About
California Dance Classics offers classical ballet and contemporary dance competitions for student dancers ages 4–21. The events include an onstage masterclass followed by competition, with expert feedback from a world-class jury and scholarship opportunities.
Programs
- Classical Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competitions — Open to student dancers ages 4–21 · Competition events featuring classical ballet and contemporary categories; expert feedback from a world-class jury; scholarship opportunities; professional, performance-focused setting.
- Classical Ballet and Contemporary Dance Scholarship Award programs — Scholarship award programs mentioned on the About page.
At a glance
- Ages: 4–18 years old
- Current session: San Diego 2027 (Feb 4–Feb 7, 2027); San Francisco 2027 (Feb 17–Feb 21, 2027); Los Angeles 2027 (Mar 3–Mar 7, 2027)
- General schedule: Most solo age groups are scheduled to be completed in just one day. In some cases, solo age groups may extend over two days. Events include an onstage Masterclass followed by competition.
About the provider
California Dance Classics was created and directed by Conny Mathôt, who is the Executive Director and Founder. The leadership team also includes Raffi Donoyan as Senior Admin Manager, Derek Nemechek as Stage Manager, Michaela Pickett as Operations Manager, and Paula Corley as Senior Executive Assistant. The program states that it is grounded in a commitment to excellence in dance education and the art of ballet, and it is open to the public and free to attend.
Built on integrity and fairness. Age groups are divided thoughtfully. Judges are selected through a strict vetting process and will not score based on favoritism, nepotism, or any other unfair bias. Free audience admission. Year-round dates are not stated beyond specific competition events.
What families say
“We wanted to thank you tremendously for a wonderful experience! Your competition was the highlight of our year!!! The dancers and parents alike could not say enough...what a positive experience it was; from the friendly dancers from other studios, to the entire staff at the competition! We were thrilled to be a part of it and can't wait to register again next season!” — Tracy Inman, YLAB- Office Manager
Last updated October 13, 2026.
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