Billy Blanken founded Queens Ballet Collective (formerly Sheep Meadow Dance Theatre) in 2016 as a medium for exploring movement through a socially-engaged dance practice. The project creates repertoire with an emphasis on classical ballet. With exposure to a wide range of movement in his career, Mr. Blanken creates choreography that is theatrical, polished, and classically informed with a contemporary aesthetic. The Collective’s mission is to provide the highest quality in dance performance for all, regardless of socioeconomic background. 

 

Queens Ballet Collective creates original repertoire rooted in classical ballet and enriched through collaboration with musicians, designers, composers, and visual artists. Productions combine high-caliber choreography with innovative design elements such as projection mapping, practical effects, digitally animated painting, sculpture and world-class costumes.

 

More specifically, 80 percent of our programming is specially planned for our home borough of Queens and free to the public. We are the only professional ballet company in Queens New York and we are proud to represent the world's borough.

 

In 2025 QBC had 15 performances with more than 2800 audience members. Ten of those performances were free to the public in shared, accessible spaces. SMDT employed more than 15 artists including dancers, musicians, visual artists, and costume designers. Moving into 2026, SMDT's programming includes numerous festivals, art shows, concert series, site specific performances and parades.