Ballet California's mission is to be the nation's leading pre-professional ballet company, already a leader on the West Coast, providing unparalleled training to our youth as well as performances that inspire and enrich the community. Continuing in the rich tradition of South Bay Ballet and Lauridsen Ballet Centre, founded in 1978, our dancers experience a real company atmosphere along with performance opportunities that mirror the professional world. Our proven success in consistently placing dancers in professional contracts has earned us the respect of the international ballet community and a legacy of creating future leaders in the arts. Our training instills self-discipline, teamwork, perseverance, respect, self-confidence and dedication to excellence. Ballet California performances encourage a life-long love of the arts. Each year we offer a diverse range of ballets, from classical to contemporary. In addition to "The Nutcracker", our annual season includes both the eclectic "Bravo!" concert and our Storybook Ballet, as well as our Benefactors' Concert hosted at our landmark studio. Each performance also offers the community an opportunity to engage in the arts and demonstrate the value of dance, where artistry, athleticism, and transformation reside. Ballet California champions and reflects diversity and inclusiveness. We actively cultivate an environment where individuals feel welcomed, valued, respected, and supported. Our belief that dance has the power to bring people together through storytelling and empathy compels us to celebrate individual creativity and is central to realizing Ballet California’s goal to inspire, empower and deepen community through dance.