Children's Dance in San Francisco

Pacific Heights

1st Russian Ballet School

Pacific Heights Russian-method ballet school founded 2010 under Artistic Director Julia Zharova, offering classical ballet for children through pre-professional students.

• Ballet
• Children's Dance

Castro

Academy of Ballet

Castro classical ballet school established 1953 — a San Francisco Legacy Business that has trained dancers for careers with New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, and others.

• Ballet
• Children's Dance

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.

• Ballet
• Children's Dance

Berkeley

Berkeley City Ballet

Ages 2+

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

Civic Center

City Ballet San Francisco (CBSF)

San Francisco Civic Center / Hub Vaganova-method ballet school led by Bolshoi Ballet Academy graduate and former Bolshoi and San Francisco Ballet dancer Galina Alexandrova since 2003.

• Ballet
• Children's Dance

Mission

Dance Mission Theater

Mission District multicultural dance center founded by Krissy Keefer (co-founder of Dance Brigade), home to Grrrl Brigade youth program and 400+ children per semester.

• Contemporary
• Latin & Ballroom
• Hip Hop
• Children's Dance

Oakland

Destiny Arts Center

Ages 3+

North Oakland anchor arts nonprofit founded 1988 by Kate Hobbs, Anthony Daniels and Sarah Crowell. 7,800 sqft facility with 3 dance studios and sprung wood oak floors. Combines movement, martial arts and social-change pedagogy for youth and adults.

• Children's Dance
• Hip Hop
• Contemporary

Pacific Heights

JCCSF Dance School

Ages 1–16

Year-round children's dance school within the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco on the Pacific Heights / Presidio Heights border, offering Ballet, Tap, Musical Theatre, and Combo classes for ages 18 months to 16.

• Children's Dance
• Ballet

Noe Valley

MoBu Dance Studio

Ages 2+

Noe Valley dance studio founded 1995 by Takami Craddock as DancEsteem program, offering ballet, modern, hip hop, Afro-Caribbean, and creative movement for ages 2 and up plus adult Zumba and yoga.

• Children's Dance
• Ballet
• Hip Hop

Oakland

Oakland Ballet School

Ages 3+

Piedmont Avenue ballet school affiliated with the 60-year-old Oakland Ballet Company. Founded by Ronn Guidi in 1968 to train dancers for OBC and other US and European companies. Pre-professional ballet training in classical technique and musicality.

• Ballet
• Children's Dance

Mission

ODC School at ODC Dance Commons

Mission District contemporary dance institution founded 1971 by Brenda Way — ODC's 33,000 sq ft Dance Commons houses ODC/Dance company, ODC School, and 200+ weekly classes for all ages.

• Contemporary
• Ballet
• Children's Dance

Civic Center

San Francisco Ballet School

Ages 2+

Official school of San Francisco Ballet, founded 1933 — the oldest professional ballet school in the United States, training pre-professional dancers across Pre-Ballet (ages 2-7) through Trainee divisions.

• Ballet
• Children's Dance

Berkeley

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.

• Contemporary
• Children's Dance

Mission

Steppin' Out Dance Studio

Ages 2+

Mission District children's dance studio carrying the legacy of Betty May Studio (1930s), reformed 1995 by Angela Rose Dorantes, serving ages 2 through young adult.

• Children's Dance
• Ballet

Oakland

Tutu School Montclair

Ages up to 8

Montclair Village storybook ballet studio for children 6 months to 8 years. Part of the established Tutu School franchise (Tutu School Mill Valley founded 2008 by Genevieve Custer Weeks).

• Ballet
• Children's Dance