers from  the most prestigious companies around the world and has created signature programs that elevate the standard of dance in our community.