San Francisco Ballet 150 students are chosen by audition to dance in the yearly SF Ballet production of "Nutcracker". The most advanced students may also dance with SF Ballet in the repertory season. The school also runs a pre-ballet program for children ages 4–7; after completing the program, students of age who wish to continue study must audition in order to continue at the school. The faculty of the San Francisco Ballet School has long been known for its excellence and diversity of background. As of January 2017, it is led by the Artistic Director Helgi Tómasson and Associate Director Patrick Armand. The
San Francisco de Macorís in 1505 in a place rich in gold. For centuries what is now San Francisco de Macorís and the province Duarte was rural outskirts of La Vega and Cotuí respectively. The Villa of Santa Ana of San Francisco de Macorís also previously called Hato Grande, was until 1718 owned by Francisco Ravelo Polanco, Provincial Mayor of the Santa Hermandad of Santiago de los Caballeros, and later the tradition points out to Juan de Alvarado and the families Tejada and De Jesus as the owners of the land and donors of the territorial area for the purpose of its foundation in