The Academy of Classical Ballet-CA

The Academy of Classical Ballet-CA offers ballet classes and classical ballet training, including instruction in ballet, pointe, pre-pointe, and variations. The program includes a summer session, performance options, Latin, Jazz and Ballet master classes and workshops, and a youth and adult Latin dance company. The Academy also offers ballet-assisted coaching for figure skaters, artistic (synchronized) swimmers, and gymnasts, as well as outreach programs and a Student Guild organization focused on personal development, business management, leadership, and community involvement.

• Ages: 5–18 years old

The Academy of Classical Ballet-CA was established in 2009 and is described as one of the Bay Area's top ballet institutions. Its curriculum is rooted in Vaganova, Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), and American Ballet Theatre (ABT) techniques, with age-appropriate progressions. The Academy offers professional, body-positive ballet training in an environment that celebrates every dancer’s unique journey, with an inclusive approach welcoming all backgrounds, body types, and experience levels, and an emphasis on self-expression and discipline without the pressure of competition.

The Academy of Classical Ballet-CALIFORNIA is committed to providing a high-performance training program, grounded in classical techniques and balanced with an emphasis on discipline and joy. The Academy is owned and directed by Ms. Crystal Petzel, who has completed her American Ballet Theatre training and is certified from Primary through Level 7, and who received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Faculty include Sandra Hahs, certified by the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum from Pre-Primary to Level 7; Amanda Marquez, a certified Yoga Instructor through Greenpath Yoga in San Francisco who holds a BA in Sociology with a concentration in Family Studies from San Jose State University; and Sarah Stevens, who is certified in the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum and is a licensed Gyrotonic trainer and Classical Pilates instructor. Sarah Stevens has earned recognition as an ABT NTC Fellow in 2024.

Many alumni have gone on to train and work with internationally recognized institutions, including Bayerisches Staatsballett, San Francisco Ballet, Kirov Academy, and Washington Ballet. Ms. Petzel has conceived outreach programs that bring the arts to under-served, ESL, and special needs elementary school children, and she developed a Student Guild organization that gives students a chance to grow in personal development, business management, leadership, and community involvement. The Owner/Director is known as a fair, disciplined, and nurturing instructor who treats each student individually, and the Academy is described as a safe, supportive space where confidence, artistry, and community come first.

One parent testimonial from Maria Scott describes the training as a combination of a challenging, supportive, and nurturing environment, noting time spent learning dance steps, vocabulary, choreography, anatomy, and cross training. The testimonial states that Crystal points out every detail while maintaining kindness and support, and that a child will feel safe and supported at the Academy of Classical Ballet, with a tight-knit family feel and a community that warmly welcomes each new dancer.

Last updated June 24, 2026.