Today we’d like to introduce you to Toby Batley.
Hi Toby, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I moved to San Diego in 2017 from the UK with my wife, Martha, to take over the running of Southern California Ballet. We had been professional ballet dancers with Northern Ballet in the UK for about 15 years, performing leading roles on stages across the country and working with some of the top choreographers in the world.
Southern California Ballet, based in Carmel Mountain/Rancho Bernardo, has been a cornerstone of the San Diego arts community since its founding in 1983. The organization is dedicated to providing high-quality training and performance opportunities for young dancers, while also presenting professional-level productions to enrich the cultural life of the region. SCB is particularly well known for its annual performances of The Nutcracker, which bring together students, professional dancers, and the wider community.
For Martha, returning to SCB was especially meaningful, as it is where she trained as a student while growing up in San Diego. Together, we are committed to carrying forward the company’s tradition of excellence and acceptance in both education and performance, nurturing the next generation of dancers, and ensuring ballet remains accessible and inspiring for audiences of all ages.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a steep learning curve transitioning from being professional dancers to running a medium-to-large nonprofit like Southern California Ballet. In this role, we wear many hats and have had to learn every aspect of the organization—from marketing and community outreach to legal compliance and financial management.
Running a nonprofit educational organization brings unique challenges, as it requires balancing multiple responsibilities: the artistic vision of creating and staging productions, the educational mission of training and inspiring children, and the operational demands of board governance, fundraising, planning, and day-to-day management. Each area demands attention, and together they create a complex but deeply rewarding endeavor.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Southern California Ballet is a nonprofit arts and education organization based in Poway, serving the greater San Diego community since 1983. We specialize in providing exceptional ballet training for students of all ages, combined with professional-level performance opportunities that nurture both artistic excellence and personal growth.
We are best known for our annual production of The Nutcracker, a beloved San Diego tradition that brings together our students, professional guest artists, and the local community in a celebration of dance and holiday spirit. Beyond The Nutcracker, we present a wide range of performances that showcase both classical and contemporary works, giving our dancers the opportunity to grow as versatile, well-rounded artists.
What sets us apart is our commitment to our four core values—Balance, Excellence, Acceptance, and Respect. These values guide everything we do, from the way we train our dancers to the way we engage with our audiences. We are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and artistry, while also creating an environment where every student can thrive as an individual. We believe that ballet is not only about perfecting technique, but also about fostering confidence, creativity, and resilience that students carry into all areas of life.
We are especially proud of the supportive community we’ve built. Many of our alumni go on to dance professionally or pursue successful careers in other fields, always carrying with them the discipline, artistry, and passion they developed at Southern California Ballet. By making high-quality ballet training and performances accessible through scholarships, outreach, and inclusive programming, we ensure that ballet continues to inspire and uplift people of all ages throughout San Diego.
Any big plans?
Looking ahead, Southern California Ballet is excited to continue building on our strong foundation while working toward our long-term vision: to create a world-class dance facility in San Diego that not only trains dancers for professional careers, but also empowers individuals for a life of success and welcomes the community to be part of an extraordinary experience.
A key part of that vision is making ballet accessible to everyone, especially underserved populations who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience it. We are committed to expanding scholarships, outreach initiatives, and community partnerships so that students from all backgrounds can receive exceptional training and audiences across San Diego can enjoy the beauty of live ballet. By breaking down barriers to participation, we hope to ensure that ballet remains an art form that inspires, uplifts, and belongs to the whole community.
We also believe San Diego deserves to be recognized as a cultural hub for ballet in the United States. While remaining grounded in humility and service to our community, our goal is to put San Diego on the map as a center of ballet excellence. Through world-class training, inspiring performances, and meaningful outreach, we look forward to shaping a future where Southern California Ballet continues to enrich lives and strengthen the arts in our region for generations to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.southerncaliforniaballet.org
- Instagram: @southerncaliforniaballet
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthernCaliforniaBallet/
Image Credits
Leah Michelle Photography
