Marin Ballet
Marin Ballet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ballet school founded in 1963 in San Rafael, California, delivering progressive classical ballet training from toddler through pre-professional levels, plus adult classes, summer intensives, community outreach, and studio rentals at its six-studio facility.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1963
- HeadquartersSan Rafael, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Marin Ballet does
Marin Ballet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ballet school founded in 1963 as Marin Civic Ballet and operating continuously from its owned six-studio facility at 100 Elm Street in San Rafael, California (Marin County). The school delivers a standards-based classical ballet curriculum organized into progressive age and skill tiers: Wee Dance Together (18 months-3 years), Creative Movement (ages 3-4), Ballet Prep (Kindergarten-1st grade), Primary Division Levels 1-4 (ages 7-10), Intermediate Ballet Levels 5-7 (ages 11-14), and Advanced Ballet Levels 8-9, supplemented by a Summer Intensive Program, Dance and Art Adventure Camp, Adult Ballet (drop-in and class cards), and the auditioned Marin Ballet Youth Company (MBYC) launched in 2025. Pricing is structured as quarterly tuition ranging from $191 (Creative Movement) to $1,667 (Primary Level 4, three classes per week), with adult drop-ins at $26/class and class-card discounts, plus studio rentals ($30/hour for the Pilates room) and community partnerships.
Revenue is generated through six primary streams: tuition and class fees (subscription/quarterly), adult drop-in and class-card sales, summer programs (intensive and camp), studio rentals to external yoga/Pilates/dance practitioners, corporate sponsorships and an annual Extravadance Gala fundraiser, and tax-deductible donations plus foundation grants (Belvedere Community Foundation, Heller, Fenwick, Herbst, Brenner, Marquis George MacDonald). Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the marinballet.org website and a free first-class offer, augmented by community outreach at Hamilton School, Vivalon, Belvedere Tiburon Library, and Marin Country Mart. The school is governed by a Board of Trustees (President Mona Steinberg) and led by Director Catherine Hader and Resident Choreographer Julia Adam, with a faculty drawn from American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Houston Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, and Birmingham Royal Ballet. The organization's differentiation rests on its 60+ year brand, faculty pedigree, multi-decade syllabus, and deep community embedment rather than on technology or scale.
Marin Ballet firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Marin Ballet
- Legal name
- Marin Ballet
- Website
- https://marinballet.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1963
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Marin Ballet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ballet school founded in 1963 in San Rafael, California, delivering progressive classical ballet training from toddler through pre-professional levels, plus adult classes, summer intensives, community outreach, and studio rentals at its six-studio facility.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Marin Ballet industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Dance Education
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (61161), Dance Companies (71112)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH)
Keywords
Where Marin Ballet is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Rafael
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Marin Ballet business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Tuition and Class Fees: Quarterly tuition payments for youth ballet programs ranging from Creative Movement ($191/quarter) through Advanced Ballet. Annual school year commitment with summer intensive additional.
- Adult Ballet Classes: Drop-in classes and class cards for adult community. Individual classes at $26, with discounted rates for class cards (5-class $125, 10-class $230, 20-class $440). Alumni under 30 pay $20 per class.
- Summer Programs: Summer intensive program (audition required) and summer camp programs for ages 3-9.
- Studio Rentals: Rental of six studios and Pilates room to external parties for compatible activities like yoga, pilates, and dance coaching. Pilates room rents for $30/hour.
- Gala and Events: Annual Extravadance Gala fundraiser and other community events.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Business sponsorships at various levels ($2,500+ and $1,000+) with recognition on programs, advertisements, and promotional materials.
- Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and foundation grants from organizations like Belvedere Community Foundation, Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation, and others.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wee Dance Together - Parent/child class for ages 18 months to 3 years |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Creative Movement 1 and 2 - Ages 3-4 |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Ballet Prep 1 and 2 - Kindergarten and 1st grade |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Primary Division Level 1 - 2nd graders |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Primary Division Level 2 - 3rd graders |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Primary Division Level 3 - 4th graders |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Primary Division Level 4 - 5th graders |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult Ballet - Individual drop-in class |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult Ballet - Class Cards |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dance and Art Camp - Ages 3-9 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Marin Ballet product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Marin Ballet operates a nonprofit classical ballet school delivering age-segmented dance instruction from parent-child classes (ages 18 months-3 years) through advanced pre-professional levels (ages 14-18), plus adult ballet and summer programs. The school also runs a community engagement program that brings ballet to schools, libraries, and senior centers in Marin County, and rents out its six studios for compatible activities.
