For nearly 35 years, San Diego Ballet has served a diverse region by presenting inclusive, community-rooted programming and by removing barriers to arts access across San Diego County.

Under Javier Velasco’s artistic directorship, SDB continues to provide full seasons of programming in the southern California region, including tours to venues throughout the United States and Mexico.

SDB’s work directly benefits:

ARTISTS:
A core company of 24 dancers and four apprentices is employed for 22 weeks annually. We regularly commission new work from composers and collaborate with local jazz and Latinx musicians.

CREATORS: From internationally recognized composers like Germaine Franco to regional jazz artists like Gilbert Castellanos, our commitment to new music empowers composers to explore fresh narratives through live performance.

AUDIENCES:
Our audiences reflect the demographic richness of San Diego—predominantly Latinx, multilingual, multigenerational, and geographically dispersed. Many encounter ballet for the first time through our programming.

PARTICIPANTS:
Through residencies in neighborhoods like City Heights, Sherman Heights, and San Ysidro, we engage people of all ages and abilities in intergenerational, free, bilingual classes tailored to local needs.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS:
We collaborate with trusted community organizations like Casa Familiar and the Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library to deliver authentic programming in culturally relevant settings.

SDB is committed to creating spaces and experiences that enable all members of our community to access the joy and uplift we bring through dance. We meet individuals where they are, enriching lives authentically, with purpose and respect.

We celebrate diversity in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, and all of the unique perspectives everyone brings. We believe our experiences only become richer by doing so.