Adaptive dance programs designed to accommodate children and adults with cognitive disabilities provide a wide range of benefits for participants, their families, and society as a whole. Any form of dance can be modified or reimagined for neurodiverse dancers. That includes elevated disciplines like ballet, which is now becoming more inclusive (and enriched by) a more diverse range of minds and bodies. Here’s why it’s so valuable for neurodiverse individuals to get opportunities to access dance.

When school districts have to make budget cuts, arts education is typically one of the first programs to get axed. Yet performing arts education, including ballet, theater, and music, is essential for the holistic development of grade school students as they prepare to become productive, conscientious members of society. This comprehensive approach to education not only nurtures artistic talents, but fosters a range of skills vital for personal and professional success.

Creating an immersive world for ballet performances is an intricate endeavor that challenges set designers and builders to fuse artistic vision with practical execution. Gaining a better understanding of ballet set design and construction can help anyone appreciate the hard work that goes into any production. If you’re interested in set-making, it’s a great introduction to a hobby or career role.

Choreographing a ballet is an intricate and multifaceted process: it requires blending creativity, technical skill, and deep understanding of the ballet narrative and music to create performances that captivate audiences. The process involves much more than devising steps; it encompasses conceptualization, planning, and execution phases, each with its unique challenges and requirements.

Spring, a season synonymous with renewal and blossoming life, offers the perfect backdrop for exploring fresh artistic experiences that resonate with its themes. Among these, Coppélia the ballet stands out as an enchanting choice for audiences of all ages.

As spring awakens the world with its vibrant blossoms and renewed energy, there's no better way to celebrate the season than by experiencing a ballet performance of Cinderella. This isn't just a tale of magical slippers and midnight curfews; it's a story deeply woven into American social fabric.

Ballet is a dance form celebrated for its grace and discipline, and well-executed ballet productions are a testament to the dedication and hard work of its performers. Learning and rehearsing a part for a full-length ballet is a rigorous process, involving extensive time and effort from the dancers.

In the tapestry of a thriving community, the performing arts do so much more than offer a creative outlet: they weave together the vital threads of personal growth, social skills, responsibility, and well-being.

Ballet, a classical dance form that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts, has transcended time and culture to become a beloved art form worldwide. Yet beneath the beauty and grace of ballet lies a multitude of holistic benefits for those who choose to learn ballet, regardless of their age.

From a ballet performance to camps for would-be young dancers, Southern California Ballet has a full roster of upcoming events.

The story of “Cinderella” will be performed April 1 and 2 by SCB for the first time since 2019.

Husband and wife team Toby Batley and Martha Leebolt , co-artistic directors of Southern California Ballet, first choreographed the ballet in 2018.

In a sign of how skilled its older students have become, three Southern California Ballet dancers have been cast in roles often performed by professionals in “The Nutcracker.”

Misha MacGowan and Emilia Wightlin are sharing the role of Snow Queen in seven shows from Dec. 15-18. Zachary Ong is partnering with both girls as the Snow Cavalier during the Christmastime ballet at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts.

For 18-year-old Lily Hofstetter, dancing the lead role in Southern California Ballet’s upcoming “Alice in Wonderland” is a dream come true.

“I didn’t expect it at all,” Hofstetter said. “I’m super excited to dance it. It is more hours in the studio learning choreography. I love it as it is so much fun.

“Alice stays on stage almost the entire ballet,” she explained. “There is not a lot of rest time.”

In what is likely the first time in Southern California Ballet’s more than 35 years, eight members of a family will perform together in its annual presentation of “The Nutcracker.”

The Schultz family of Poway said this is the first and likely only time all eight of them will be in the same show.

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