Golden State Ballet Academy

✨ IT’S AUDITION DAY! ✨

Today’s the day! We’re casting young dancers ages 6–18 for one of San Diego’s most magical holiday traditions — and the BIGGEST Nutcracker production in San Diego! 🩰🎄

Swipe through to see just a glimpse of the youth roles that bring this production to life — from the excitement of the Party Scene 🎉 to the energy of the Battle Scene 🐭 and the sweetness of the Act II Divertissements 🍬. Which role could be yours?

This is a special opportunity for young dancers to experience a professional-scale production, performing alongside professional ballet dancers from GOLDEN STATE BALLET and with live musicians from the San Diego Symphony at the iconic San Diego Civic Theatre. 🎭🎶

🧑‍🩰 Open Youth Nutcracker Auditions
📅 TODAY — Saturday, August 22
📍 Golden State Ballet Academy Studios
👯 Ages 6–18
✔️ Current ballet training required
💲 $25 audition fee (waived for GSBA students)

✨ Roles Available:
• Party Scene 🎄
• Battle Scene 🐭
• Act II Divertissements 🍬

🎭 Performance Dates: December 17–23

Big stage. Live orchestra. Professional dancers. And a whole lot of Nutcracker magic. ❤️

Come audition today and see where you could fit into the magic! We can’t wait to meet you! 🩰✨

📷: SAM ZAUSCHER STUDIO

The countdown is ON! Just ONE MORE DAY until we begin casting for one of San Diego’s most magical holiday traditions — and the BIGGEST Nutcracker production in San Diego! ✨

This isn’t just another performance opportunity. It’s a chance for young dancers to experience what it’s like to be part of a professional-scale production, dancing alongside professional ballet dancers from GOLDEN STATE BALLET and performing with live musicians of the San Diego Symphony at the iconic San Diego Civic Theatre. 🎭🎶

For dancers ages 6–18, this is an unforgettable opportunity to grow, perform, make memories, and experience the magic of Nutcracker from inside the production. ❤️

🧑‍🩰 Open Youth Nutcracker Auditions
📅 TOMORROW — Saturday, August 22
📍 Golden State Ballet Academy Studios
👯 Ages 6–18
✔️ Current ballet training required
💲 $25 audition fee (waived for GSBA students)

✨ Roles Available:
• Party Scene 🎄
• Battle Scene 🐭
• Act II Divertissements 🍬

🎭 Performance Dates: December 17-23

🌟 Big stage. Live orchestra. Professional dancers. Unforgettable experience.
Come be part of the magic and make this Nutcracker one to remember! 🩰✨

Audition tomorrow — we can’t wait to see you! ❤️

📷: SAM ZAUSCHER STUDIO

Congratulations to our newest pointe students! 🩰💛

Pointe shoes are a huge milestone in a dancer’s journey - one that reflects their strength, growth, and countless hours of hard work.

Here’s to new challenges, beautiful progress, and dancing on your toes! 🩰✨

Congratulations, dancers! Your pointe journey is just beginning! 💖

Our dance family is growing, and so are your options! 🎉

We’re excited to announce that we are expanding our DROP-IN/ADULT PROGRAM and offering classes in more than just ballet! Join us for:
🌿 Contemporary
🔥 Hip-Hop
💫 Modern

Whether you’re a beginner looking to try something new or an experienced dancer wanting to keep your skills sharp, we have classes for all ages, all levels, and all experience.

Don’t worry—our beloved ballet classes aren’t going anywhere! 🩰 We’re continuing to offer the quality ballet training you know and love while expanding our schedule with even more ways to dance.

No long-term commitment—just show up, dance, and have fun! Bring a friend, try a new style, or take them all!

📅 Check out our class schedule and come dance with us. We can’t wait to see you in the studio!

Int/Adv Contemporary Drop-In with dess begins August 24th!

🔗Link in bio to sign-up.

🔥 New Beginner Hip-Hop Class! 🔥

Ready to jump into hip-hop? 👟 This beginner-friendly class taught by Christian Lumba is the perfect place to start!

This class is designed for those who want to learn in a fun, supportive, and judgment-free environment. You’ll build a strong foundation through hip-hop fundamentals, technique, basic choreography, and movement vocabulary while improving coordination, confidence, and musicality.

Whether you’re stepping into a dance studio for the first time or rediscovering your love of dance, this class is the perfect place to start.

✨ No prior dance experience needed—just bring your energy and a willingness to learn!

📅 Check out our class schedule and come move, groove, and discover your love for hip-hop. We can’t wait to dance with you! 🎶🖤

🔗Link in bio to sign-up.

