What is Tiny Dances?
Discover SF Ballet's new program designed for children 2 to 8
Taking young children to the ballet can be a wonderful experience, but anyone who has tried it knows that a traditional performance isn’t designed with a 2-year-old in mind.
That’s where San Francisco Ballet’s new series, Tiny Dances, comes in.
Created for children ages 2 to 8 and the grown-ups that love them, Tiny Dances offers shortened, kid-friendly versions of classic ballets without losing what makes them so captivating: beautiful choreography, elaborate costumes, memorable music, and engaging storylines. The performances will feature an adapted plot and an on-stage narrator who guides viewers through the tale, all in a relaxed environment where kids can feel comfortable at their very first ballet. The full performances run about 80 minutes long, including a 20-minute intermission to give our youngest audience members a chance to get the wiggles out halfway through.
“Introducing children to the arts at a young age shapes the audiences and artists of tomorrow,” says SF Ballet Artistic Director Tamara Rojo. “Tiny Dances reflects our belief that ballet should be welcoming and accessible to every family.”
Related Posts
About Tiny Dances: Swan Lake
The experience starts before the curtain rises, with interactive pre-show activities and participatory dance experiences in the lobby. Additionally, every show will offer a family-friendly lobby space with a quiet area for anyone who needs a break, stroller parking, and concessions.
Brought to life by the pre-professional Trainees and Level 8 students of SF Ballet School, Tiny Dances showcases the next generation of ballet stars while creating unforgettable memories for the families watching them.
One of the Tiny Dances shows will be a dedicated Sensory Friendly Performance designed for audience members of all ages with autism, sensory input disorders, sensory sensitivities, or other physical, cognitive, or developmental disabilities, and their families, friends, and caretakers. Additional services for the Sensory Friendly Performance will include modified lighting and sound, sensory activities, tactile touch tour, social stories, and an ASL Interpreter.
The Tiny Dances series kicks off with Swan Lake, a charming adaptation of one of ballet’s most beloved masterpieces developed by SF Ballet Associate Artistic Director Antonio Castilla.
“I’ve seen firsthand how transformative it can be for a young person to experience live ballet for the first time,” says Castilla, who sees the production as both a family entry point into dance and valuable performing experience for the students onstage.
Set to Tchaikovsky’s radiant score, audiences are swept into a spellbound kingdom where Prince Siegfried encounters the beautiful Princess Odette, trapped under a powerful curse. Along the way, they’ll meet Odette’s friend Odile, outwit the sneaky sorcerer Rothbart, and discover the magic of the Swan Queen in a story filled with fun adventure.
Performed at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre on November 7–8, Tiny Dances: Swan Lake invites families into a world where courage triumphs over darkness, introducing a new generation to one of ballet’s greatest treasures.
