La Scala Theatre Ballet School La Scala Theatre Ballet School La Scala Theatre Ballet School () is one of the leading classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of La Scala Theatre Ballet, an international ballet company based at La Scala in Milan, Italy. The school forms part of the theatre's Academy for Performing Arts. The ballet school was founded in 1813 by Benedetto Ricci, as the "Accademia di ballo" (dance academy) of the "Teatro alla Scala". Following the defeat of Napoleon, the school's name was changed to "Imperial Regia Accademia di Ballo del Teatro alla Scala" (Royal Imperial Dance Academy
La Scala pit-stalls, arranged in six tiers of boxes above which is the 'loggione' or two galleries. Its stage is one of the largest in Italy (16.15m d x 20.4m w x 26m h). Building expenses were covered by the sale of boxes, which were lavishly decorated by their owners, impressing observers such as Stendhal. La Scala (as it came to be known) soon became the preeminent meeting place for noble and wealthy Milanese people. In the tradition of the times, the main floor had no chairs and spectators watched the shows standing up. The orchestra was in full sight, as the