SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM
SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM
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- SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM
Virtuosity. Discipline. Grace.
Students are placed in one of eight levels according to age, experience, and ability. Ballet classes at San Francisco Ballet School follow a progressively more rigorous path, beginning with age 8 in Level 1 and increasing in difficulty to our pre-professional programs for 18-year-old dancers in Level 8.
Classes follow a structured sequence of training stages designed to increase technical skills, stamina, and artistry in accordance with students’ age and physical development. We start with the joy of moving to music, and support that with a foundation in classical technique and instruction in basic ballet terminology. The program, over the course of several levels, incorporates technique, pointe work, pas de deux, men's technique, contemporary dance, character dance, conditioning, music, and dance history classes. As students progress, classes become increasingly challenging, as we prepare students for a career in professional ballet.
Each year, more the 400 students enroll in the ballet program at SF Ballet School, coming to us from across the US and Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, England, Finland, France, Italy, Iceland, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Macedonia, Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and Ukraine.
Our regular faculty has danced with some of the foremost ballet companies in the world, including SF Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and the English National Ballet.
25/26 SCHOOL YEAR AUDITIONS
Levels 1–3 at San Francisco Ballet School are formative years where a student learns and applies basic concepts of classical ballet technique to their dancing.
ENROLLMENT SCREENING
All new students ages 8–10 must attend a screening in order to potentially be offered enrollment. This screening will resemble a trial ballet class. SF Ballet School Director will be looking to see if a student is interested and excited to learn ballet, has a natural ear for music, wants to work hard, and can apply direction and corrections to their work. SF Ballet School does consider a student's physical abilities during the enrollment screening. We want to ensure that ballet training, which requires a great deal of flexibility and strength, will be safe and healthy for the child.
SCREENING DATES FOR THE 25/26 SCHOOL YEAR
You will select the group based on your student's age as of September 1, 2025. A $30 audition fee will be charged for each application. You may only attend one screening per season.
APRIL 12
Age 8: 3:00–3:30 PM
Ages 9–10: 3:30-4:00 PM
MAY 17
Age 8: 2:00–2:30 PM
Ages 9–10: 2:30–3:00 PM
AUGUST 25
Age 8: 4:00–4:30 PM
Ages 9–10: 4:30–5:00 PM
LEVEL PROGRESSION
Once a student is admitted into the beginning levels of the Ballet School, they will be placed in a class based on their level of technical training and ability. A student may spend one or two years at each level up to age 12. The Director's annual assessment of the student's progress will determine the student's placement the following school year. Once a student is 11 years old, they will be invited to audition for the intermediate levels.
Students ages 11–13 who live in the SF Bay Area and are looking for serious ballet training are encouraged to register for the School Year audition.
AUDITION
At the audition, we will be looking for students with the natural attributes for a career in classical ballet and we expect that students will have had some previous ballet experience either in SF Ballet's children's division or at another ballet school. Preferably, girls will have begun some beginning pointe work, but this is not required.
ENROLLMENT
From the audition, students who are invited to enroll at SF Ballet School are generally placed in the intermediate levels 4–6. Classes meet 5–6 days per week for 10–20 hours per week. Level 4–5 classes occur after school between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Level 6 classes occur in the afternoons between 1:00 PM and 7:45 PM. When students enroll in Levels 4–6, they must be prepared to prioritize ballet as their primary activity given the level of commitment. Daily attendance is mandatory. Please note that housing in our dormitory is not available for students Levels 1–5 and there is limited availability for Level 6 students.
LEVEL PROGRESSION
Each invitation to enroll is for one year of training. It may not be deferred or transferred. At the end of each year, a student's progress, and potential for a career in classical ballet will be evaluated and considered for the next year of training. Enrollment is not guaranteed from one year to the next. Students who continue to make satisfactory progress but are not yet physically ready for the next level may be invited to continue their enrollment for a second year at the same level.
AUDITION DATE FOR THE 25/26 SCHOOL YEAR
You will select the group based on your student's age as of September 1, 2025. A $50 audition fee will be charged for each application.
APRIL 12
Ages 11–13: 9–10:30 AM
MAY 17
Ages 11–13: 3:15–4:45 PM
AUGUST 25
Ages 11–13: 5:15–6:45 PM
WHO IS SF BALLET SCHOOL LOOKING FOR?
The faculty is looking for students who are passionate about the art form and motivated to pursue intense training toward a career in classical ballet.
