Boston Ballet is one of the major ballet companies in North America and among the top companies in the world. Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen was selected to lead Boston Ballet in September 2001. Under his exceptional artistic direction, Boston Ballet maintains an internationally acclaimed repertoire of classical, neo-classical and contemporary works, ranging from full-length story ballets to masterworks by George Balanchine, to new works and world premieres by some of today's finest contemporary choreographers. Nissinen leads the Company and, in partnership with Executive Director Barry Hughson, Boston Ballet School, the largest ballet school in North America.