San Francisco Ballet, long recognized for pushing boundaries in dance, has a history of making history. Founded in 1933, they staged the first full-length American productions of Coppélia (1938) and Swan Lake (1940) and, in 1944, launched an annual holiday tradition with the first full-length production of Nutcracker in the US. Led by Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson, SF Ballet is accompanied by its own orchestra and operates one of the country’s most prestigious schools of ballet. Today they build on their heritage by commissioning groundbreaking dance from today’s top choreographers, by uncovering new choreographic talent, and by staging modern classics and the works that make up the canon of classic ballet. Their approach defines ballet in the 21st century, and it makes San Francisco Ballet the essential place to see the most adventurous dance in America.