ABOUT US
A LEGACY OF FIRSTS. A FUTURE IN MOTION.
Where tradition meets transformation, San Francisco Ballet is a powerful force that expands the boundaries of ballet. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Tamara Rojo, the Company blends classical mastery and artistic excellence with bold innovation that speaks for today.
Unafraid to redefine convention, San Francisco Ballet is continually advancing ballet through daring new works, reimagined classics, and culturally resonant programs. As the oldest professional ballet company in the country, we are both a founding voice in American ballet and a creative engine for the art form globally.
San Francisco Ballet has a history of making history, and a future full of momentum. Founded in 1933, we became the first American company to stage full-length productions of Swan Lake, Nutcracker, and Coppélia. Today, we continue to move ballet forward through groundbreaking premieres, international touring, and a deep commitment to work that resonates.
A globally decorated artist, Rojo’s leadership has brought a renewed artistic edge. The Company is home to some of the world’s most exceptional dancers and is accompanied by the Grammy Award–winning San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, led since 2005 by Shelby and Frederick Gans Music Director & Principal Conductor Martin West.
From programs that captivate to training that transforms, San Francisco Ballet fuels a living art form, elevating professional artists, cultivating the next generation, and welcoming more people into the power and possibility of dance.
COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY
San Francisco Ballet is woven into the rhythm of the city itself, an expression of its innovation and drive to create. We mirror the Bay Area’s energy on stage while carrying its imagination into classrooms, community centers, and public spaces across the region. San Francisco Ballet’s community engagement programs provide opportunities for all ages and abilities to experience the joy, creativity, and connection of the performing arts. By turning movement into education and performance into connection, San Francisco Ballet doesn’t just reflect the city, it amplifies it, shaping a shared cultural identity.
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET SCHOOL
San Francisco Ballet School offers world-class instruction to train future professionals and help dancers of all ages discover the joy of movement. Founded in 1933, it remains the oldest professional ballet school in the country and one of the most respected worldwide.
As the training ground for the next generation of artists and leaders in dance, the School offers a path from foundational training to pre-professional programs, guided by faculty who have danced with the world’s foremost companies. With scholarships, community access, and a commitment to excellence, the School prepares dancers for professional careers and also cultivates creativity and discipline.
Led by School Director Grace Holmes and Artistic Director Tamara Rojo, the School has a dual mission: to train classical ballet dancers capable of joining a professional company and to offer all ages and levels the love of dance.