Kristi DeCaminada joined the SF Ballet School Faculty 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 the ballet schools summer session for ages 4-12. DeCaminada coaches children’s roles in San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker and also instructs the Nutcracker Master Class. She teaches and choreographs for San Francisco 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 San Francisco Ballet, and Stern Grove’s Kidstage. DeCaminada has taught for San Francisco Ballet Education & Training Department’s Community Scholarship Program, the 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 San Francisco Ballet School. She entered the School in Pre-Ballet and completed the entire professional curriculum 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 San Francisco 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. She continues to perform principal character roles in SF Ballet’s Nutcracker.

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 the Physical Mind Institute and has trained in Pilates at St. Francis Memorial Hospital Center for Dance Medicine.

DeCaminada joined as a character artist in the 2023–24 Season.