Cambridge · Boston, Massachusetts
José Mateo Ballet Theatre
Cambridge ballet company and school founded 1986 by Cuban-born choreographer José Mateo. Resident at the Old Cambridge Baptist Church (The Sanctuary Theatre) in Harvard Square since 2001. Only New England ballet company with its own original repertory.
- Ballet
- Children's Dance
How José Mateo Ballet Theatre comes across
José Mateo Ballet Theatre comes across as a classical company and school with an explicit ethical posture toward its own art form. Its tagline, "Changing Lives Through Dance," is more than decorative: the school states that "from its inception over 35 years ago" it has "boldly challenged a centuries-old tradition of exclusion and elitism to create a more inclusive, just and humanistic approach to expert ballet training." Founded in 1986 by Artistic Director José Mateo — now marking a 40th Anniversary Season — it pairs a producing company (presenting original works and its own Nutcracker) with a Young Dancers Program across Cambridge and Dorchester, plus adult and teen introductory classes and a YouthWorks track. The Dance for World Community initiative extends the mission outward toward social and environmental advocacy. The impression is of a founder-driven institution that takes both expert classical training and access seriously, asking to be judged on whether rigorous ballet can be genuinely democratic rather than gatekept.
An editor's impression, drawn from the school's own website and public materials, 13 June 2026. Not a review — if it misses the mark, the school or a parent can tell us via the form below.
About the school
José Mateo Ballet Theatre was founded in 1986 by Cuban-born choreographer José Mateo on the values of inclusion, diversity, and social responsibility. The company is distinguished as the only ballet company in New England with its own repertory of original works, and is the region's premiere presenter of new ballets. After performing for a decade at the Emerson Majestic Theatre in Boston's historic Theater District, the company moved to its own performance space (The Sanctuary Theatre at the Old Cambridge Baptist Church) in Harvard Square in 2001. The school runs ladders from young children through pre-professional plus an adult open program including a 5-week, 10-class Introduction to Ballet for true beginners (18+) and daily drop-in Monday through Saturday.
At a glance
- Address
- 400 Harvard St, Cambridge, MA 02138
- Suburb
- Cambridge
- City
- Boston
- State
- Massachusetts
- Age range
- 3+ years
- Disciplines
- Ballet, Pointe, Variations
- Approach
- Both
- Price band
- Mid
What stands out
- i.Founded 1986 by Cuban-born choreographer José Mateo
- ii.Only New England ballet company with its own original repertory
- iii.The Sanctuary Theatre at Old Cambridge Baptist Church, Harvard Square (since 2001)
Also in Cambridge
The Dance Complex
Central Square Cambridge anchor founded 1991 by Rozann Kraus in the historic 1884 Odd Fellow's Hall. 80 weekly classes plus 100+ concerts per year. Multi-style hub for professional, pre-professional and recreational movers.