Westside School of Ballet

What Westside School of Ballet does

Westside School of Ballet is a private classical ballet training institution founded in 1967 in Santa Monica, California, by Yvonne Mounsey (former New York City Ballet principal) and Rosemary Valaire (former Royal Ballet soloist). It is a non-audition school serving students ages 1 through adult, with the core children's program structured across nine levels from Pre-Primary (age 3) through Ballet VII, augmented by Teen Ballet, Boys-Only Ballet, Pas de Deux, Parent & Me, Adult Ballet, and a multi-track summer program (intensives, workshops, kids camp, teen and adult offerings). The affiliated non-profit performing division, Westside Ballet of Santa Monica (a 501(c)(3) entity with approximately 100 dancers ages 8-18), has produced professional-caliber performances twice yearly since 1973, including LA's longest-running full-length Nutcracker with live orchestra (now in its 48th year) and Spring Performances featuring Balanchine works.

The school's competitive positioning rests on a uniform Balanchine-style pedagogy delivered by a teaching corps that is almost entirely composed of school alumni with 10-30+ years of tenure, ensuring exceptional continuity of method. This has translated into alumni placements at NYCB, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Houston Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, and Kansas City Ballet, and a formal Westside Worldwide alumni association that fuels word-of-mouth enrollment. The operating model is direct-to-consumer, in-person, at a single studio location (1709 Stewart Street, Santa Monica), with enrollment managed via MindBody and pricing only disclosed upon inquiry.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring tuition and class fees across the year-round program plus seasonal summer program fees. Supplementary revenue streams include performance ticket sales (The Broad Stage, presented in partnership with Santa Monica College), studio rentals to independent teachers and dance companies, the Project RELEVE fundraising initiative, and a network of sponsorships (The Huntley Hotel, Lyft, Ovation Entertainment, Rotary Club of Santa Monica, LA County Board of Supervisors, LA County Department of Arts and Culture, and local restaurants). The school distributes approximately $100,000 in scholarships annually and runs outreach programs targeting BIPOC and underserved children in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Monica, St. Anne's School, and Dance in Color. No parent company, equity investor, or institutional funding is disclosed; governance rests with a Board of Directors under Artistic Director Martine Harley (since January 2013).

Name

Westside School of Ballet

Legal name

Westside School of Ballet

Website

https://westsideballet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Westside School of Ballet, founded 1967 in Santa Monica, is a non-audition classical ballet school serving students ages 1 to adult across nine leveled programs, with an affiliated non-profit performing company that has staged LA's longest-running Nutcracker for 48 years.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dance Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Dance Companies (711120)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classical Ballet (Full-Length & Repertoire) (MPAGADAA), Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN)

Keywords

• Ballet training programs
• Classical ballet education
• Pre-professional dance
• Ballet performances
• Dance school Santa Monica

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Class Fees: Year-round ballet training programs for children ages 3-18 and adults. Classes structured by skill level from Pre-Primary through Ballet VII, plus adult classes. Revenue generated through semester/yearly tuition for full-year programs and class fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Westside School of Ballet delivers year-round, in-person classical ballet training for students ages 3 through adult, structured across progressive levels from Pre-Primary through Ballet VII. The affiliated non-profit performing division, Westside Ballet of Santa Monica, provides pre-professional stage experience through two annual productions (Nutcracker with live orchestra and Spring Performances). Supplemental offerings include summer intensives, adult classes, studio rentals, alumni programming, and community outreach classes.

Product overview

Westside School of Ballet is a dance education institution offering a tiered training program for students ages 1 through adult. The core offering is the Children's Year-Round Program with levels from Pre-Primary (Age 3) through Ballet VII, alongside Adult Ballet Classes. Seasonal offerings include Summer Dance Programs with intensives, workshops, and specialized tracks for kids, teens, and adults. The affiliated non-profit performing division, Westside Ballet of Santa Monica, provides pre-professional experience through The Nutcracker (with live orchestra) and Spring Performances featuring classical and contemporary repertoire. Additional offerings include Studio Rentals, the Westside Worldwide Alumni Association, Community Outreach Programs targeting BIPOC participation, and the Project RELEVÉ fundraising initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Children's Year-Round Program Pre-professional ballet training for children ages 3-18, structured across progressive levels from Pre-Primary (Age 3) through Ballet VII, including technique, pointe work, pas de deux, and performance opportunities.
• Adult Ballet Classes Year-round ballet and other dance classes for adult students of all levels for fitness, recreation, and continuing dance education.
• Summer Dance Programs Seasonal summer intensives, workshops, kids camps, teen summer programs, and adult summer offerings.
• Westside Ballet of Santa Monica (Pre-Professional Company) Non-profit 501(c)(3) performing division with approximately 100 dancers ages 8-18 producing professional-caliber performances twice yearly, including The Nutcracker with live orchestra and Spring Performances featuring Balanchine works.
• The Nutcracker Annual full-length Nutcracker production with live orchestra, Los Angeles' longest-running Nutcracker (over 48 years).
• Spring Performances Annual performances featuring George Balanchine works, classical and contemporary ballets, and original pieces presented at The Broad Stage.
• Studio Rentals Rental of Westside Ballet studio space to independent teachers and dance companies for their own classes and rehearsals.
• Westside Worldwide (Alumni Association) Alumni association providing mentorship programs, networking opportunities, and member social activities for former Westside Ballet students.
• Community Outreach Programs BIPOC outreach classes, free introductory ballet for underserved children ages 6-11, and partnerships with local organizations to expand access to ballet training.