Product overview
Marin Ballet is a classical ballet school and performing arts academy offering a unified, comprehensive ballet training program. The core offering consists of age-segmented ballet instruction spanning from parent-child classes for toddlers (Wee Dance Together, 18 months-3 years) through Creative Movement (ages 3-4) and Ballet Prep (Kindergarten-1st grade) into a structured Primary Division (Beginning Ballet, Levels 1-4), Intermediate Ballet (Levels 5-7), and Advanced Ballet (Levels 8-9). The school also offers Adult Ballet classes, a Summer Intensive Program for ages 11-18, a Dance and Art Adventure Camp, and the Marin Ballet Youth Company (MBYC) for pre-professional performers. Supporting programs include the Classical Ballet Program with guest choreographers and student choreography, Community Engagement outreach to schools and senior centers, and Studio Rentals. Annual performances include Nutcracker and Spring Concert productions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wee Dance Together A 4-week parent-and-child movement class for toddlers ages 18 months to 3 years, introducing early ballet concepts such as pliés, little leaps, and twirls through songs, games, and storytelling in a nurturing environment. $96 for 4-week program.
- Creative Movement Weekly 45-to-60-minute classes for children ages 3-4 that engage young bodies in creative movement and exploration through fairy tales, imagination, free dance, songs, and games, with Creative Movement 2 advancing to skipping, leaping, and basic ballet steps. $191 per quarter.
- Ballet Prep Introductory ballet classes for girls and boys in Kindergarten through 1st grade teaching age-appropriate ballet steps, folk dances, and combinations based on fundamentals of dance and music. Includes Ballet Prep 1 and Ballet Prep 2 levels at $283 per quarter.
- Primary Division (Beginning Ballet, Levels 1-4) Structured ballet training for young dancers (2nd-5th graders, ages 7-10) progressing through a rigorous syllabus that builds classical ballet technique, themed movement exploration, and contemporary dance skills over four levels with increasing class frequency per week. Quarterly tuition from $321 to $1,667 depending on level.
- Intermediate Ballet (Levels 5-7) Advanced ballet training for dancers ages 11-14, focusing on strengthening technique fundamentals in classical ballet and pointe work, incorporating character and contemporary dance. Year-round syllabus based on full school year and summer program commitment.
- Advanced Ballet (Levels 8-9) Refinement of ballet technique and development of individual artistry through both classical ballet and contemporary work, with a training-to-performance focus. Level 9 culminates with a more individual syllabus based on each student's skills, artistry, and goals.
- Adult Ballet Ballet classes for adults at all levels, including Beginning/Intermediate for novices and Intermediate/Advanced for experienced dancers. Drop-in classes available with class card pricing; first class is free. Individual drop-in at $26 per class.
- Summer Intensive Program Annual summer training program for Bay Area students ages 11-18 (Levels 3-9), featuring ballet technique, pointe work, variations, classical repertoire, character, contemporary, boys' class, conditioning, Pilates, and musical theater repertoire, culminating in a Summer Presentation performance.
- Dance and Art Adventure Camp Week-long summer camp for children ages 3-9 exploring dance and art through creative imagination with themed daily activities, creative movement, arts/crafts, and stories. Scholarships available.
- Marin Ballet Youth Company (MBYC) Pre-professional dance ensemble comprised of dancers from the top training level by audition only, dedicated to high-quality performances and community engagement through outreach performances for local students and senior communities. Launched in 2025.
- Community Engagement Program Outreach programs bringing ballet to schools, libraries, and senior centers across Marin County, including storytelling sessions, movement education, dance classes at Hamilton School, ballet appreciation classes at Tiburon Library, and Ballet for Seniors at Vivalon.
- Studio Rentals Rental of six light-filled studios and a pilates room with marley floors for activities including yoga, pilates, and individualized dance coaching, located at 100 Elm Street, San Rafael. Pilates room rents for $30/hour.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15% of students receive scholarship assistance
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Marin Ballet
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Marin Ballet technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Marin Ballet partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bank of MarincoreCorporate sponsor at $2,500+ level. Sponsorship includes recognition on programs, advertisements, and promotional materials, plus invitations to events including Nutcracker performances.
- Kermit Lynch Wine MerchantcoreCorporate sponsor at $2,500+ level with recognition on programs and promotional materials.
- Gallagher & Tag (Farnsworth Express)coreCorporate sponsor at $2,500+ level.
- Vanguard Cleaning CaliforniacoreCorporate sponsor at $2,500+ level.
- Belvedere Community FoundationcoreFoundation partner providing support for community engagement programs including the Exploring the Great Classical Ballets library series.
- Clarence E. Heller Charitable FoundationcoreFoundation partner supporting Marin Ballet's mission and accessibility initiatives.
- Fenwick FoundationcoreFoundation partner supporting dance education accessibility.
- Herbst FoundationcoreFoundation partner supporting organizational mission.
- Marquis George MacDonald FoundationcoreFoundation partner supporting accessibility to dance education.
- Mervyn L. Brenner FoundationcoreFoundation partner supporting organizational accessibility initiatives.
