The School of Chicago Ballet was founded in 1980 by Maria Tallchief, a former prima ballerina of the New York City Ballet. The school and affiliated Chicago City Ballet started after the closure of the ballet school for the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1979. Tallchief and her husband Henry Paschen developed the school with artistic advisors George Balanchine and Suzanne Farrell. Maria Tallchief’s younger sister, Marjorie Tallchief Skibine, served as the director of the school. The school was officially separated from the company in February of 1985, when it became known as the School of the Chicago City Ballet.

The school focused on training young dancers preparing for professional performing careers. Students auditioned for admission to professional track classes and were assigned to one of ten class levels depending on age, ability, and previous training. In 1988, faculty members included Maria Tallchief, Marjorie Tallchief Skibine, Homer Bryant, Joel Hall, and Anna Paskevska with artistic direction from Paul Mejia. Advanced students made up a Junior Company of the school and participated in performance opportunities at schools, community groups, and other organizations. The school also offered non-professional track dance classes for all ages.

After the school moved to Hyde Park in 1990, Maria Tallchief’s involvement declined, and the school was primarily run by Kathie Newhouse and her husband, former state Sen. Richard Newhouse. With decreasing enrollment numbers and internal conflict, the school dissolved and closed in December 1993.