San José Dance Theatre Ballet School

San José Dance Theatre Ballet School offers training in classical ballet along with pointe, repertoire, Men’s class, Pas de Deux training, Modern dance, Jazz, Character Class, Chinese Tumbling, Pilates, and Progressing Ballet Technique. The school offers training for youth and adults at beginning through pre-professional levels. San José Dance Theatre Ballet School is the official school of the original San Jose Nutcracker and the Resident Ballet Company of the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts.

• Ages: 2–18 years old

San José Dance Theatre offers excellence in dance training in a nurturing environment. San José Dance Theatre brought the Silicon Valley its own version of the Nutcracker ballet in 1966, and The Original San Jose Nutcracker has been produced each December for 57 consecutive years, making it the second oldest Nutcracker ballet in the Bay Area. San José Dance Theatre is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and is described as presenting “The Best Nutcracker in San Jose according to Yelp.com.” The organization has produced students who have gone on to professional dance careers and scholarships to universities. San José Dance Theatre is the official school of the original San Jose Nutcracker and has a long-standing partnership and tradition with The Girl Scouts of Northern California. The program also offers a special abbreviated production, “Once Upon A Nutcracker,” designed for families with toddlers, preschoolers, and young children, as well as a VIP Experience that includes a pre-performance backstage tour and a Candy Kingdom Party in the Ridder Lounge with sweet treats, festive crafts, and photo opportunities with characters. One parent from The Nutcracker 2019 shared that they enjoyed the updated staging and storyline, the beautiful costumes, and the VIP experience, and they described taking many memorable pictures with the dancers.

Last updated March 22, 2026.