Berkeley · San Francisco, California
Berkeley City Ballet
Berkeley classical ballet school founded 1974, marked 50 years in 2024. Purpose-built Dwight Way studio designed by architect Jack Johannes for former Pacific Ballet Academy prima ballerina Grace Doty. Pre-professional training from age 2.5+.
- Ballet
- Children's Dance
About the school
Berkeley City Ballet was founded in 1974 as the East Bay's premier training school for classical ballet. In 1979, Grace Doty, a former prima ballerina at San Francisco's Pacific Ballet Academy, became artistic director and moved the school to a Dwight Way studio designed and built by her husband, architect Jack Johannes. Originally renamed Berkeley Conservatory Ballet, the school took its current name in 1992. BCB offers a rigorous pre-professional ladder for dancers ages 2.5 and up and marked its 50th anniversary in 2024.
At a glance
- Address
- 1800 Dwight Way, Berkeley, CA 94703
- Suburb
- Berkeley
- City
- San Francisco
- State
- California
- Age range
- 2+ years
- Disciplines
- Ballet
- Approach
- Both
- Price band
- Mid
What stands out
- i.Founded 1974 — 50+ year heritage
- ii.Purpose-built Dwight Way studio designed by Jack Johannes for Grace Doty (former Pacific Ballet Academy prima ballerina)
- iii.Rigorous pre-professional pathway from age 2.5+
Also in Berkeley
Berkeley Ballet Theater
Ages 3+
West Berkeley classical ballet school founded by Sally Streets (New York City Ballet alumna, Isadora Duncan Lifetime Achievement Award) offering full pre-professional training for children, youth and adults plus 30+ weekly adult drop-in classes.
Shawl-Anderson Dance Center
Ages 3+
Berkeley institution since 1958, founded by Frank Shawl and Victor Anderson (May O'Donnell lineage) as a community-focused modern dance center. Nonprofit offering classes for all ages, rehearsal space and performance programming.