State Street Ballet Academy

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State Street Ballet Academy

State Street Ballet Academy is the official school of State Street Ballet.

The heart of State Street Ballet Academy is to provide quality instruction for all ages in a safe, supportive environment and to share the joy of dance with our community.

03/13/2026

Join us at California Pizza Kitchen this weekend to help raise money for our young dancer group 🎉 20% of ALL sales on Sunday, March 15th will be given back to our studio. We hope to see you all there!

01/31/2026

☀️ Summer at SSBA ☀️ An elevated summer of dance.
✨ Camps for ages 3–18 ✨ Full & Half Day classical ballet, jazz, modern, tap, conditioning & contemporary training
🐥 Early Bird Registration ends April 1st 
Register via our website or email us today!

01/10/2026

✨Tiny Twirlers Ballet Class is Back✨

This dance class is for ages 3–6 and is led by SSBA alumna Zsa Zsa Zemeckis. Tiny Twirlers offers a joyful and inclusive introduction to dance encouraging creativity, movement, and self-expression in a fun, supportive environment where every child can shine.

ℹ️
Where: Grace Fisher Clubhouse
When: Saturdays from 9-9:45am (first class starts on 1/10)
How: Sign up via the Grace Fisher Clubhouse website
Cost: Free!

We can’t wait to dance with you

01/03/2026

🌸Spring 2026 Registration is Open🌸

Classes begin Monday, January 12th, 2026 and culminate in two performances of Madeline: Lost in Central Park at the Lobero Theatre on May 16th & 17th.

Jazz, contemporary, ballet, tap, and more available to all ages! Get registered today using the link in our bio.

We can’t wait to dance with you💫

12/23/2025

❄️Winter Break Open Class Schedule❄️

We will have several open adult class offerings during the winter break (see the schedule above). We hope to see you all in class!

📣SSBYD, SSBA, Gustafson Dance, & SSB Alumni can take class for free on Saturday, December 27th!

We hope everyone has a restful and joyful holiday season

12/18/2025

✨It’s (almost) Timeeeee✨

Join us for State Street Ballet’s annual performances of The Nutcracker at the beautiful Granada Theatre featuring State Street Ballet Academy students andState Street Ballet Professional Track dancers, accompanied by live music from the Opera SLO Grand Orchestra. You will not want to miss this classic holiday tradition💫

* Friday, December 19th at 6pm
* Saturday, December 20th at 2pm & 7:30pm
* Sunday, December 21st at 2pm

🎟️Tickets linked in our bio!

🐭🥁🍬✨🎄❄️🪽🌸

12/14/2025

✨✨Meet the Cast✨✨

We are excited to introduce our 2nd student Clara in the Nutcracker this year, Amanda! You can see her grace the stage December 21st at 2:00PM, at the Granada Theatre.
🎟️Tickets are linked in our bio.

Get to know Amanda below;

Q. What has been your favorite part of dancing this role so far?
My favorite part of dancing Clara so far has been getting to learn all these new things that I’m not used to, such as having an actual character I need to portray, learning how to dance with a partner, and having all of this new choreography! It’s a lot, but I really enjoy it!!

Q. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
My favorite holiday tradition is eating my grandma’s tortellini when we go to Italy for the winter. She makes it every time we come for our family lunch on Christmas Day. Also, my all time favorite tradition is performing in the Nutcracker because I can celebrate while doing what I love most, dancing.

Q. What has been the most challenging part of your role so far?
The most challenging part of my role is staying in character because I’m so used to just performing my dancing, but now I have to tell a story while I’m doing that as well!

Q. What has been the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of being Clara in the Nutcracker is honestly just having the sensation that I am going to be dancing this role that I have dreamed of doing ever since I started ballet. It is such a dream come true!

