San Diego Ballet to Celebrate Museum's 100th Anniversary

Dance performances will highlight the history and art of the San Diego Museum of Art.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The San Diego Ballet is partnering with the San Diego Museum of Art to celebrate the museum's 100th anniversary through a series of dance performances called "Perspective." The 80-minute shows will feature choreographed dances inspired by key pieces in the museum's collection, as well as dances celebrating the history of San Diego. The performances will take place on Valentine's Day weekend, coinciding with the museum's original opening date 100 years ago.

Why it matters

This collaboration between the San Diego Ballet and the San Diego Museum of Art aims to bring together different art forms and attract new audiences to the museum. By having the dancers interpret and respond to the museum's artwork, the performances create a unique way for people to engage with and understand the museum's collection and history.

The details

The "Perspective" shows will feature dances choreographed by Javier Velasco, the artistic director of the San Diego Ballet. Velasco spent time with museum docents to learn about the significance of various artworks, which then inspired his choreography. Some dances will directly reference paintings, like the "Young Shepherdess" by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, while others will complement sculptures, such as the world's oldest surviving sculpture of Shiva as the Lord of Music. The second half of the show will celebrate San Diego's history through dances set to music from the 1970s KGB "Homegrown" albums.

  • The performances will take place on Valentine's Day weekend, February 14-16, 2026.
  • The shows are scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.

The players

San Diego Ballet

A 35-year-old dance company based in San Diego that is collaborating with the San Diego Museum of Art for the museum's centennial celebration.

San Diego Museum of Art

San Diego's first and largest art museum, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026.

Javier Velasco

The artistic director of the San Diego Ballet who choreographed the dances for the "Perspective" performances.

Diedre Guevara

The director of community engagement at the San Diego Museum of Art.

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What they’re saying

“We are the heritage. We're the history. We date back to the origins of San Diego.”

— Diedre Guevara, Director of Community Engagement, San Diego Museum of Art (Times)

“Dance is primarily a visual art. You look at it. I mean, that's a visual stimulus.”

— Javier Velasco, Artistic Director, San Diego Ballet (Times)

“We're not trying to recreate an artwork before your very eyes. We're trying to do dances in harmony with works of art.”

— Javier Velasco, Artistic Director, San Diego Ballet (Times)

What’s next

The museum and ballet company plan to continue their collaborative partnership beyond the centennial celebration, exploring new ways to integrate dance and visual art for future performances and exhibitions.

The takeaway

This unique partnership between the San Diego Ballet and the San Diego Museum of Art demonstrates how different art forms can come together to create a deeper, more immersive experience for audiences, blending the visual and the performative in celebration of the museum's rich history and artistic legacy.