YOUNG PATRONS CIRCLE FAQ

The goal of our organization is to develop a new generation of San Francisco Ballet patrons. While there is no age limit, membership is encouraged for ages 21-40 who are looking to deepen their relationship with San Francisco Ballet. Each of our events is specifically curated to achieve this goal; however, YPC is not the only organization at the ballet! You can learn more about other organizations at the ballet and the goals of these organizations below. You might find that one of these options will provide a more enjoyable experience for you.

BRAVO is a group of more than 300 ballet enthusiasts whose volunteer support is vital to the ongoing operation of San Francisco Ballet.

SF Ballet's Auxiliary spearheads initiatives that raise more than $4 million annually for San Francisco Ballet. Membership is by invitation only.

Our Thursday night performance events are always open to all YPC members. Soloist & Principal exclusive events will vary from year to year. In the past, Soloist & Principal member events have included:

• An invitation to join the SF Ballet Christensen Society and Chairman's Council for a Dos Mujeres opening night post-performance toast with special appearances from the evening's dancers.
• An opportunity to observe SF Ballet soloist Julia Rowe teach Swan Lake repertory at the SF Ballet School.
• A private showing for the Choreography Workshop at SF Ballet School.

No! Participating in YPC will help develop your appreciation and understanding of the art form. Our members have a wide range of experiences from never having seen a ballet to spending their entire childhood dancing at San Francisco Ballet School. The continued excellence of San Francisco Ballet relies on building a supporter base as diverse as our city.

Many of our events throughout the season are intended to highlight the wonderful programming at the ballet, and these events do require a performance ticket. YPC members receive access to discounted performance tickets for these events. Several events each season do not require performance tickets. Generally, if it’s a Thursday night event, you'll need a ticket!

Shoot us an email to say hi and let us know! A member of our board will make sure you feel welcome.

Yes. We expect all our members and their guests to behave courteously and respectfully to everyone at our events including, but not limited to, one another, and all San Francisco Ballet and venue staff. If your or your guest’s conduct does not meet this expectation, you will be contacted by a member of the YPC Board. Egregious or repeated violations will result in a loss of membership. Community partners and venues may have their own rules and policies for which YPC members are also expected to comply.

We do not have a dress code for most of our events, though most of our members like to dress up beyond SF casual! The Opening Night Gala is always a black-tie event. If you have a specific question, please email us and ask!

You will be included in the corresponding donor group automatically. Emails about these benefits come from rsvp@sfballet.org.

You cannot downgrade tiers, but in certain instances, you may upgrade tiers during the season by making a donation to the ballet in the amount of the difference between the desired tier and your current tier. Please notify us for approval prior to completing these steps by emailing ypc@sfballet.org, as the change must be completed manually.

Joining YPC at the Soloist or Principal level is a great way to get more involved and gives you more behind-the-scenes access. Additionally, we are also always open to receiving feedback to improve your experience! If you have feedback, please email us at ypc@sfballet.org or if you would like to remain anonymous, complete our annual Membership Experience Survey released near the end of the season.

If you are interested in joining the YPC board, keep an eye on your inbox in late spring when we release our annual call for applications. We appreciate your support as we grow our organization!