- Intermediate and advanced-level ballet students who are ready to take the next step in their training toward a professional career in ballet
- Students who have significantly researched ballet schools and are confident that SF Ballet School is their top choice
25/26 SCHOOL YEAR AUDITIONS
Students ages 14–18 will be considered for the intermediate/advanced levels for the School Year.
SCHOOL YEAR AUDITION TIMELINE
To be considered for admittance into the upper levels for the 25/26 School Year ($50 audition fee):
- The upper levels of the school are Levels 6, 7, 8 & Trainee.
- Applicants must be between the ages of 14-18 by September 1, 2025.
- November 1, 2024 – April 6, 2025: Pre-Selection video applications are open.
- Students will be notified of their pre-selection video audition results within 2 weeks of their pre-selection video submission.
- Pre-selected students will be invited to participate in a 2-hour live audition. Students can select which live audition they attend if they are invited to attend after the pre-selection process.
- Live audition options:
- San Francisco: December 14, February 9, or April 12
- Houston: January 5
- New York City: January 20
- Live audition options:
- For Houston, you must complete a separate summer audition application to be considered for the summer program. For New York and SF (February date only), you only need to submit a school-year audition application, and you will need to email registrar@sfballet.org to let us know if you also want to be considered for summer.
- Please follow the guidelines below when filming your pre-selection video audition. A $50 audition fee will be charged upon submission. Please note, SF Ballet School will only accept electronic online submissions through the video application website, Slideroom, and will not review DVDs or email submissions that are sent to the School.
Email registrar@sfballet.org with any questions.
SCHOOL YEAR TUITION
25/26 SCHOOL YEAR
Registration Fee: $250
The non-refundable registration fee holds a student's spot for enrollment in the School Year.
Tuition
Level 1: $4,545
Level 2: $5,460
Level 3: $6,130
Level 4: $7,395
Level 5: $8,315
Level 6: $9,420
Level 7: $10,545
Level 8: $10,660
Trainees: $13,500
The School Year tuition is an annual fee for School Year enrollment.
Wellness Fee:
Level 4 & 5: $250
Level 6–8 & Trainee: $500
The wellness fee is paid by all Level 4–8 students and Trainees and helps offset expenses related to wellness/student life programming and equipment and physical therapy screenings.
Housing Registration Fee: $500
The non-refundable housing registration fee holds a student's spot in housing for the School Year.
Housing Fee:
Level 6 Housing: $21,115
Level 7-Trainee Housing: $19,884
The housing fee is the annual fee for housing at Bowes Center during the School Year program.
Housing Deposit: $500
The housing deposit is a refundable fee charged on an annual basis for all students enrolled in housing. The fee is refunded upon successful move-out with no charges due to damages, cleaning, or belongings left behind.
Meal Plan: $3,500–$8,000 per year
The meal plan generally covers 1–2 meals per day and the rate charged is based on seniority. First-year students are enrolled in the highest meal plan, and this reduces after their first year. Students may opt to enroll in a higher meal plan. Students may not opt out of the meal plan.
International Student Fee: $75
The International Student Fee is charged to any student who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to help offset the additional costs associated with enrolling international students.
Payment Plan Fees
Full Pay & 2-pay: $25
4-pay: $55
All payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SUMMER AUDITIONS
SCHOLARSHIPS, FINANCIAL AID, AND PAYMENT PLANS
To ensure ballet training is within reach of all students regardless of their financial circumstances, San Francisco Ballet School provides support for those who show talent, a passion for ballet, and a commitment to their art.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Based on their potential to achieve a professional career in ballet, SF Ballet School offers a limited number of scholarships to intermediate and advanced-level students. Scholarships are awarded at the time of invitation to the program. Scholarships are awarded for either one school year or for a summer program session.
FINANCIAL AID
Financial aid award is based on a demonstrated financial need for students. The amount of financial aid available in a given year is dependent upon contributions by SF Ballet donors and careful consideration is given to all requests for assistance. Families may apply once their student has received their invitation for the school year or summer program. Registration fees are not covered by financial aid. Financial aid is awarded for a limited period of time—either one summer session or one regular school year and the following summer session. Families must reapply each year to be considered.
Families may apply for financial aid by using the FACTS Grant & Aid, an online tool specifically tailored to evaluate the financial need for SF Ballet School.
25/26 School Year Financial Aid Application Deadlines:
- Current families: May 1
- New families will receive information upon acceptance
Financial Aid Applications open January 1
Please note that when you are completing this application, Applicant, and Co-Applicant refer to persons who are responsible for tuition.