Student matinee performances
Join Louisville Ballet for a specially-designed student matinee! Educators and students have the opportunity to enjoy a live performance while getting a behind-the-scenes look at ballet and the performing arts. All student matinee experiences are 90 minutes long and include excerpts from the production performed by Louisville Ballet. In addition, educators receive a comprehensive Study Guide before the performance to enhance the experience for students.
The Brown-Forman Nutcracker Student Matinees
Tuesday, December 15, 2026
Wednesday, December 16, 2026
Thursday, December 17, 2026
Friday, December 18, 2026
11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Whitney Hall, The Kentucky Center
Suitable for All Ages
Experience a magical morning at the theater when you join Louisville Ballet for a Student Matinee performance of The Brown-Forman Nutcracker! Delight in excerpts from both acts of this holiday classic and follow Marie’s journey through the Land of Sweets as she meets the Nutcracker Prince, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and the Rat King. In addition to viewing the performance, students are greeted in the lobby by dancers in costume, entertained by an interactive slideshow while they wait inside the theater the show to begin, and get their wiggles out with a fun dance along activity during intermission. This experience for your students is not to be missed!
Pricing + Payment Policies
Student tickets – $12 each for groups of 10+ students.
Chaperones tickets – 1 free for every 10 students, then $20 each additional.
Small Group tickets – Groups of less than 10 students are $20 each for all seats (students & adults).
Payment is due 30 days prior to the performance. Cancellations may be made until 30 days prior to the performance. After this deadline, field trip reservations become a final sale, and your school is responsible for the full amount due. Adjustments are not allowed for absences on the day of the show.
If a school district cancels school due to inclement weather or illness and the school is unable to attend a Louisville Ballet Student Matinee, no refunds are available. Louisville Ballet will offer the school a credit to a future Louisville Ballet Student Matinee performance of equal or lesser value. This may be the following school year, depending on scheduled Student Matinee performances. Please note this policy does NOT apply to individual student absences on the day of the performance due to weather, illness or other conditions.
Paid Reservations
The Brown-Forman Nutcracker Student Matinee reservation request form for the 2026-27 school year will open on Monday, May 18th.
Questions about paid reservations for Student Matinees?
Send an email to boxoffice@louisvilleballet.org or give us a call at (502) 583-2623.
Bridge the Gap
Funding for Title 1 Schools
Title 1 Schools are eligible for FREE tickets to attend Louisville Ballet Student Matinee Performances. Seats are limited and awards are based on a first-come, first-served basis.
- To be eligible for consideration, you must be designated a Title I School.
- Tickets are available FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.
- Each school may request up to 100 student tickets.
- One free chaperone for every 10 student tickets.
- Additional student tickets may be purchased for $12 each. Adults are $20 each.
- Schools are responsible for arranging and paying for their own transportation to the theater.
Bridge the Gap Applicants must first complete the same reservation request form as paying schools. On this form, you will be asked if you would like to apply for Bridge the Gap. If you tick this button and you qualify as a Title 1 School, at the start of the 2026-27 school year in August, you will receive an email directing you to complete an additional application for the Bridge the Gap program. Schools must complete both forms in order to be considered for Bridge the Gap funding. Schools will receive confirmation of Bridge the Gap ticket awards by September 18, 2026.
Do you have questions about the Bridge the Gap program?
Send an email to ahaley@louisvilleballet.org or give us a call at (502) 583-3150 x227.
Virtual Performances
Can’t join us at the theater? Louisville Ballet offers several virtual performances so you can enjoy the show from your school or home. Find out more by visiting our Virtual Programs page.