Kristi DeCaminada joined the faculty of San Francisco Ballet School in 1995 and has been teaching for more than 25 years. Known as Miss Kristi to her students, she currently teaches Levels 1 and 2, all levels of Pre-Ballet, and SF Ballet School’s summer session for ages 4-12. DeCaminada coaches children’s roles in San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker and also instructs Nutcracker Master Class. She teaches and choreographs for SF Ballet’s Family Connections, Let’s Dance!, SF Public Library, Westfield Center, and Sensory Friendly workshops. In addition, she works with the San Francisco Boys and Girls Club Summer Dance Camp Workshop at SF Ballet, and Stern Grove’s Kidstage. DeCaminada has taught for San Francisco Ballet Education & Training Department’s Community Scholarship Program, YMCA, Easter Seals, The Hills Project, and St. Luke’s Pre-School, as well as other children’s ballet programs.

DeCaminada is a graduate of SF Ballet School. She entered SF Ballet School in Pre-Ballet and completed the entire professional curriculum by studying and working with the most esteemed teachers and renowned choreographers. With her love of teaching children and her early childhood education background, she is proud to have successfully reintroduced and developed SF Ballet School’s preballet program.

She performed roles in SF Ballet’s Nutcracker, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Romeo & Juliet, Coppelia, Cinderella, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and other Company productions, including Opening Night Gala and Stern Grove. DeCaminada joined the Company as a full-time principal character dancer for the 2023–24 Season.

DeCaminada earned her bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley as an alumni scholar with advanced studies specializing in education, teaching, and early childhood development. She is certified in Pilates from Physical Mind Institute and has trained in Pilates at St. Francis Memorial Hospital Center for Dance Medicine.