Housing & Student Life
Dance in the heart of San Francisco
Situated in the vibrant Hayes Valley neighborhood, San Francisco Ballet School students live and learn in a dynamic arts community alongside peers from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Their home base, the Bowes Center, offers not only housing but also rehearsal spaces, study areas, and gathering places designed to support both artistic growth and daily life.
Living in San Francisco
Known for its progressive values and innovative thinking, San Francisco shares its adventurous spirit with nearby Silicon Valley. We’re known for our world-renowned arts and culture, our colorful Victorian homes, the spectacular views you can see from the City’s seven hills, the Golden Gate Bridge, and our neighborhoods which each have their own distinctive charm.
About the residential program
Opened in the fall of 2020, San Francisco Ballet School’s residential boarding program serves ballet students enrolled in Ballet School’s intermediate and advanced levels and the Trainee Program.
In partnership with San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), SF Ballet School provides housing for talented young artists who are pursuing professional careers in their field. During the school year, SF Ballet School occupies one full floor of the SFCM’s Ute and William K. Bowes, Jr. Center for Performing Arts (Bowes Center), located at 200 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco’s Civic Center/Hayes Valley neighborhoods. This neighborhood is home to San Francisco Ballet, Opera, Symphony, and SF Jazz.
In addition to student housing, the Bowes Center includes multi-purpose rehearsal and performance spaces, study areas, a cafe for student meal service, and a restaurant open to the public.
Amenities
- Suite-style rooms provide students with a home away from home; four ballet students per suite share two bedrooms, a full bathroom, and living space.
- SF Ballet School dormitory staff live onsite to supervise student safety and well-being.
- Wellness programming has been developed to support students’ physical and mental wellness during this critical time in their development and includes sessions and access to nutritionists and psychologist.
- Food service and meal plans are designed to ensure the young dancers’ nutrition fuels them.
- Convenient walking access to SF Ballet studios and the War Memorial Opera House, home of San Francisco Ballet, reduces commute time and provides access to San Francisco’s vibrant arts community.
Student services
All residential students have access to building amenities and wellness programming. Additional services are designed for intermediate students and international students to support their successful transition including career planning and sessions and access to psychologist and nutritionists.
Younger students who are placed in level 6 (the intermediate level of the Ballet School) receive an extra level of care and supervision from the residential staff. All students must be enrolled in an online academic program that ensures the student is working towards their high school diploma or equivalent.
San Francisco Ballet School is authorized under Federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students. San Francisco Ballet School welcomes over 50 international students each year to attend the school year and summer programs. There are extra considerations for international students when enrolling at SF Ballet School. Students who enroll will need to have a basic level of English language competency and must be prepared to complete their academic studies online or through a correspondence program with their home country. Admitted students will receive information on the i20 and M1 student visa application process.
Consideration for safety in our urban environment has been integrated into the building’s design: A private entrance for student residents offers 24/7 security, and floor access is further secured by elevator access passes. SF Ballet School residential staff monitors the floor when students are present in the dormitory, including overnight. Building design and staffing plans contemplate the needs of young students who are new to living in San Francisco.
TRAINING AT SF BALLET
School Year Program
Classes start at age 8 in Level 1 and increase in difficulty to our pre-professional programs for 18-year-old dancers in Level 8.
Trainee Program
Our one- to two-year pre-professional program helps students transition into professional dancers.