- Belvedere Tiburon LibrarycoreFree 4-part ballet appreciation series 'Exploring the Great Full-Length Classical Ballets' led by Corinne Jonas at the library. Includes storytelling, music analysis, video clips, and movement lessons.
- Hamilton SchoolcoreWeekly dance program at Hamilton School in Novato serving 70+ students, many from families facing financial challenges. First experience with music and dance for many children.
- VivaloncoreFree Ballet Fundamentals class for older adults at Vivalon in San Rafael, supporting balance, strength, and flexibility. Described as 'most popular class' offered.
- Marin Country MartminorNutcracker Storytime event at Marin Country Mart Tree Lighting Celebration with costumed storytelling.
- Marin Cultural AssociationminorPerformance partnership for Marin County Fair, bringing ballet performances to community cultural events.
- Performing Stars of MarincoreScholarship program helping inner-city children access dance training. Partnered with Community Action Marin to support students like John Lam to attend Marin Ballet.
- Community Action MarincoreCommunity organization providing scholarship support enabling underserved children to attend Marin Ballet.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Marin Ballet competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Menlowe Ballet: Peninsula-based ballet company that also runs academy programming. Comparable as a Bay Area ballet institution offering both classical training and performance opportunities to serious students.
- Smuin Ballet: San Francisco-based contemporary ballet company that draws on Bay Area ballet school talent. Comparable as a regional ballet employer/partner for Marin Ballet graduates and as a contemporary syllabus influence on Marin Ballet's curriculum.
- Houston Ballet Academy: The official academy of Houston Ballet and one of the largest ballet training programs in the U.S. Marin Ballet's faculty lineage (including Corinne Jonas and David Justin) ties it directly to Houston Ballet's training tradition, making it a relevant comparable for curriculum and outcomes.
- Pacific Northwest Ballet School: Major professional ballet academy associated with Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. Comparable as a multi-tier academy offering graded instruction through pre-professional levels with a similarly rigorous syllabus.
- School of American Ballet: The official training academy of New York City Ballet. A model aspirational peer for Marin Ballet given SAB's pre-professional track and syllabus-based pedagogy, though at substantially larger scale and geographic location.
Regional players
- Peninsula Ballet Theatre: Peninsula-based school and company serving South Bay students. Operates a similar tuition-based youth ballet model and serves a comparable demographic, making it a relevant Bay Area regional peer though geographically distinct from Marin County.
Direct peers
- San Francisco Ballet School: The official training academy of San Francisco Ballet, located within driving distance of Marin County. It is the most direct comparable for Marin Ballet, offering graded ballet instruction from beginner through pre-professional levels for youth and adults in the same Bay Area market.
- Berkeley Ballet Theater: Bay Area ballet school led until 2006 by Corinne Jonas (now Marin Ballet's Artistic Administrator). Operates a similar tuition-based youth ballet program with performance opportunities, making it a directly comparable community ballet school in the same regional market.
- Oakland Ballet Academy: The training arm of Oakland Ballet, providing pre-professional and recreational ballet instruction in the East Bay. Comparable to Marin Ballet in mission, age-tiered curriculum, and Bay Area geography, with overlapping faculty lineages.
Emerging players
- LINES Ballet: Bay Area contemporary ballet company with an associated training program (LINES Ballet BFA at Dominican University). Comparable as a Bay Area ballet institution that intersects with Marin Ballet on contemporary syllabus and faculty (Marusya Madubuko joined LINES in 2021).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Marin Ballet social profiles
Digital presenceMarin Ballet financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Marin Ballet leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
Marin Ballet funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Marin Ballet M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Marin Ballet
What does Marin Ballet do?
Marin Ballet operates a nonprofit classical ballet school delivering age-segmented dance instruction from parent-child classes (ages 18 months-3 years) through advanced pre-professional levels (ages 14-18), plus adult ballet and summer programs. The school also runs a community engagement program that brings ballet to schools, libraries, and senior centers in Marin County, and rents out its six studios for compatible activities.
Is Marin Ballet a public or private company?
Marin Ballet is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Marin Ballet founded?
Marin Ballet was founded in 1963. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Marin Ballet based?
Marin Ballet is headquartered in San Rafael, United States, in the North America region.
How does Marin Ballet make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Class Fees are the primary driver. The others are adult Ballet Classes, summer Programs, studio Rentals, gala and Events, corporate Sponsorships and donations and Grants.
Who are Marin Ballet's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Menlowe Ballet, Smuin Ballet, Houston Ballet Academy, Pacific Northwest Ballet School and School of American Ballet. Peninsula Ballet Theatre is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are San Francisco Ballet School, Berkeley Ballet Theater and Oakland Ballet Academy. LINES Ballet is listed as an emerging player.
Does Marin Ballet have an API?
No public API is recorded for Marin Ballet.
What industry is Marin Ballet in?
Marin Ballet's product category is Dance Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAAAH, Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance). Its NAICS code is 61161 and its SIC code is 8200.