Ballet in Cork
Where to take class in Cork, and what's on stage
11 ballet schools teach in Cork, 5 of them adults and 8 children. 4 ballet productions are also coming to the city, at Cork Opera House. For every school across the wider county, see ballet in County Cork.
Ballet classes in Cork
11 schools teach ballet in Cork itself. 5 teach adults, including complete beginners, and 1 offers a trial class first. 8 take children; ages taught vary by school, so check each listing. 1 offers private one-to-one lessons.
Starting as an adult? Read ballet for adults and what to wear to your first class. Choosing for a child? See how to choose a ballet school. For schools right across the county, see all schools in County Cork.
What's on in Cork
On Cork stages this season: Cork City Ballet · LUAIL – Ireland’s National Dance Company · Sofia City Ballet
Where to see ballet in Cork
Cork: where Irish ballet began
Cork has a claim few Irish cities can make: it is where professional ballet in Ireland took root. Joan Denise Moriarty (c. 1912–1992) built a ballet company in the city from 1947, founded Ireland’s first professional company, Irish Theatre Ballet, in 1959, and in 1973 established the Cork-based company that became Irish National Ballet, the state’s national ballet company until it closed in 1989.
That tradition continues today through Cork City Ballet, founded in 1992 by Alan Foley, a pupil of Moriarty’s. The company brings the great classics, from Swan Lake to Giselle, to Cork Opera House each year, and is based at the Firkin Crane in Shandon, an 1855 former butter market that Moriarty helped turn into one of Ireland’s few dedicated dance houses. In April 2027 it marks 80 years of ballet companies in Cork with an anniversary gala.
- Joan Denise Moriarty: Founder of Irish National Ballet and the driving force behind ballet in Cork and Ireland.
- Alan Foley: Founder and artistic director of Cork City Ballet; trained under Moriarty.
- Kilian O’Callaghan: Monkstown-born dancer who trained with the Cork Ballet Company and won a place at the Royal Ballet School.
While you're here: win a night under the lights
Two tickets to Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty, Dublin, 8 Nov. Joining the newsletter is the entry.
Enter the drawBallet in Cork: FAQs
- Are there adult ballet classes in Cork?
- Yes. 5 of the 11 ballet schools in Cork teach adults, including complete beginners. 1 offers a trial class first.
- Are there ballet classes for children in Cork?
- Yes. 8 ballet schools in Cork take children. The ages each school starts at vary, so check the individual listing.
- Can you take private ballet lessons in Cork?
- Yes. 1 ballet school in Cork offers one-to-one tuition, for exam preparation, technique work or starting out.
- How many ballet schools are there in Cork?
- 11 ballet schools teach in Cork itself, with more across County Cork.
- Where can I see ballet in Cork?
- Ballet in Cork is staged mainly at Cork Opera House. Upcoming productions include The Nutcracker, NŌS, The Sleeping Beauty.
- What ballet shows are coming to Cork?
- 4 productions are coming to Cork: The Nutcracker (November 2026); NŌS (February 2027); The Sleeping Beauty (March 2027); Cork City Ballet 80th Anniversary Ballet Gala (April 2027).
- Which ballet companies perform in Cork?
- Companies staging ballet in Cork include Cork City Ballet, LUAIL – Ireland’s National Dance Company, Sofia City Ballet.