HOUSING & STUDENT LIFE

Dance in the heart of San Francisco

Our goal as one of the foremost schools of ballet training in the world is to create an environment that will bring out the best in each student. You will find a demanding curriculum of formal ballet training, steeped in the rigor of classical technique. You will be taught by teachers who respect you as individuals and will help you hone your particular skills.

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.

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Opened in the fall of 2020, San Francisco Ballet School offers a residential boarding program for ballet students who are prepared to enter the Ballet School’s intermediate and advanced levels and the Trainee Program.

SF Ballet School is partnering with San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) in an ideal collaboration to provide housing for talented young musicians and dancers who are pursuing professional careers in their artistic 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. 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.

SCHOOL YEAR Fees

Housing Registration: $500
Housing Refundable Deposit: $500
Levels 6: $19,900
Levels 7–Trainee: $21,000

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.

ADMISSIONS

Admission to San Francisco Ballet School’s Trainee Program and School Year Programs are by audition only. Please visit sfballet.org/admissions.

STUDENT SERVICES

All residential students enrolled in the Trainee Program, advanced, and intermediate levels have access to the 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.

INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS

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.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

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.