Presents
December 13, 14 and 15, 2024
Artistic D irec tor, Kirsten Oakley
Ventura College Performing Arts Center
The Nutcracker
Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreographed by Kirsten Oakley
Ventura College Performing Arts Center
Friday, December 13, 2024 7:00 pm
Saturday, December 14, 2024 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm
Sunday, December 15, 2024 1:00 pm
Mission Statement
Our purpose is to provide educational opportunities to young people in the art of ballet. More specifically, the mission of Footworks Youth Ballet is to develop and enhance every student’s love and appreciation for the art of ballet; to do so by offering all students an opportunity to perform in live ballet performances; to provide serious ballet students who aspire to a professional career in dance the opportunity to develop their artistry and refine their ballet technique while performing on stage; to encourage young aspiring choreographers by providing nurturing workshops and choreographic opportunities under the mentorship of dance professionals; to widen life’s opportunities for all students and encourage them to meet life’s challenges and opportunities with confidence and self-esteem developed through the discipline of ballet.
The Nutcracker
Act One
The Party
It is Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum Residence and preparations are in place for the annual holiday festivities. The guests soon enjoy dances, gifts and refreshments. The merriment is interrupted by the arrival of Herr Drosselmeyer, Clara Stahlbaum’s godfather. Herr Drosselmeyer appeared quite unexpectedly, bringing gifts for the Stahlbaum family along with his newest inventions: two life-sized dolls to entertain the children. The party children are enchanted and beg Herr Drosselmeyer for one of the dolls. As a surprise for Clara, Herr Drosselmeyer brings forth a special gift: a wooden nutcracker dressed like a Royal soldier. Clara loves it immediately, but Fritz grabs the nutcracker and breaks it. Clara is devastated. Herr Drosselmeyer repairs the nutcracker. Everyone joins in for one last stately dance before the party draws to a close.
The Battle
Later that night, as Clara sleeps, the mice interrupt her dreams just before the clock strikes midnight. Herr Drosselmeyer mysteriously appears. He beckons to the mice, and then casts a magic spell. The mice transform into rats, the toy soldiers come to life, and all are as tall as Clara. Her nutcracker is transformed to a life-size soldier, and miraculously appears to lead the soldiers against the rats and their Rat King. Clara looks on as the rats and soldiers battle. Frightened that the Rat King will kill the Nutcracker, Clara pulls the Rat King’s tail. As the Rat King turns to strike Clara, the Nutcracker hits the Rat King with one fatal blow. The soldiers are victorious, but Clara is left sad, alone and afraid.
Transformation - Journey Through the Snow
Suddenly, the Sugar Plum Fairy appears and tells Clara not to be frightened. They travel together, accompanied by sweet cherubs and angel escorts, through the Land of Snow on their way to the Sugar Plum Fairy’s magical kingdom - the Land of Sweets.
Intermission
MyDancer MomandDad BeautifulDancing!Youaresotalented!
Head to the lobby at intermission to purchase a Candygram for $2 for your dancer! We will deliver the Candygram with your personal message and a special treat backstage to your dancer during Act 2. Proceeds benefit Footworks Youth Ballet.
Act Two
Land of Sweets
Excited
that Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy are on their way, the Land of Sweets’ Angels and Attendants come together and dance. All of the Sugar Plum Fairy’s subjects arrive to welcome her back home and to meet her distinguished guest. The Sugar Plum Fairy regales the court with a colorful account of the battle between the soldiers and the mice.
The Sugar Plum Fairy then invites Clara to sit on her throne so her subjects might entertain her. The guest of honor is treated to dances by Chocolates, Ribbon Candies, Tea, Peppermint Bon Bons, Coffee, Cooks, Candy Hoops, Reed Flutes, Mother Ginger with her Polichinelles and finally, the Waltz of the Flowers. As the festivities come to a close, the dancers celebrate in an energetic culminating farewell. As they begin to fade away, so does Clara’s dream.
The End
Cast List
Winter 2024
ACT I
Fritz Amelie Birkett
Clara Taylor Corcoran
Nanny Bailey Basurto
Maid Molly Strouse
Mother Stahlbaum Brie Cheatham
Father Stahlbaum Mark Corcoran
Drosselmeyer Hai Cohen
Party Parents
Finley Colavito and John Grande
Hazel Van Orman and Thurop Van Orman
Charlotte Cornes and Adam Johnson
Lillian Carroll and Chad Hammond
Columbine Doll Trudy Ragsdale
Harlequin Doll April Johnson
Party Girls
Vivienne Grande, Alexa Kovacevic, Charlotte Levin, Zoe Philipp-Gibbs, Findley Smiley,
Autumn Storts
Party Boys
Soldiers
Harlow Becker, Amelie Birkett, Stella Briggs, Lillian Duval, Vivienne Evans, Sage Gibson, