Curious about life behind the curtain at San Francisco Ballet? See a ballet barre, hear from an artist, and learn about the history of classical ballet.

Ever wondered about the literature behind the ballets? Or wanted an excuse to delve a little deeper into everyone’s favorite story ballets? Join SF Ballet’s Audience Engagement team for a chance to do exactly that and take a deep dive into the literature behind the ballet.

Company artists and visiting scholars invite you to delve deeper into that evening’s performance. You don’t have to buy a ticket to attend—all ballet fans are welcome.

Join the conversation, after watching a performance, to chat about what you just saw in an informal, moderated setting.

These intensive one-day classes bring you into the histories and interpretations of the selected works, as well as let you hear from the dancers and artists who bring them to life.

Looking for poetry, drama, and extreme virtuoso dancing? Helgi Tomasson’s 7 for Eight, a lyrical, neoclassical work for eight dancers incorporates sensual adagio, exuberant allegro, and everything in between. Master storyteller Cathy Marston recreates Edith Wharton’s novella Ethan Frome in her ballet, Snowblind. David Dawson’s Anima Animus is ballet pushed to every extreme: technique stretched to its outer limit and physically emotional virtuosity.

Shakespeare’s tragic tale of star-crossed lovers comes to life with passionate dancing, spine-tingling swordsmanship, and stunning scenery and costume designs evoking Renaissance Italy.

Ballet’s greatest love story returns. Deeply moving and visually stunning, Swan Lake is the quintessential classical ballet. Helgi Tomasson’s strikingly modern production updates this tale of love and betrayal for the 21st century, featuring sets and costumes by Tony Award-winning designer Jonathan Fensom.