Performing Arts in Ohio

From symphony orchestras to dance and opera companies, Ohio has a wide variety of professional performing arts organizations, many of which are considered among the nation’s elite.

Two of Ohio’s most notable orchestra ensembles are The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the fifth-oldest orchestra in the United States, and The Cleveland Orchestra, one of the “Big Five” orchestras (the classification given to the five most prominent and accomplished in the nation) whose performance history, recordings, and extensive national and international tours have earned them the reputation of one of the finest symphony orchestras in the world.

Ohio is also home to several dance companies, including Ballet Met in Columbus, one of the 15 largest dance companies in the nation, and one of the premier African-American Dance Troupes in the nation, the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, whose repertory includes the world’s largest collection of dances created by African-American choreographers.

Ohio is home to several opera companies, including those in Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus, Toledo, and most notably, the second oldest opera company in the United States, the Cincinnati Opera.

From Profile Ohio