PRESS RELEASE

Onstage at the War Memorial Opera House May 8–9, the festival features the West Coast premiere of Myles Thatcher’s Mayfly and the return of accompaniment by the Grammy Award-winning San Francisco Ballet Orchestra for the second year

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA) March 23, 2026—San Francisco Ballet School (SF Ballet School) today announced details for its 2026 Spring Festival, featuring an evening-length program performed by School students and Trainees showcasing an array of classical and contemporary repertoire, including the West Coast premiere of SF Ballet Company Soloist Myles Thatcher’s Mayfly.

Curated by School Director Grace Holmes, the two gala-style performances will take place May 8–9 at the War Memorial Opera House, featuring live accompaniment by the Grammy Award-winning San Francisco Ballet Orchestra led by Shelby and Frederick Gans Music Director & Principal Conductor Martin West.

“The Spring Festival gives our students the rare opportunity to perform world-class repertoire on one of the most storied stages in American dance,” said Holmes. “From our young learners to our most advanced Trainees, every artist brings something extraordinary to the program. I invite audiences to witness the next generation of talent as they find their place in this art form.”

First performed by SF Ballet School Trainees during the School’s tour to Sun Valley, Idaho last fall, Thatcher’s Mayfly is inspired by the ephemeral life of a mayfly—an insect that lives for only a single day—and meditates on beauty, transience, and the fleeting nature of youth.

Thatcher, named SF Ballet’s inaugural Creation House Associate Choreographer in 2025, began choreographing works as an SF Ballet School Trainee and has since gone on to create works for leading companies including SF Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, New York City Ballet, and more over the past 15 years. As SF Ballet’s Creation House Associate Choreographer, Thatcher receives mentorship and support for his choreographic development as well as opportunities for visibility of his work outside of the company, building an external network for future choreographic commissions.

Additional Spring Festival programming offers a range of classical and contemporary ballet repertoire, including:

• A 35-minute demonstration of foundational technique and artistry presented by students from levels two through eight, choreographed by School Instructor Karen Gabay and set to music by Johann Strauss II;
• The opening excerpt of George Balanchine’s Serenade, one of the most beloved works in the ballet canon and recently seen in SF Ballet’s 2026 Season, performed by pre-professional level eight students;
• A classical Paquita suite, featuring the polonaise, pas de deux, and pas de trois from Marius Petipa’s celebrated 19th-century production, set on the students by world-renowned coach Loipa Araújo, considered “one of the best ballet teachers in the world today” by The Independent;
• And students from levels seven and eight in an excerpt from former Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson’s “Winter” from Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons).

On Saturday, May 9, the School will host a celebratory fundraising dinner, chaired by SF Ballet Auxiliary member Jenn Kurrie, in the Opera House’s main lobby. Following the afternoon performance, dinner guests will be treated to an onstage cocktail hour from 5–6pm, with the seated dinner beginning at 6pm. Proceeds from the annual dinner and performances support the $1.5 million in scholarships and financial aid the School distributes annually to students, as well as SF Ballet’s education and community engagement programs that serve over 50,000 children, families, and community members throughout the Bay Area each year.

The Friday, May 8 performance will include a Meet the Artist interview before the show, offering audiences an intimate conversation with featured artists from the program.

Tickets and Performance Dates
The SF Ballet School Spring Festival is onstage at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco from May 8–9. Tickets are available for purchase at sfballet.org. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling Ticket Services at 415-865-2000, open Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm. Casting and prices are subject to change.

Friday, May 8 at 7pm
Saturday, May 9 at 3pm

About San Francisco Ballet School
San Francisco Ballet School, founded in 1933, is the oldest professional ballet school in the country and is one of the most highly sought-after dance training institutions in the industry, cultivating the next generation of professional dancers for San Francisco Ballet and ballet companies around the world.  Approximately 70% of San Francisco Ballet dancers trained at SF Ballet School, and students in the School appear in SF Ballet productions throughout the season. More than $1.5 million in annual scholarships and financial aid is awarded to students to attend SF Ballet School. 

Under the combined leadership of SF Ballet School Director Grace Holmes and Artistic Director Tamara Rojo, San Francisco Ballet School has a dual mission: to train classical ballet dancers capable of joining the ranks of SF Ballet and other world-renowned companies and to offer young children and adults in the Bay Area an introduction to ballet and the joy of moving to music. 

About Creation House
San Francisco Ballet launched Creation House in 2023, a portfolio of career-enhancing creative opportunities focused on choreography and new work development for company members, SF Ballet School students, and guest artists. Through programs ranging from residencies for visiting choreographers to structured choreographic workshops, the initiative provides space and time for creative exploration and mentorship within the company. Creation House is accompanied by Raising Leaders, a leadership training program that provides professional and personal development for company dancers who seek to make a broader impact within the arts sector in the future.

About San Francisco Ballet
San Francisco Ballet, led by Artistic Director Tamara Rojo, is a world-leading ballet company and a trailblazing commissioner, collaborator, and presenter in dance. With a deep commitment to new and contemporary works and the classical repertoire, SF Ballet is a catalyst for the future of ballet, investing in commissions and acquisitions; presenting established and emerging choreographers with a breadth of viewpoints; uplifting dancers, artists, and creatives across disciplines; and cultivating the next generation of the world’s top dancers in its School.

Contact
Public Relations, San Francisco Ballet
press@sfballet.org
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