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 technique class, pointe, classical variations, pas de deux, special men’s classes, and rehearsals and coaching for performances with Chamberdance. Children are accepted into Pre-Ballet, where classes focus on musicality, creativity, coordination, and building a love of dance, and children’s ballet training classes place emphasis on posture, correct body alignment, and strengthening of the feet, legs, stomach, and back while treating ballet as an art and an expression of grace and movement. The Academy of Ballet is offering children and pre-professional student classes on site following city health guidance and regulations.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
The Academy of Ballet states that it offers training both for students preparing for a professional career and for those studying ballet for its many other benefits. All classes are carefully graded by age and technical level, and each student is given individual attention. Those aspiring to a professional career follow 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. Chamberdance is described as a non-profit performing company created to give selected students performing experience in professionally produced seasons throughout the year. There is also a program for adult students that emphasizes toning, strengthening, stretching, and loosening the body using classical ballet, and introduces adult students to a major art form.
Children are accepted into Pre-Ballet from age four to six, with an emphasis on musicality, creativity, coordination, and building a love of dance to prepare them for the age when they begin formal training. Children may begin their formal ballet training at the age of seven years, with classes that emphasize posture, correct body alignment, and strengthening of key muscle groups.
The leadership team includes Director Zory Karah, Co-Founder Richard Gibson, Instructor Elizabeth Gravelle, and full-time staff member Connolly Strombeck. 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, continued his training in the United States with Richard Gibson and in Europe with Raymond Franchetti, Maryon Lane, and Rosella Hightower, toured the United States with Dance Express, and later taught for the University of California, Carmel Hidden Valley Music Seminars, Smuin Ballet, and School of the Arts in San Francisco, as well as teaching and coaching in Israel, Argentina, Hungary, The Netherlands, and for the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland. Richard Gibson is a former member of the Joffrey Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet, began teaching in 1964, directed the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, served as Ballet Master and company teacher for Nederlands Dans Theatre, and later taught for the Joffrey Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, and the San Francisco Ballet, as well as guest teaching for multiple international ballet companies and schools. Connolly Strombeck trained at the Academy of Ballet in San Francisco under Richard Gibson, Zory Karah, and Elizabeth Gravelle, studied with additional teachers including Trinette Singleton and Eleanor D’Antuono, danced professionally with Missouri Ballet Theater, Oakland Ballet Company, Company C Contemporary Dance, and Ballet Tucson as a principal dancer, and has created choreography for Chamberdance SF, Ballet Tucson, and SAFEhouse for the Arts. Elizabeth Gravelle is a graduate of the National Ballet School in Toronto and performed with the National Ballet of Canada, Hong Kong Ballet, Israeli Classical Ballet, and ODC/San Francisco.
Last updated June 19, 2026.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
The Academy of Ballet states that it offers training both for students preparing for a professional career and for those studying ballet for its many other benefits. All classes are carefully graded by age and technical level, and each student is given individual attention. Those aspiring to a professional career follow 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. Chamberdance is described as a non-profit performing company created to give selected students performing experience in professionally produced seasons throughout the year. There is also a program for adult students that emphasizes toning, strengthening, stretching, and loosening the body using classical ballet, and introduces adult students to a major art form.
Children are accepted into Pre-Ballet from age four to six, with an emphasis on musicality, creativity, coordination, and building a love of dance to prepare them for the age when they begin formal training. Children may begin their formal ballet training at the age of seven years, with classes that emphasize posture, correct body alignment, and strengthening of key muscle groups.
The leadership team includes Director Zory Karah, Co-Founder Richard Gibson, Instructor Elizabeth Gravelle, and full-time staff member Connolly Strombeck. 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, continued his training in the United States with Richard Gibson and in Europe with Raymond Franchetti, Maryon Lane, and Rosella Hightower, toured the United States with Dance Express, and later taught for the University of California, Carmel Hidden Valley Music Seminars, Smuin Ballet, and School of the Arts in San Francisco, as well as teaching and coaching in Israel, Argentina, Hungary, The Netherlands, and for the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland. Richard Gibson is a former member of the Joffrey Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet, began teaching in 1964, directed the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, served as Ballet Master and company teacher for Nederlands Dans Theatre, and later taught for the Joffrey Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, and the San Francisco Ballet, as well as guest teaching for multiple international ballet companies and schools. Connolly Strombeck trained at the Academy of Ballet in San Francisco under Richard Gibson, Zory Karah, and Elizabeth Gravelle, studied with additional teachers including Trinette Singleton and Eleanor D’Antuono, danced professionally with Missouri Ballet Theater, Oakland Ballet Company, Company C Contemporary Dance, and Ballet Tucson as a principal dancer, and has created choreography for Chamberdance SF, Ballet Tucson, and SAFEhouse for the Arts. Elizabeth Gravelle is a graduate of the National Ballet School in Toronto and performed with the National Ballet of Canada, Hong Kong Ballet, Israeli Classical Ballet, and ODC/San Francisco.
Last updated June 19, 2026.
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