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PRE-BALLET

PRE-BALLET

Learn. Dance. Grow.

The joy of ballet begins with Pre-Ballet classes at San Francisco Ballet School. We introduce young children to the fundamentals of classical ballet, focusing on proper body alignment, basic ballet technique and terminology, and musicality. As part of the SF Ballet School family, your young child will learn much more than ballet. Exposure to dance reinforces important life skills like creativity, discipline, and team participation—all in a safe, fun, and nurturing environment.

2024 SUMMER BALLET CLASSES

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2023–24 SCHOOL YEAR SCHEDULE

Registration for the 2023–24 school year is closed. Please complete the interest form if you would like to be notified when registration opens for the 2024–25 School Year.

INTEREST FORM

CREATIVE MOVEMENT
3-YEAR-OLDS

Tuesdays 12:15–1:00 PM
Saturdays 9:00–9:45 AM

Creative Movement begins with introducing children to the world of ballet. It encourages creativity, musicality, and physicality, and begins the development of spatial awareness. Creative Movement introduces our youngest students to a classroom setting and introduces them to age-appropriate elementary ballet vocabulary in a nurturing environment.

CREATIVE DANCE 1

4-year-olds

Saturdays 9:45–10:30 AM
Sundays 10:00–10:45 AM

Creative Dance 1 builds on the experience in Creative Movement. The class continues to introduce ballet terminology, the development of coordination and sense of musicality and the element of storytelling. It teaches children discipline and confidence, how to follow directions closely, and develops new skills.

CREATIVE DANCE 1 / CREATIVE DANCE 2

4 & 5-year-olds

Sundays 9:00–9:45 AM

Creative Dance 1 & 2 Combined builds on the experience in Creative Movement. The class continues to introduce ballet terminology, the development of coordination and sense of musicality and the element of storytelling. It teaches children discipline and confidence, how to follow directions closely, and develops new skills.

CREATIVE DANCE 2
5-YEAR-OLDS

Saturdays 10:45–11:30 AM & 11:45–12:30 PM
Sundays 11:15 AM–12:00 PM & 12:15–1:00 PM

Creative Dance 2 builds upon Creative Movement and Creative Dance 1. Fundamental ballet steps, terminology, and posture are reinforced. Students learn lateral development, how to stand in lines and rows, transitions between exercises, and begin to develop an awareness of the importance of music and movement.

PRE-BALLET 1
6-YEAR-OLDS

Saturdays 10:45–11:45 AM & 1:00–2:00 PM
Sundays 9:00–10:00 AM & 10:00–11:00 AM

Pre-Ballet 1 builds on Creative Movement, Creative Dance 1, and Creative Dance 2 and continues to refine ballet steps and ballet terminology. Exercises develop posture and balance, strength, flexibility, and coordination.

PRE-BALLET 2
7-YEAR-OLDS

Saturdays 11:45 AM-12:45 PM
Sundays 11:15 AM–12:15 PM & 12:15–1:15 PM

Pre-Ballet 2 is the final level of open-enrollment children’s classes at San Francisco Ballet School. Students must attend a screening to be considered for enrollment into Level 1. Pre-Ballet 2 builds on Creative Movement, Creative Dance 1 and 2, and Pre-Ballet 1. The continuation of classical ballet training is reinforced and further developed to prepare students to attend the screening for the pre-professional division at San Francisco Ballet School. Coordination, musicality, flexibility, posture, and ballet terminology are all emphasized.

REGISTRATION

For School Year classes, students must register for the class based on their age as of September 1. Classes take place in the studios at 455 Franklin Street in San Francisco and meet one day per week from September–May.

FEES

Registration Fee: $250

2024–25 SCHOOL YEAR TUITION

  • Age 3 – Creative Movement: $1600
  • Age 4 – Creative Dance 1: $1,665
  • Age 5 – Creative Dance 2: $1,665
  • Age 6 – Pre-Ballet 1: $2,080
  • Age 7 – Pre-Ballet 2: $2,080

PAYMENT PLAN FEES

Full Pay & 2-pay: $25
4-pay: $55

PAYMENT TIMELINE

(Registration Fees and Tuition are non-refundable and non-transferable. Payment timeline is subject to change.)

Upon enrollment, you will be committing to the entire school year from September to May, and the tuition can be split into separate payments.

  1. A non-refundable $250 registration fee will be assessed when the application is submitted.
  2. Within 10 days of submitting this form, you will receive the enrollment packet.
  3. When you complete the enrollment packet, you will set up a payment plan. The tuition balance can be split into 1, 2, or 4 payments.
    • Your first payment will be charged 10 days after you select a payment plan, and it has been finalized by the Registrar.
    • You will then receive an email from FACTS with a detailed summary of your account and due dates.
  4. You will have 10 days to complete your enrollment packet, or your student may be put on a waitlist.

 

FINANCIAL AID

In order to share our joy of dance with the widest possible audience, a limited amount of financial aid is available for Pre-Ballet. Financial aid is awarded based on a demonstrated need through the Financial Aid Application. The amount of financial aid available each year is dependent upon contributions by SF Ballet donors and careful consideration is given to all requests for assistance. Families may apply once their student has received their invitation for the school year or summer program. Registration fees are not covered by financial aid. Financial aid is awarded for a limited period of time—either one summer session or one regular school year and the following summer session. Families must reapply each year to be considered.

ENROLLMENT IS LIMITED

Class size is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend registering as early as possible, as classes do fill up.

TRIAL CLASSES

Registration Fee: $20

Children ages 3–7 (as of September 1, 2024) who are new to SF Ballet School are invited to participate in a trial class on March 10 or 17. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience a Pre-Ballet class at SF Ballet School.

2024 TRIAL CLASS TIMES

March 10 — 1:00 PM (Ages 3–5)
March 10 — 1:45 PM (Ages 6 & 7)
March 17 — 1:00 PM (Ages 3–5)
March 17 — 1:45 PM (Ages 6 & 7)

Students should wear ballet clothing, including ballet shoes. If students don't have ballet clothing, they should wear comfortable clothing that they can move in. Good options are T-shirts, shorts or leggings, and socks.

The trial classes are approximately 45 minutes long. One parent must attend with their student.

REGISTER

DETAILS

FACULTY

Pre-Ballet classes are taught by SF Ballet School Faculty. Faculty will be announced before classes begin.

SCHEDULE CHANGES, CANCELLATIONS & STUDENT ABSENCES

Our class schedule is subject to change. We reserve the right to cancel class if the minimum enrollment is not met. As a courtesy to the teacher, we ask that parents report absences to the school office. There are no make-up classes and students may not attend alternate classes.

CLASS OBSERVATIONS

Parents/guardians are invited to attend two class observations per school year. Dates will be shared with families at the start of each semester.

AUDITIONS, HIGHER LEVEL CLASSES & PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

Because Pre-Ballet is not a part of the graded curriculum at SF Ballet School, we do not require an audition or screening for Pre-Ballet classes. Students who age out of Pre-Ballet and are seeking admission to our Level 1 class will attend a screening.

LEARN MORE

Students in Pre-Ballet do not participate in Nutcracker or Spring Festival performances.

CONTACT INFORMATION

school@sfballet.org

Scenes from a San Francisco Ballet School pre-ballet class. (© Chris Hardy)