San Diego Ballet

With ballet performances at San Diego Civic Theater and The Balboa Theatre in Downtown San Diego, some at the San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) in Balboa Park, and even more at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, ballet is alive and well all over San Diego County!

Let's have a look at a few of the premiere (and my personal favorite) ballet companies in the area and find out where you can expect them to perform!

Classic Nutcracker Ballet City Ballet

San Diego Ballet Company

Under the creative direction of choreographer Javier Valasquo, the San Diego Ballet Company, or SDBC, continues to present a vast range of innovative pieces in unique and exciting venues such as the Sculpture Garden of San Diego's Museum of Art. Their classical works, such as The Nutcracker, have become an indispensable part of San Diego's festive cultural offerings.

In keeping with SDBC's bold, creative tradition, past performances have even taken place at an outdoor pop-up drive-in auditorium, with guests bringing their own chairs and food from nearby restaurants.

Getting to the Theater, How to Get Tickets, & More!

The San Diego Ballet primarily performs at the San Diego's Museum of Art in Balboa Park. While parking is no longer free in the park as of early 2026, Balboa Park is not far from Downtown San Diego and easy to find if you're coming from I-5 North or I-5 South.

Alternatively, the MTS Bus has multiple stops in the park and a San Diego rideshare like Uber or Lyft is a fantastic option to get you directly to the venue.

Your best bet for tickets is to contact the San Diego Ballet Company by calling (619) 294-7378, or by visiting their website.

Bella Before Nutcracker Ballet at the CA Center for the Arts, Escondido

City Ballet of San Diego

Under the direction of Steven and Elizabeth Wistrich, the City Ballet of San Diego continues its mission to present a wide range of pieces – from world premieres to a season of 'From the vault' ballets, which recapture the magic of much-loved past performances, many created and choreographed by Elizabeth Wistrich herself!

Founded in 1993, performances were previously held in Spreckels Theatre, which is in the midst of renovations. You can now see the City Ballet at Balboa Theatre or at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.

Getting to the Theatre, How to Get Tickets, & More!

With the California Center for the Arts, Escondido located about 45 minutes north of downtown, the venue offers free on-site parking. Balboa Theatre is located in Downtown San Diego where your best option will be to take the San Diego Trolley, but you could also drive and park in one of the nearby parking garages near the theater.

For tickets, contact the City Ballet of San Diego box office at (858) 272-6058, email tickets@cityballet.org, or visit their website directly.

Golden State Ballet

A newer company founded in 2021, Golden State Ballet prides themselves on 'inclusivity and diversity, nurturing talent and character, and creating performances with high production value'. They strive to bring memorable ballets to San Diego for talented dancers and audiences alike.

Often partnering with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, the company continues to expand its range of top-quality performances.

Under the energetic and visionary leadership of Raul Salamanca, the Golden State Ballet's Artistic Director & CEO, the company offers a varied repertory comprising of a diverse mixture of well-loved classics, newer 'narrative' ballets, and themed contemporary pieces.

Getting to the Theatre, How to Get Tickets, & More!

The Golden State Ballet has had recent performances at their Golden State Ballet Studios located at 6338 Riverdale St. just east of Mission Valley as well as at the Civic Theatre and Balboa Theatres, both located in Downtown San Diego.

For the Downtown venues, taking the San Diego Trolley is a fantastic choice that can drop you off just steps away from your show.

If you'd rather drive, there is a parking garage across 3rd Avenue from the Civic Theatre and the NBC Building parking garage at 225 Broadway is the place to park for shows at the Balboa Theatre. An alternative is to park at the Westfield Horton Plaza. There are also additional parking garages and concourse parking options around the theaters.

For ticket information, contact the California Ballet ticket office at (661) 877-5767, or visit their website directly.

Where We Recommend Staying Nearby a Ballet

Obviously, where you stay will depend on the theater of your chosen performance. With many of the featured ballet's taking place in Downtown San Diego, a stay at the Carte San Diego would be our choice for a classy place to stay after your performance.

The hotel is walking distance to multiple theaters, offering comfortable upscale rooms and amazing dining at Watercolors. I also would highly recommend making time to visit the rooftop pool!

