The Eastern Connecticut Ballet was founded as a non-profit in 1992 with the mission of developing a professional performing arts center that would provide high quality instruction to area youth. It is a serious ballet that seeks to rigorously prepare dancers for professional performance. To achieve this lofty goal, expert instructors guide young learners through a series of programs beginning with a young children's program open to those 3 to 8 years old and advancing through a seven-level pre-professional curriculum.