Tiit Helimets

Tiit Helimets is an internationally acclaimed ballet artist, choreographer, and artistic leader with a distinguished career spanning over 27 years. Born in Estonia and trained in the classical Vaganova tradition, he began his professional journey with the Estonian National Ballet, where he was promoted to Principal Dancer in his first season. He went on to perform leading roles with Birmingham Royal Ballet and later, San Francisco Ballet, where he served as a Principal Dancer for nearly two decades.

Renowned for his elegant technique and compelling stage presence, Helimets has brought to life iconic roles in works by Helgi Tomasson, George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Kenneth MacMillan, Frederick Ashton, David Bintley, Christopher Wheeldon, Wane McGregor and Alexei Ratmansky, among many others. His performances have earned him accolades including the Isadora Duncan Award and Estonia’s Culture Capital Award.

Alongside his performance career, Helimets has established himself as a respected choreographer, coach, and creative producer. His choreographic credits include a full-length reimagining of Giselle for Oregon Ballet Theatre, as well as original works for Estonian National Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School, and film. He has staged and coached repertory internationally for Houston Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theatre, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and others, collaborating closely with leading choreographers such as Yuri Possokhov.

His leadership extends beyond the studio and stage. As a Co-Lead of San Francisco Ballet’s Inclusion Advisory Group, he pioneered internal cultural change through policy review, diversity education, and inclusive programming. His innovative projects, including the dance film Sequentia—which united dancers from major American companies during the COVID-19 pandemic—reflect his commitment to connection, representation, and expanding ballet’s reach through new media.

Currently, Helimets serves on the faculty of the School of Philadelphia Ballet and teaches part time men’s division for the Conservatore de Paris. He was recently the Director of the Men’s Program and Upper level training at Bayer Ballet Academy. He continues to champion artistic growth through mentorship, film, education, and international collaboration.

With a deep belief in ballet’s power to inspire and transform, Helimets remains devoted to honoring the classical tradition while driving the art form forward through creativity, care, and bold vision.