Besides treating the community to year-round, world-class performances, the San Diego ballet community also provides camps and many other programs & opportunities for kids and even adults looking to take part in dance.

Let's have a look at some of the highlights available to get you (or your kids) involved in ballet!

Summer Programs

The City Ballet offers summer dance camps for children as young as 4 as well as classes for adults.

If you're an advanced dancer, they also offer intensive workshops that provide professional training. These classes are a great way for the company to reach out to the community. Who knows, they may also be training future ballet stars of tomorrow!

School Programs

The San Diego Ballet offers many programs for kids who want to learn more about ballet. Field trips, in-school assemblies, and weekly classes are all offered.

Check out the company's website for the details about these very special programs.

Enjoy Ballet from Home

Due to the demand in San Diego for ballet, it's possible to watch ballet productions of the highest quality all year-round in principle. In 2020, the San Diego Ballet launched an ambitious summer season, much of it being delivered online. The program also featured insights and previews of the Fall program.

Since each company is beginning to air broadcasts of their shows on online platforms, you can bring the Ballet home with you! Though of course, there is nothing like seeing Ballet up close and in person.

Seeing your first San Diego Ballet show? These tips will help you look like a regular and make your visit go as smoothly as possible.

How Early Should I Arrive Before the Ballet Begins?

For theater performances, it is advisable to arrive 30-45 minutes before the curtain goes up. This will give you time to collect your tickets if needed, find your seat, and settle in so you can enjoy the show in comfort.

Out of consideration for other patrons and the performers, if you arrive late, you will not be permitted to enter the auditorium until a natural break in the performance. This could mean that you will miss a substantial part of the ballet.

What Should I Wear to the Ballet?

When you attend a ballet performance in San Diego, you'll notice that there isn't a formal dress code. You'll be able to wear whatever makes you feel comfortable.

While it's fun to 'dress up' and create a sense of occasion, which is totally acceptable especially on opening nights and world premieres, most people tend to go for an 'upscale casual' look.

Be Considerate

For the enjoyment of all and to ensure the excellent mood of the performance isn't disrupted, please refrain from using your mobile device or rustling through your bag during the performance.

Seems like a simple thing, but surely it means a lot to the performers and other patrons alike!

Photos and Outside Food are Not Allowed

Photography and video recording are strictly prohibited during performances unless otherwise noted.

It's also usually not permitted to bring any food items with you to the auditorium. Bottled water only is allowed. However, know that you won't go hungry as there are always several bars and concession stands at the theaters where you can purchase snacks.

Use Public Transit

Depending on the venue, parking may be limited. One way to avoid wasting time trying to find somewhere to park - and sitting in the line to get out of the lot after the show - is to take advantage of San Diego's public transit instead.

If you're seeing a show in the downtown area, I suggest talking the San Diego Trolley into town. The Trolley will allow you to park, or navigate from, one of the many stations outside of downtown's congestion. From there you'll be able to catch a quick trolley ride to a station just steps away from the theater. This option is cheap, convenient, and even eco-friendly!

View of the Stage from Orchestra Row 3 at the Balboa Theatre

Exciting Activities & Attractions for 'Before or After' a Performance

For a pre- or post-performance meal, the top theaters in San Diego are all within walking distance of the many restaurants of San Diego's fabulous Gaslamp Quarter as well as the Core-Columbia neighborhood and even the Embarcadero for some of the best food San Diego has to offer!

Want to see more of the city? The San Diego Highlights Tour will bring you to Balboa Park, the Embarcadero, Coronado, and the famous beaches of La Jolla all on one guided tour! I think it's the perfect pairing for an evening spent at the Ballet.

With so many venues so close to many of San Diego's top museums and attractions, you might also consider pre-purchasing a Go City San Diego pass to make the most of your trip to see the ballet!

Museums like the The New Children's Museum in the Gaslamp Quarter and the San Diego Natural History Museum – theNAT in Balboa Park are great value for families, close-by, and both part of the Go pass! Purchase your pass using the discount code GVSD5OFF and you can save even more!