Quantifiable outcome

• Every year since founding, students have been awarded scholarships with major ballet company schools and summer programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dance in ColorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020New nonprofit that established a scholarship named for Westside Alumnus Adrian Blake Mitchell. Partnering to develop summer intensive program for Dancers of Color. Active collaboration to expand BIPOC outreach.
• Boys and Girls Club of Santa MonicacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership to bring onsite ballet class to St. Anne's elementary school children. Specific to efforts to diversify student dancers and offer instruction to children whose families might not have access or means to ballet training.
• St. Anne's SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partner school for weekly after-school ballet class program targeting children ages 7-10 from underserved communities.
• The Huntley HotelminorOthersSanta Monica's legendary hotel, a sponsor of Westside Ballet. Provides support for the non-profit performing company.
• Il Forno TrattoriaminorOthersRestaurant sponsor supporting Westside Ballet programs.
• Los Angeles County Board of SupervisorsminorOthersGovernment sponsor providing support for arts and culture programs.
• Los Angeles County Department of Arts and CultureminorOthersCounty arts department supporting Westside Ballet through cultural funding.
• LyftminorOthersCorporate sponsor of Westside Ballet.
• Ovation EntertainmentminorOthersEntertainment industry sponsor supporting ballet programs.
• Rotary Club of Santa MonicaminorOthersLocal service organization sponsor of Westside Ballet.
• Santa Monica CollegeminorOthersEducational institution sponsor and partner. WSB performances held at Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center (The Broad Stage).
• Santa Monica Chamber of CommerceminorOthersLocal business organization supporting Westside Ballet as community partner.
• Urth CafféminorOthersLocal restaurant sponsor supporting the organization.
• City Ballet of Los AngelesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtistic Director Robyn Gardenhire agreed to be guest teacher and share experience with Westside's Diversity and Inclusion Committee regarding outreach to schools.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boston Ballet School: The official training program of Boston Ballet with a year-round leveled curriculum, summer programs, and pre-professional tracks. Directly comparable as a multi-tiered classical ballet school serving children through pre-professionals.
• Joffrey Ballet School: Pre-professional ballet and contemporary training academy in NYC and other locations serving children through adults. Directly comparable leveled curriculum with year-round and summer offerings.
• Houston Ballet Academy: The official training academy of Houston Ballet, where current Westside Artistic Director Martine Harley previously served as Ballet Mistress. Directly comparable leveled classical ballet curriculum with strong alumni placement track record.
• School of American Ballet: The official training academy of New York City Ballet and the most prominent pre-professional ballet school in the US. Directly comparable as a Balanchine-method feeder institution that places alumni into NYCB and other top-tier companies.
• HARID Conservatory: A ballet-focused boarding school in Boca Raton, FL that trains pre-professional dancers aged 11-18 with year-round intensive curricula. Directly comparable as a classical ballet pre-professional training academy.
• San Francisco Ballet School: The official training academy of San Francisco Ballet, offering a leveled pre-professional curriculum from beginner through advanced. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and alumni pipeline into a major professional company.
• Pacific Northwest Ballet School: The official school of Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, offering a year-round leveled curriculum for children through pre-professional dancers. Directly comparable as a Balanchine-influenced pre-professional training academy.
• Kirov Academy of Ballet: A ballet-focused training academy in Washington, DC offering Russian-method instruction and boarding for pre-professional students. Comparable pre-professional classical ballet pipeline, though methodologically distinct.
• Miami City Ballet School: The official training academy of Miami City Ballet, offering Balanchine-style year-round programs for all ages. Directly comparable in pedagogy, audience, and mission.

Regional players

• Los Angeles Ballet: A regional professional ballet company in Los Angeles whose alumni include graduates from Westside. Comparable as a Southern California ballet institution, though it operates as a professional company rather than a training school.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/westsideballet
• Facebookfacebook.com/westsideschoolofballet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Westside School of Ballet