San Diego Ballet Plans Art-Inspired Shows At Balboa Park Museum
The San Diego Ballet opens its 2025–26 season with “Landscapes — Art of the Americas,” a program created in residence at The San Diego Museum of Art. The company pairs choreography with works from the museum’s collection and offers same-day museum admission with ballet tickets.
What the residency means for local audiences
The residency continues a long partnership between the museum and the ballet. Performances staged in the James S. Copley Auditorium put dance inside a cultural hub in Balboa Park, letting audience members experience visual art and live performance on the same day. For San Diegans, that’s a single-ticket evening that doubles as a museum visit — a practical draw for visitors and families.
About “Landscapes — Art of the Americas”
Artistic director Javier Velasco developed the program around the museum’s “Art of the Americas” exhibition. Rather than simply translating color or subject into movement, Velasco explored broader ideas of landscape: open spaces, emotional distance, and abstract fields of color. One featured inspiration is Nicolai Fechin’s 1925 oil “Torrey Pines,” whose coastal cliffs and sunlit palette appear as a backdrop in the Copley Auditorium.
Music and choreography
Velasco chose American composer Aaron Copland’s scores — including Appalachian Spring and Three Latin American Sketches — for their range and ties to the program’s themes. The music’s American and Latin influences complement Velasco’s choreography and personal heritage, and the result aims to link visual and musical American traditions through dance.
Season highlights and related events
The ballet’s season aligns with the San Diego Museum of Art’s Centennial in 2026. Key events include:
- “Landscapes — Art of the Americas”: performances at the Copley Auditorium (upcoming Friday–Sunday schedule).
- “The Nutcracker”: themed “Illusionism” at The Magnolia in El Cajon (Dec. 20–21).
- “Perspective — Celebrating 100 years @ SDMA”: Feb. 13–15, 2026 at the museum.
- Dance film series “Intaglio” at the Museum of Photographic Arts in January, and “Collage” at Dance Place in Liberty Station in April.
| Show | Dates / Time | Venue | Ticket Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscapes — Art of the Americas | Fri 7 p.m.; Sat 8 p.m.; Sun 2 p.m. | James S. Copley Auditorium, SDMA | $45–$67; includes same-day museum admission |
| The Nutcracker — “Illusionism” | Dec 20–21 | The Magnolia, El Cajon | Season ticketing / single-ticket options |
| Perspective — Centennial program | Feb 13–15, 2026 | James S. Copley Auditorium, SDMA | Tickets on sandiegoballet.org |
Why this matters for San Diego’s arts scene
Pairing museum collections with live dance amplifies both forms: museumgoers gain a kinetic, interpretive response to works on view, and ballet audiences see pieces placed in a broader cultural context. The same-day admission deal removes a common barrier — the extra ticket — and makes the museum more accessible to first-time visitors. For local arts funding, partnerships like this demonstrate collaborative programming that can attract donors, grant funding, and cross-promotion across institutions.
What to watch next
Check ticket availability early: shows at the Copley Auditorium can sell quickly around the Centennial calendar. If you plan to visit the museum before an evening performance, arrive by the museum’s 5 p.m. closing time to use the included admission. Watch for announcements about the January dance film series and additional Centennial programming — these events often release limited-capacity tickets and special packages.
- What are performance dates and times?
Landscapes runs Fri at 7 p.m., Sat at 8 p.m., and Sun at 2 p.m.; check sandiegoballet.org for updates. - Does my ballet ticket include museum entry?
Yes — same-day admission to The San Diego Museum of Art is included with a ballet ticket. - Where is the venue and how early should I arrive?
The James S. Copley Auditorium is at 1450 El Prado in Balboa Park; arrive at least an hour early if you plan to visit the museum first. - Are there family or student discounts?
Ticket policies vary by performance; check the San Diego Ballet box office or website for available discounts.
Practical takeaway: buy tickets early, plan to use the included museum admission by arriving before 5 p.m., and use the evening to experience both the exhibition that inspired the work and the new choreography that responds to it.
San Diego Ballet Brings Art Themed Shows to Balboa Park
