The Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble was founded in 1952 as the Louisville Ballet Civic Company. It is now in its fifty-ninth year as one of the leading classical ballet training companies in the United States.
Currently the Youth Ensemble is under the artistic direction of Elena M. Fillmore and Bruce Simpson (artistic director of the Louisville Ballet). Serving as a platform for young dancers and as the performing wing of the Louisville Ballet School, the Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble is a SERBA honor company and a founding member of SERBA. Youth Ensemble members train at the Louisville Ballet School – the official school of the Louisville Ballet.
In addition to their own performances, the Youth Ensemble dancers perform with the professional company in a number of major productions each season, gaining valuable on-stage experience. Many Youth Ensemble dancers have received awards for their choreography and outstanding technique as well as scholarships to study with other professional schools. Members of the Louisville Ballet School have become professional performers with major ballet companies throughout North America and Europe. Chosen each year by audition, Intermediate and Pre-professional students are selected for the Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble.
The Youth Ensemble also performs at the annual SERBA Festival (Southeast Regional Ballet Association) hosted by Regional Dance America. The divisions of the Youth Ensemble are as follows: The Senior Company, Apprentices and The Junior Company.