The City Ballet of San Diego 2023-2024 Season marks the company’s 31st with an expansion to other venues in San Diego and North County as their home theater, Spreckels Theatre, undergoes renovation.
Along with their mainstage productions, City Ballet of San Diego will also present family ballet shows – Peter and the Wolf and Coppélia and the Toymaker – throughout the year designed as an introduction to the art form.
City Ballet of San Diego 2023-2024 Season Schedule

Balanchine Extravaganza | November 4-5, 2023
Balboa Theater
- Serenade by George Balanchine
- Donizetti Variations by George Balanchine
- The Four Temperaments by George Balanchine
As the father of American ballet, George Balanchine opened the eyes and ears of audiences to the marriage of music and dance. He famously said, “see the music, hear the dance.”
This program celebrates that marriage of music and dance with three of Mr. B’s finest works: his milestone Serenade – the first he created in America, the cheerful, but challenging Donizetti Variations, and The Four Temperaments showing his lean angular style fused with classical steps.

The Nutcracker | December 21-23, 2023
Concert Hall at the California Center for the Arts
- The Nutcracker by Elizabeth Wistrich
Accompanied by The City Ballet Orchestra with John Nettles conducting, The Nutcracker retells the Victorian-era story of the adventures of Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, Herr Drosselmeyer and the Sugar Plum Fairy through a magical theatrical experience to Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s famous score.
Young and old alike will be captivated by Elizabeth Wistrich’s choreography, the exquisite costumes, and grand sets. A heart-warming production for families to immerse themselves in the holiday spirit.

An American in Paris | March 16-17 & March 27, 2024
Balboa Theater & Center Theater at the California Center for the Arts
- An American in Paris by Geoffrey Gonzalez
- Boléro – The Awakening by Elizabeth Wistrich
- Morphoses by Christopher Wheeldon
This triple-bill is programmed with all City Ballet first. Resident Choreographer Geoffrey Gonzalez’s American in Paris and Elizabeth Wistrich’s Boléro – The Awakening are world premieres while Christopher Wheeldon’s Morphosis marks the company’s first ballet by the world-renowned choreographer.

Carmina Burana | May 4-5, 2024
Concert Hall at the California Center for the Arts
- Carmina Burana by Geoffrey Gonzalez
- Mozart Concerto by Elizabeth Wistrich
The season closer is accompanied by the City Ballet Orchestra, plus the 80 plus voices of the Pacific Coast Chorale and the Escondido Center Chorale for Carmina Burana. This version is set in 1929, telling the tragic story of James J. Riordan during the great stock market crash.
Mozart Concerto is a tutu ballet of classical choreography.
Featured Photo for the City Ballet of San Diego 2023-2024 Season of company dancers in George Balanchine’s Serenade. Photo by Dale Stokes.