Founded in 1940 by Lucia Chase and Richard Pleasant, American Ballet Theatre is one of the world's most prestigious ballet companies. ABT's mission is to present the finest of classical and contemporary ballet from around the world. The company is home to a world-famous roster of international stars and has been based at the Metropolitan Opera House. Under the artistic direction of Susan Jaffe (since 2022), ABT continues its legacy of commissioning new works while maintaining the classical repertoire. Notable dancers in the Gillian Murphy and Misty Copeland era helped establish ABT as an institution of American cultural excellence.