Northwest Florida Ballet

Northwest Florida Ballet has been part of downtown Fort Walton Beach since 1969, when dance pioneer Bernadette Clements Sims founded the company. The nonprofit calls itself a cornerstone of downtown, and over more than five decades it has trained dancers who went on to perform and teach across the United States and Europe. The company has also appeared alongside the Atlanta Ballet, Miami Ballet and Washington Ballet.

The ballet’s home is at 310 Perry Ave SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548; call 850-664-7787 or visit nfballet.org. Artistic Director Todd Eric Allen, a former NFB student from Northwest Florida, has led the company since 1995 after dancing with Louisville Ballet, Boston Ballet and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. Classes and rehearsals take place in the 13,000-square-foot Sybil Smith Lebhertz Center for Dance Education and a 3,500-square-foot studio annex.

The 2026–27 season includes the Emerging Choreographers’ Project in a blackbox setting, the 47th annual production of The Nutcracker with live music by the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, and Swan Lake. Check the website for dates, venues and tickets.

Education is central to the mission. NFB Académie, launched in 2001 with the Okaloosa County School District, serves students in grades 3 through 8 (850-226-4700), and a Pre-Professional Program for high school dancers followed in 2012. Auditions for incoming 3rd and 4th graders are open for the 2026–27 school year.