✨ New Horton (Modern) Classes! ✨

Explore one of the most influential modern dance techniques with our new Beginner and Intermediate/Advanced Horton classes, taught by Courtney Giannone - GSBA Modern Dance Instructor and an Ailey School Certified Horton Instructor.

Whether you’re new to modern dance or an experienced dancer looking to expand your training, Horton builds strength, flexibility, musicality, coordination, and expressive athleticism through dyna

🎄✨ It’s that time of year again… Nutcracker Auditions are HERE! ✨🎄

Join us for one of our favorite annual traditions as we cast this season’s Nutcracker! Dancers ages 6–18 are invited to audition for the opportunity to perform alongside GOLDEN STATE BALLET 🩰 and San Diego Symphony 🎶 at San Diego Civic Theatre this December.

🧑‍🩰 Open Youth Nutcracker Auditions
📅 Saturday, August 22
📍Golden State Ballet Academy Studios
👯 Ages 6–18
✔️ Current ballet training required
💲 $25 audition fee (waived for GSBA students)

✨ Roles Available:
• Party Scene 🎄
• Battle Scene 🐭
• Act II Divertissements 🍬

🎭 Performance Dates:
December 17–23, 2026

Audition Schedule:
🕛 12:15–12:45 PM | GSBA Boys & Girls Ages 4–5 (not open to the public)
🕧 12:45–1:15 PM | Ages 6–7
🕐 1:15–1:45 PM | Ages 8–10
🕜 1:45–2:15 PM | Ages 11–12
🕑 2:15–2:45 PM | Ages 13–14
🕝 2:45–3:15 PM | Ages 15–18
⭐ 3:15–3:45 PM | Call-Backs (Invite Only)

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the magic and make unforgettable holiday memories on stage! We can’t wait to see you there. ❤️🎁

🔗 Link in bio for more info.

🩰✨ Enrollment for our 2026–2027 school year is NOW OPEN! ✨🩰

A new season of dancing is just around the corner, and we’d love for you to be part of it!

📅 Classes begin August 10 for ages 4+

Throughout the year, dancers will build confidence, develop their technique, and shine on stage with three exciting performance opportunities!

✨ Class openings are limited and spots are filling up, so don’t wait to reserve your dancer’s spot.

📩 Contact us today to register and join us for a season filled with growth, friendship, and the joy of dance.

We can’t wait to welcome you to the studio! 💕🩰

🔗 Registration link and more info in bio.

📷: Patrick Huang

☀️ONE WEEK TO GO! ☀️

Our Summer Intensive begins one week from today, and we couldn’t be more excited!

There’s a reason dancers make their biggest strides during Summer Intensive. A full week of focused training, small class sizes for personalized attention, and daily immersion in the studio allows students to build strength, refine technique, grow artistically, and gain confidence in ways that are hard to achieve during the regular school year.

This year’s program features classes taught by our award-winning Golden State Ballet Academy faculty, alongside two exceptional guest artists:

💫 Courtney Barclay — Southern California choreographer, educator, and creative director, Courtney is celebrated for creating emotionally rich, dynamic choreography that encourages dancers to move with authenticity and intention. A UCLA graduate with degrees in Dance and Communication Studies, she was honored with the 2025 Dance One A.C.E. Award and is passionate about helping dancers discover genuine artistry through movement.

🩰 Michael Breeden — Former professional dancer with Miami City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Michael has performed works by legendary choreographers including George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Justin Peck, and Twyla Tharp. He is the co-founder of the acclaimed Conversations on Dance podcast, a répétiteur for Justin Peck, and currently serves as Rehearsal Director with Golden State Ballet. We are thrilled to welcome him back to Golden State Ballet Academy!

Whether you’re looking to refine your technique, expand your artistry, or prepare for the season ahead, this is an incredible opportunity to train with outstanding faculty and guest artists.

It’s not too late to join us! Registration is still open—visit the link in our bio to sign up. We can’t wait to see you in the studio! 🩰☀️✨

✨ What a dream A Midsummer Night’s Dream was! 🌙💫

We’re so proud of all our students who had the incredible opportunity to perform alongside the professional dancers of GOLDEN STATE BALLET 🩰👏

Stay tuned for a special behind-the-scenes peek! 👀 ✨

📷: SAM ZAUSCHER STUDIO

🌲The forest is waking up! 🦋🪲Our woodland creatures and hounds 🐺 are ready to spring to life for Opening Night tonight of A Midsummer Night’s Dream 🌙 with 🩰🌟—don’t miss the magic! ✨🍃 You can still get your tickets via the link in our bio.

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Today we celebrate International Dance Day - a reminder that movement is more than just steps and rhythm. Dance is expression, connection, and storytelling without words. It lifts our spirits, strengthens our bodies, and brings people together across cultures and generations, so take a moment today to move, feel, and celebrate the joy of dance. 💃🕺

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