Q. What inspired you to become a ballet dancer?
When I was barely even two years old, I went to see Prokofiev’s Cinderella at Opera di Roma. After watching it, I told my nonna, “ballerinas are beautiful!” From there, I fell in love with ballet. Around four years old, I asked my mom when I could start ballet lessons. Immediately after that, she signed me up for classes. Right then and there, I knew dance was the right thing for me!

12/09/2025

🎬✨Meet the Cast✨🎬

We are excited to introduce one of our student Clara’s in the Nutcracker this year, Sloan! You can see her shine onstage December 20th at 2:00PM, at the Granada Theatre. Get to know Sloan below;

Q. What has been your favorite part of dancing this role so far?
My favorite part about this experience has most certainly been the rehearsals and time we’ve been privileged to spend with the professional company, staff, and dancers of State Street Ballet and Academy. They have shared so much wisdom, kindness, and advice with us and it has been incredible getting the opportunity to learn from people I have looked up to for years. I feel very privileged to have been trusted with such an exciting responsibility.

Q. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Every Nutcracker Season, I make “end of year” notes and gifts for my teachers, friends, and everyone I care dearly for. I usually make a few cookies and a little handmade gift to go along with a card for each person. Once the shows begin, I go dressing room to dressing room and deliver all my little presents!!!

Q. What has been the most challenging part of your role so far?
The most challenging aspect of dancing Clara has most certainly been the musicality. I tend to struggle with having correct timing, so I have been working very hard to ensure I am confident in my choreography as well as my musicality.

Q. What has been the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part is being able to dance the role I’ve dreamed of dancing ever since I was a Little Angel in my very first Nutcracker (2017). I have been so inspired by all of the artists who have danced Clara since then and it is so rewarding and such an honor to think that I may be inspiring the younger dancers.

Q. What inspired you to become a ballet dancer?
I have been in love with ballet ever since I took my very first pre-ballet class in (2014). However, ballet did not become something I envisioned myself doing post high school until I did State Street Ballet’s Summer Intensive in 2024. I was so inspired by all of my teachers and my fellow dancers, making me realize that I want to grow up to be just like some of them!

12/07/2025

Sound on to experience the sense of accomplishment, unity, and pure joy that comes from a fantastic opening night!
Congratulations to the entire cast of Rudolph! With each individual dancing their best and supporting each other, you put on one unforgettable show 💫

11/19/2025

✨ Meet the Cast! ✨

We are thrilled to introduce our lead in Rudolph this year… Cooper! Cooper is a Level 5 dancer at our school and a Company IV dancer in our pre-professional program, State Street Ballet Young Dancers.
You can catch Cooper shining onstage December 6th at 6:30 PM and December 7th at 2:00 PM at the Lobero Theatre.
Get to know Cooper a little more below!

Q. What has been your favorite part of dancing this role so far? My favorite thing about dancing Rudolph so far has been getting to do all the dances I once did at different points, but now as a lead! I’m having so much fun relearning choreography but from a more advanced standpoint now!
2. Q. What is your favorite holiday tradition? My favorite holiday tradition is going up to my grandma and grandpa‘s house and making haluski and coldoughs (a type of soup and pastry). We listen to holiday music and have the best time chatting and baking all day!
3. Q. What has been the most challenging part of your role so far? The most challenging part of my role so far is remembering all my choreography and notes! There’s a lot to stay on top of to make sure my dancing looks clean, but I’m grateful for how it’s helping me prepare for the future!
4. Q. What has been the most rewarding part of your role so far? The most rewarding part of being Rudolph is getting to dance the part I would watch all the big girls dance when I was a baby reindeer! It’s incredible that I get to do what I could only dream of until now!
5. Q. What inspired you to become a ballet dancer? When I was about 3, my mom took me to my first dance class with Miss Susan. Right away, I fell in love with everything about it, and that feeling has never gone away! I haven’t stopped dancing since that first class!

Address

2285 Las Positas Road
Santa Barbara, CA
93105

Website

http://www.ssb-academy.com/

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