Tiny Pretty Things was a Netflix crime drama which launched in December 2020. The show is set at a professional ballet school, and was filmed in both Toronto and Chicago.
SPECIAL UPDATE: In November, 2023, Tiny Pretty Things star and professional ballet dancer Barton Cowperthwaite has been diagnosed with a stage 2 brain tumour. As he fights his battle, you can support him by donating to his GoFundMe here.
The Archer School of Ballet
The show centres around the fictional Archer School of Ballet in Chicago. Exteriors and some interiors of the school were filmed at Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music.
The oldest portion of the facility is McMaster Hall, and dates back to 1887. The Royal Conservatory of Music took over the facility in 1962. There have been several modern extensions added to the site, while the original hall has been maintained as a National Historic Site of Canada.
Tiny Pretty Things features a number of pivotal scenes which take place on the rooftop. These were all filmed on a soundstage, and not on location.
Canada’s National Ballet School
While some ballet studio scenes were filmed at the Conservatory, the production also used the National Ballet School. The school, part of the National Ballet of Canada, has modern facilities and is open to the public for classes.
Hammerson Hall
Hammerson Hall is part of the Living Arts Centre, located just outside Toronto in Mississauga. The hall was used as the rehearsal and performance theatre in numerous episodes.
Berczy Park
Berczy Park, in downtown Toronto, was featured in episode seven. The park is well known for it’s Dog Fountain, which is also seen in the episode.
The Bean
Early in season 1, the characters of Shane and Oren perform in front of the Cloud Gate Sculpture. This sculpture, commonly known as The Bean, is one of Chicago’s most visited attractions.
Art Institute of Chicago
Another location featured early in season one is the Art Institute of Chicago. Shane and Neveah visit the gallery and view one of it’s most famous pieces, The Little Dancer, Aged 14. This famous sculpture by Edgar Degas was originally considered hideous when he showed it in 1881, but has become one of his most renowned pieces.
Downtown Chicago
Numerous other locations in downtown Chicago have been featured on the show. These include the Riverwalk as well as locations along South Wabush Ave.
