For the youth of the Bay Area, 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 student 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.
SF Ballet School is excited to begin offering Pre-Ballet classes for dancers as young as 3 years old! Read on to learn more about our new Creative Movement classes, as well as the rest of our expansive Pre-Ballet curriculum for ages 3 through 7.
2023–24 SCHOOL YEAR SCHEDULE
FALL SEMESTER BEGINS: Saturday, September 9th
LAST DAY OF SPRING SEMESTER CLASSES: Sunday, May 19th
CREATIVE MOVEMENT FOR 3-YEAR-OLDS
Tuesdays 12:00–12:45 PM or Saturdays 9:00–9:45 AM | $800 per semester
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 FOR 4-YEAR-OLDS
Saturdays 9:45–10:30 AM & Sundays 10:00–10:45 AM | $1,600 per year
Creative Dance 1 builds on the experience of Creative Movement. The class continues to introduce ballet terminology, the development of coordination and a 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 FOR 4-5-YEAR-OLDS
Sundays 9:00–9:45 | $1,600 per year
Creative Dance 1 & 2 Combined builds on the experience in Creative Movement. The class continues to introduce ballet terminology, the development of coordination and a 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 FOR 5-YEAR-OLDS
Saturdays 10:45–11:30 AM & 11:45–12:30 PM, or Sundays 11:15 AM–12:00 PM & 12:15–1:00 PM | $1,600 per year
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 FOR 6-YEAR-OLDS
Saturdays 10:45–11:45 AM & 1:00–2:00 PM or Sundays 9:00–10:00 AM & 10:00–11:00 AM | $2,000 per year
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 FOR 7-YEAR-OLDS
Saturdays 11:45 AM-12:45 PM or Sundays 11:15 AM–12:15 PM & 12:15–1:15 PM | $2,000 per year
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, 2023. Classes take place in the studios at 455 Franklin Street in San Francisco and meet one day per week from September–May. The registration fee for all levels is $250. To learn more or to enroll your child today, please visit our website. For any questions, please contact school@sfballet.org or 415-865-6700.
