San Diego Culture

Over 500 quality professional and community dance performances are presented yearly in San Diego by companies whose programs include ballet, jazz, modern, musical theater, hip-hop, ballroom, tap and. international dance forms.

San Diego is enriched by artistic exchanges with celebrated artists from around the world and many of our own dance companies have toured the United States and abroad.

8276 Ronson Rd., San Diego 858 560 5676 www.californiaballet.org

The CBC repertoire encompasses over 70 ballets including major works by Balanchine and Limon and full-scale classics. Many celebrated guest artists have appeared in regular seasons. CBC dancers serve as guest artists with other major ballet companies, and several have won medals in national and international competitions. The CBC also provides outreach programs, including lecture demonstrations and master classes in educational institutions. California Ballet is sponsored in part by the county of San Diego and the San Diego City Commission for Arts and Culture.

5304-B Metro Street, San Diego  619-294-7378; www.sandiegoballet.org

In 1996, the San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture awarded the San Diego Ballet an arts organization rating of "excellent." A review of the company s sold-out "Evening of Latin American Music and Dance" that appeared in The San Diego Union Tribune noted: "San Diego Ballet showed so much creative vitality over the weekend, the young company looked ready to bolt past the money questions toward the status of a well-heeled, real city ballet company."

Casa del Prado, San Diego; 619-233-3060

San Diego Civic Youth Ballet has been at home in Balboa Park for over 50 years. Its philosophy of delivering quality, affordable ballet instruction has not changed since its founding in 1944 by Maria Fielding. Students from four-year-old tiny-tots to 19 year-old advanced pointe dancers take classes in technique, variations, pas de deux and more. SDCYB stresses not only the appreciation of the art of ballet, but diligently guides students to professional careers in the world of dance. 

Dancers perform several times throughout the year with major productions in May and December. Each summer a six-week program is offered that features an intensive schedule of classes, workshops, field trips and performances. The Casa del Prado studios are open to the public and Saturday morning is especially good for observing all levels of classes.