Whether you're a six-year-old dreaming of pointe shoes, a teenager auditioning for conservatory programs, or an adult returning to the barre after twenty years, Santa Monica offers ballet training options that rival any city in the United States. But "ballet school" means radically different things depending on your goals—and not every studio with a marley floor delivers what serious dancers need.
This guide cuts through the marketing language to help you find training that matches your ambitions, budget, and schedule. We've organized options by pathway rather than prestige, because the best school is the one that gets you where you want to go.
For the Pre-Professional Dancer: Full-Time Conservatory Training
Westside School of Ballet
Address: 1709 Stewart Street, Santa Monica
Program type: Pre-professional youth academy
Ages: 8–19
Methodology: Balanchine-based with Vaganova fundamentals
Cost tier: $$$$
The oldest ballet school in Santa Monica (founded 1967), Westside operates more like a selective academy than a neighborhood studio. Artistic director Martine Harley, former New York City Ballet dancer, maintains the Balanchine aesthetic passed down from founder Yvonne Mounsey—herself a Balanchine dancer who performed with the original Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.
What distinguishes Westside is its youth company structure. Students don't just take class; they rehearse and perform in fully produced ballets with live orchestra accompaniment at the Broad Stage. Recent graduates have joined Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Juilliard's dance division. Admission requires a placement class; the pre-professional track demands 15–20 hours weekly starting at age 12.
Best for: Dancers committed to classical company careers who want Balanchine training without relocating to New York.
Santa Monica College Dance Program
Address: 1900 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica
Program type: Degree and non-degree conservatory
Ages: 16+ (high school dual enrollment available)
Methodology: Eclectic classical with contemporary integration
Cost tier: $ (California residents)
Here's the secret many families miss: SMC's dance program functions as a low-cost alternative to private conservatory training. The associate degree track includes intensive ballet technique, pointe, pas de deux, and dance history—taught by faculty with credits including American Ballet Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Lines Ballet.
Non-degree students can enroll in technique classes through community education, though priority goes to degree candidates. The program maintains articulation agreements with UC Irvine and Cal State Long Beach for dancers continuing toward BFAs.
Best for: Cost-conscious families, late starters building technique for conservatory auditions, and dancers wanting academic credentials alongside training.
For the Working Dancer: Professional-Track Open Classes
The Edge Performing Arts Center
Address: 6320 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood (12 miles from Santa Monica)
Program type: Commercial dance studio with ballet offerings
Ages: Teen through adult
Methodology: Mixed; guest faculty dependent
Cost tier: $$ (drop-in or class card)
Let's be direct: The Edge is not a ballet school in the traditional sense. Its reputation rests on connections to television, music videos, and touring artists. However, for dancers pursuing commercial rather than concert careers—backup dancing, theme park contracts, cruise ship work—the Edge offers something rare: ballet classes taught by working professionals who understand industry demands.
Ballet programming includes beginning through advanced levels, plus specialized "Ballet for Commercial Dancers" workshops addressing the specific technique adjustments needed for camera work and quick rehearsal timelines. Faculty rotates frequently; check schedules for current names.
Best for: Dancers building versatile, marketable skills for entertainment industry careers rather than ballet company positions.
For the Serious Youth: Company-Affiliated Training
Los Angeles Ballet Academy
Address: 11755 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles (14 miles from Santa Monica)
Program type: Pre-professional school with company affiliation
Ages: 7–18
Methodology: Vaganova-based with Balanchine influences
Cost tier: $$$$
The official school of Los Angeles Ballet, this academy offers the clearest pathway from student to professional in the region. Artistic director Colleen Neary (former NYCB principal) and associate director Thordal Christensen (former Royal Danish Ballet principal) oversee a curriculum that produces company-ready dancers.
The academy's trainee program functions as a bridge between student and professional life—dancers ages 17–20 rehearse with the company, tour regionally, and receive mentorship on audition preparation. Annual performances at the Dolby Theatre and Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center provide resume-building experience.
Admission requires annual audition; waitlists exist
