Santa Barbara Festival Ballet

Santa Barbara Festival Ballet offers Creative Movement, Primary Ballet, Ballet Level 1/2, Ballet Level 2, Ballet Level 3B, Ballet Level 4/4B, Ballet Level 5/5B, Ballet Level 5B/6, Ballet / Beg Pointe Level 5B/6, Ballet Level 6/7/8, Ballet Level 7/8, and Contemporary. Weekly classes are listed Monday through Saturday, with times that include Saturday 9:45-10:30am for Creative Movement, Tuesday 3:45-4:45pm for Primary Ballet, Monday and Thursday 3:45-4:45pm for Ballet Level 1/2, and Friday 6:15-7:30pm for Contemporary.

Programs

• Creative Movement — 3-6 · Weekly schedule includes 9:45-10:30am on Saturday
• Primary Ballet — 5-7 · Weekly schedule includes 3:45-4:45pm on Tuesday
• Ballet Level 1/2 — Weekly schedule includes 3:45-4:45pm on Monday and Thursday
• Ballet Level 2 — 8+ · Weekly schedule includes 3:45-4:45pm on Wednesday · Previous experience required
• Ballet Level 3B — Weekly schedule includes 4:45-6:00pm on Thursday · Previous experience required
• Ballet Level 4/4B — Weekly schedule includes 3:45-4:45pm on Monday and 4:45-6:10pm on Friday · Previous experience required
• Ballet Level 5/5B — Weekly schedule includes 3:45-5:10pm on Tuesday · Previous experience required
• Ballet Level 5B/6 — Weekly schedule includes 4:45-6:10pm on Wednesday · Previous experience required
• Ballet / Beg Pointe Level 5B/6 — Weekly schedule includes 4:45-6:10pm on Thursday · Previous experience required
• Ballet Level 6/7/8 — Weekly schedule includes 6:15-7:45pm on Wednesday · Previous experience required
• Ballet Level 7/8 — Weekly schedule includes 6:15-7:45pm on Thursday · Previous experience required
• Contemporary — 11+ · Weekly schedule includes 6:15-7:30pm on Friday

At a glance

• Ages: 3–18 years old
• General schedule: Weekly schedule for 2026-27; classes and rehearsals are listed Monday through Saturday.

About the provider

Santa Barbara Festival Ballet has been training dancers and collaborating with the Santa Barbara Symphony at the Arlington Theatre for over 50 years. Its mission is to enrich the community through the art of dance, providing exceptional training and performance opportunities for dancers of all ages while creating a lifelong appreciation of the performing arts. The leadership team includes Denise Rinaldi, Valerie Huston, Conor Adler, Lena Alvarez, Freesia Bornstein, Noah Gnes, Georgia Goldsmith, and Aimee Lopez. The program is a 501(c)3, scholarships are available to those in need, and SBFB uses Friends of Clara and other community outreach programs throughout the year.

Small class sizes. Weekly schedule notes that (A) indicates main studio and (B) is the small studio. Previous experience is required for Level 2 and up, including all classes not labeled Intro or Beginning. OPEN classes are designed for teen and adult dancers. Advanced drop-in students are welcome at advanced level classes during the week. Dress code is listed for Creative Movement, Primary-3B, and Level 4-Advanced. Hair should be pulled back in a tight bun or french twist, including bangs. Scholarships are available to those in need.

What families say

“My daughter has been dancing at Festival Ballet for 5 years. We love the focus on timeless, classic ballet, with structure and tradition, but also lots of fun and friendship. She loves the classes, the opportunities to perform, and inspiration from role models in the Festival Ballet community.” — Marianne HumbleParent

Last updated September 22, 2026.