Adult Workshops and Series
Delve Deeper into Dance
Offered on a semi-regular basis, San Francisco Ballet School’s adult workshops and multi-week series allow students to build skills beyond the daily drop-in schedule. From comprehensive boot camps for absolute beginners to targeted masterclasses in turns, jumps, and character dance, each program provides focused instruction led by SF Ballet faculty. Classes take place at our studios at 455 Franklin Street in San Francisco.
Details
- Pre-registration is strongly recommended through MindBody via the app or the MindBody website as we cannot guarantee accommodation for walk-in students.
- Check-in will begin 15 minutes prior to the workshop/series in the lobby. Students will be directed to their studio once check-in has started. If you arrive earlier, you will be asked to wait in the lobby.
- If you arrive more than five minutes late for a workshop/series, you will not be allowed to enter. This is for your safety and to minimize disruptions to classes. Refunds are not available in these circumstances.
- No photos or videos are allowed during classes.
- Cell phones in the studio are strongly discouraged
- Restrooms on the first floor are available to adult students for changing. Locker rooms on the second floor are for Pre-Ballet – Level 8 students (ages 2–18) and Trainees ONLY
- Please only go to your assigned floor and studio for class. For the safety and security of all students, adults are asked not to wander around the San Francisco Ballet building.
- San Francisco Ballet School reserves the right to remove any person from any workshop/series at any time.
ABSOLUTE BEGINNER BALLET BOOT CAMP
The Absolute Beginner Ballet Boot Camp is for adults who are new to ballet and those who want to get a handle on the basics. Instruction is broken down to the core elements and then built upon each week so that you’ll finish feeling confident and excited to participate in drop-in classes.
Each session includes a two-hour class and an optional 15–30 minute Q&A.
Price: $260 for one 4-day program. Each session includes a two-hour class and an optional 15–30 minute Q&A. Participants must register for the entire 4-session series.
Coming soon: 2027 sessions of Absolute Beginner Ballet Boot Camp
Sample Schedule:
Weekend 1
Saturday: 3:30–6:00 PM (Q&A 5:30–6:00 PM)
Sunday: 11:30 AM–2:00 PM (Q&A 1:30–2:00 PM)
Weekend 2
Saturday: 3:30–6:00 PM (Q&A 5:30–6:00 PM)
Sunday: 11:30 AM–2:00 PM (Q&A 1:30–2:00 PM)
2:00–2:30 PM – Post-program celebration/social (refreshments provided)
BALLET TURNS WORKSHOP
This workshop is for ballet students who want to improve the technique of their ballet turns. We will focus on exercises designed to better understand and develop skills needed for a clean execution of pirouettes. Students will receive personal feedback and work on spotting, coordination of the arms and legs, proper alignment of the body, and general comfort while turning.
Beginner: During this session, we will clarify concepts like en dehors and en dedans (inside and outside turns) as well as preparation and landing for pirouettes from 5th and 4th positions. The workshop will involve both center and across-the-floor exercises, with both stationary turns and traveling turns.
It is recommended that students have taken at least 1–3 years of ballet. A ballet turns workshop will usually be scheduled after a drop-in ballet technique class and it is recommended that a participant attend both, so as to be warm for the turns workshop.
Intermediate/Advanced: Dancers must have at least 3+ years of consistent training and be currently practicing double pirouettes en dehors and en dedans.
Price: $23 for one 1-hour workshop
Schedule: October 18, 2026: Beginner Turns Workshop – 1:30-2:30 PM
Coming soon: 2027 sessions of Ballet Turns Workshop
BALLET JUMPS WORKSHOP
In this workshop, participants will learn more about ballet jumps, including batterie (beats), transitional steps commonly used in Grand Allegro, and more exciting “trick” jumps.
Participants should be regularly taking Intermediate and Advanced level classes at SFB or Intermediate – Pre-professional level classes at other studios. If you are a regular student at the SFB school and unsure if this workshop is right for you, you are welcome to consult with any SFB adult program teacher.
This class will be physically challenging and not recommended to dancers with knee, ankle, or back issues.
It is required for dancers to be familiar with and proficient in petite allegro, medium jumps, and have some experience in Grand Allegro. Example of vocabulary dancers should be familiar with: Sauté, soubresaut, changement, échappé en diverses positions, assemblé, jeté, sisson fermé et sisson ouvert, saut de basque, pas de chat, temps levé, saut de chat, grand jeté, tour jeté, pas de cou-de-chat.
A ballet jumps workshop will usually be scheduled after a drop-in ballet technique class, and it is recommended that a participant attend both, so as to be warm for the jumps workshop.
Price: $23 for one 1-hour workshop
Coming soon: 2027 sessions of Ballet Jumps Workshop
CHARACTER DANCE WORKSHOP
Join San Francisco Ballet School for an in-depth look at character dance, a sub-style of ballet that draws from European folk dance. Participants will learn barre and center exercises in multiple character styles and a piece of character repertory from a classical ballet. This workshop is intended for adults (18+) with at least one year of ballet experience.
Price: $65 for one 2.5-hour workshop
Schedule: November 15, 2026 – 12:30-3:00 PM
SUMMER WORKSHOP
Join dance lovers from across the world for 6 days of ballet technique, repertory classes, and more! San Francisco Ballet School’s acclaimed faculty and special guests teach participants in our studios, and participants can choose between the Technique Track and the Performance Track.
