PRESS RELEASE

Inaugural season begins November 2026 with an adapted Swan Lake at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, expanding to Walnut Creek and Mountain View in 2027 

Tickets to Tiny Dances: Swan Lake on sale September 15

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA) August 20, 2026—San Francisco Ballet (SF Ballet) today announced the launch of Tiny Dances, a new family programming series designed to introduce young children ages 2–8 to the magic of live ballet in a relaxed setting through refined performances by San Francisco Ballet School. The series debuts in November 2026 with a specially adapted production of Swan Lake at San Francisco’s iconic Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, with additional performances at venues across the Bay Area through 2027. 

“Introducing children to the arts at a young age shapes the audiences and artists of tomorrow,” said Tamara Rojo, San Francisco Artistic Director. “Tiny Dances reflects our belief that ballet should be welcoming and accessible to every family. We’re proud to launch this program in San Francisco and excited to expand it to additional communities across the Bay Area in the years ahead.” 

The inaugural Tiny Dances production of Swan Lake, developed by SF Ballet Associate Artistic Director Antonio Castilla, reimagines the beloved classic in a format suited for young audiences, with an abbreviated runtime, family-friendly storytelling, and an on-stage narrator to guide viewers through the story. This adaptation of the Petipa classic offers a fresh, uplifting spin on the ballet’s traditionally tragic ending, reimagining the character of Odette as a heroine in charge of her own story. 

Performed by SF Ballet School’s pre-professional Trainees and Level 8 students to a recorded score, the production retains the beauty, storytelling, and spectacle of the original while making the work more accessible, child-friendly, and exciting for the next generation of arts lovers. SF Ballet School’s Trainees and Level 8 dancers undergo an intensive, career-track curriculum that follows a rigorous path designed to prepare dancers for the demands of a professional career. Nearly 70% of current SF Ballet Company members received training at the School. 

“I’ve seen first-hand how transformative it can be for a young person to experience live ballet for the first time, and I’m thrilled to help introduce more possibilities for family-friendly engagement with dance in San Francisco,” says Castilla. “This production is a wonderful opportunity not just for families and young audiences, but for our School’s talented pre-professional artists, giving them invaluable performing experience as they prepare for their futures as professional dancers.” 

Tiny Dances is designed to be a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible environment for all families. Each Tiny Dances performance will offer engaging pre-show lobby activities and participatory dance experiences. The abbreviated 60-minute performance invites young audiences to discover the story of Swan Lake in a relaxed environment with quiet spaces in the lobby. 

One of the performances at each venue will be a dedicated Sensory Friendly Performance, welcoming neurodivergent audiences and their families. The Sensory Friendly Performance is designed for individuals of all ages with autism, sensory sensitivities or other physical, cognitive, or developmental needs. Adjustments will include modified lighting, sound and technical adjustments, a relaxed house environment, an ASL interpreter, audio descriptions, and social story resources. 

The “Enchanted Experience” ticket level, available for all performances, offers families special experience upgrades such as premium reserved seating, an exclusive Swan Lake character photo opportunity, priority access into the venue, and a souvenir gift.    

Following its San Francisco debut, Tiny Dances will travel to additional Bay Area venues in 2027, including an engagement in Walnut Creek in late May, followed by performances in Mountain View in early June. Additional details and 2028 performances to be announced.  

Tickets and Performance Dates 
San Francisco Ballet’s Tiny Dances: Swan Lake is onstage at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco from November 7–8, 2026. Single tickets for the San Francisco performances are on sale September 15, 2026. Tickets may be purchased online at sfballet.org or by calling Ticket Services at 415-865-2000, open Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm. Casting and prices are subject to change. Ticket prices at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre begin at $25. Tickets for performances in Mountain View and Walnut Creek will be on sale at a later date. More information to come. 

Saturday, November 7 at 11am 
Saturday, November 7 at 3pm [Sensory Friendly Performance] 
Sunday, November 8 at 11am and 3pm 

Run Time 
1 hour and 20 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission 

Production Credits 
Choreographer: Antonio Castilla, after Marius Petipa 
Composer: Peter IllyichTchaikovsky 
Costume Designers: Jens-Jacob Worsaae and Martin Pakledinaz 
Scenic Designer: Jens-Jacob Worsaae 
Lighting Designer: David Robertson 
Dramaturg and Acting Coach: Javier Galitó-Cava 
Rehearsal Assistant: Dana Genshaft 

World Premiere: November 7, 2026—San Francisco Ballet School, Palace of Fine Arts Theatre; San Francisco, California 

Music Recordings: Selections from “Swan Lake,” arranged by Martin West. Licensed courtesy of Sony Music and Universal Music Group. Used by permission. 

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. 

About San Francisco Ballet School 
Founded alongside the Company in 1933, San Francisco Ballet School is one of the most highly sought-after training institutions in the industry and the longest continuously operating professional ballet school in the United States. The program of San Francisco Ballet School, led by School Director Grace Holmes and Artistic Director Tamara Rojo, has a dual mission: to cultivate the next generation of professional ballet dancers for San Francisco Ballet and companies around the world, and to invite young children and adults to experience the joy and creativity of dance. 
 
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