The San Francisco Academy of Ballet – Children’s and Pre-Professional Programs
The San Francisco Academy of Ballet, 2121 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94114
About
The San Francisco Academy of Ballet – Children’s and Pre-Professional Programs includes Pre-Ballet, children’s ballet training, and a full pre-professional curriculum. Students take technique class, pointe, classical variations, pas de deux, and special men’s classes, along with rehearsals and coaching for performances with Chamberdance. The Academy also offers streaming classes and recorded classes online for students.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
Young Children’s Classes accept children into Pre-Ballet from age four to six, with emphasis on musicality, creativity, coordination, and building a love of dance to prepare for formal training. Children may begin their ballet training at the age of seven years, and in these classes emphasis is placed on posture, correct body alignment, and strengthening of feet, legs, stomach, and back, while treating ballet as an art and an expression of grace and movement. Those aspiring to a professional career are provided a full curriculum that includes technique class, pointe, classical variations, pas de deux, special men’s classes, and rehearsals and coaching for performances with Chamberdance, a non-profit performing company created to give selected students performing experience in professionally produced seasons throughout the year.
The Academy of Ballet states that it offers training both for the student preparing for a professional career and for those who are studying ballet for its many other benefits. All classes are carefully graded for age and technical level, and each student is given individual attention. Academy of Ballet is offering children and pre-professional student classes on site following city health guidance and regulations, and the Academy is also streaming classes and recorded classes online for students.
The leadership team includes Zory Karah as Director, Richard Gibson as Co-Founder, Elizabeth Gravelle as Instructor, and Connolly Strombeck as a full-time staff member. Zory Karah received his early training at the school of the Israeli Classical Ballet and the Bat Dor Studios in Israel, performed with the Israeli National Ballet, and later toured the United States with Dance Express and performed as a guest artist with several American companies before teaching at institutions including the University of California, Carmel Hidden Valley Music Seminars, Smuin Ballet, and School of the Arts in San Francisco, as well as teaching internationally and coaching and training in preparation for the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland. Connolly Strombeck studied multiple dance forms before beginning ballet training at the Academy of Ballet in San Francisco, danced professionally with Missouri Ballet Theater, Oakland Ballet Company, Company C Contemporary Dance, and Ballet Tucson, and has created ballets for Chamberdance SF and other organizations. Richard Gibson is a former member of the Joffrey Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet, began teaching in 1964, and has held positions including Director of the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, Ballet Master and company teacher for Nederlands Dans Theatre, company teacher for the Joffrey Ballet, principal teacher for the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, and company instructor for the San Francisco Ballet, as well as guest teaching for many international companies and schools. Elizabeth Gravelle is a graduate of the National Ballet School in Toronto, Canada, and upon graduation joined the National Ballet of Canada.
Last updated March 21, 2026.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
Young Children’s Classes accept children into Pre-Ballet from age four to six, with emphasis on musicality, creativity, coordination, and building a love of dance to prepare for formal training. Children may begin their ballet training at the age of seven years, and in these classes emphasis is placed on posture, correct body alignment, and strengthening of feet, legs, stomach, and back, while treating ballet as an art and an expression of grace and movement. Those aspiring to a professional career are provided a full curriculum that includes technique class, pointe, classical variations, pas de deux, special men’s classes, and rehearsals and coaching for performances with Chamberdance, a non-profit performing company created to give selected students performing experience in professionally produced seasons throughout the year.
The Academy of Ballet states that it offers training both for the student preparing for a professional career and for those who are studying ballet for its many other benefits. All classes are carefully graded for age and technical level, and each student is given individual attention. Academy of Ballet is offering children and pre-professional student classes on site following city health guidance and regulations, and the Academy is also streaming classes and recorded classes online for students.
The leadership team includes Zory Karah as Director, Richard Gibson as Co-Founder, Elizabeth Gravelle as Instructor, and Connolly Strombeck as a full-time staff member. Zory Karah received his early training at the school of the Israeli Classical Ballet and the Bat Dor Studios in Israel, performed with the Israeli National Ballet, and later toured the United States with Dance Express and performed as a guest artist with several American companies before teaching at institutions including the University of California, Carmel Hidden Valley Music Seminars, Smuin Ballet, and School of the Arts in San Francisco, as well as teaching internationally and coaching and training in preparation for the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland. Connolly Strombeck studied multiple dance forms before beginning ballet training at the Academy of Ballet in San Francisco, danced professionally with Missouri Ballet Theater, Oakland Ballet Company, Company C Contemporary Dance, and Ballet Tucson, and has created ballets for Chamberdance SF and other organizations. Richard Gibson is a former member of the Joffrey Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet, began teaching in 1964, and has held positions including Director of the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, Ballet Master and company teacher for Nederlands Dans Theatre, company teacher for the Joffrey Ballet, principal teacher for the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, and company instructor for the San Francisco Ballet, as well as guest teaching for many international companies and schools. Elizabeth Gravelle is a graduate of the National Ballet School in Toronto, Canada, and upon graduation joined the National Ballet of Canada.
Last updated March 21, 2026.
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