YOUNG PATRONS CIRCLE FAQ

For the past decade, ENCORE! / YPC membership costs have been stagnant, which limits our ability to provide a fun and engaging experience for our members. As we evaluated how to offer the best experiences for our members, we reviewed both the feedback we received from our members in our 2023 Membership Experience Survey and membership options provided by many other young professional groups. The feedback we received was that you enjoyed the opportunities provided during the 2022-23 season and wanted more! By offering tiered membership options, each individual member can select the option that suits their desired level of engagement. The benefits associated with each tier are posted on our website. If you have any questions about the benefits, please contact us at ypc@sfballet.org!

The goal of our organization is to develop a new generation of San Francisco Ballet patrons; while there is no age limit, membership is encouraged for ages 21-40 who are looking to deepen their relationship with San Francisco Ballet. Each of our events is specifically curated to achieve this goal; however, YPC is not the only organization at the ballet! You can learn more about other organizations at the ballet and the goals of these organizations below. You might find that one of these options will provide a more enjoyable experience for you.

Allegro Circle is comprised of professionals who are passionate about San Francisco Ballet. Allegro Circle was founded by ENCORE! alumni who wanted to increase their engagement with San Francisco Ballet.

BRAVO is a group of more than 300 ballet enthusiasts whose volunteer support is vital to the on-going operation of San Francisco Ballet.

Auxiliary spearheads initiatives that raise more than $4 million annually for San Francisco Ballet. Membership is by invitation only.

Yes. We are all here to have a great time and support San Francisco Ballet. We expect all of our members to behave courteously and respectfully to everyone at our events including, but not limited to, one another, and all San Francisco Ballet and venue staff. If your conduct does not meet this expectation, you will be contacted by a member of the YPC Board. Egregious or repeated violations will result in a loss of membership.

No! We are here to help develop your appreciation and understanding of the artform. Our members have a wide range of experience levels from never having seen ballet to spending their entire childhood dancing at San Francisco Ballet School! The continued excellence of San Francisco Ballet relies on building a supporter base as diverse as our city!

Many of our events throughout the season are intended to highlight the wonderful programming at the ballet, and these events do require a performance ticket. Members receive access to discounted performance tickets for these events. A few events each season, such as our annual Season Preview, do not require performance tickets. Generally, if it’s at the Opera House, you’ll need a ticket!

Shoot us an email to say hi and let us know! A member of our board will make sure you feel welcome. Many of our members attend events on their own and create new relationships through YPC.

Our guest policy is stated in our membership information and varies by tier. The number of guest spots available for a specific event is dependent upon event capacity. If you would like to bring a guest(s), please be sure to reach out to us at ypc@sfballet.org at least 48 hours prior to the event to ensure we are able to accommodate your request!

We do not have a set dress code for most of our events, though most of our membership like to dress up beyond SF casual! If you have a specific question, please reach out and ask!

We are always looking to increase engagement with our members! Joining YPC at the Soloist or Principal level is a great way to get more involved and gives you more behind the scenes access.

If you are interested in volunteering at events or joining the YPC board, please reach out to us via email or connect with a board member at an event! The board for the 2023-24 season is currently set, but we will be evaluating potential new members for the 2024-25 board on an ongoing basis.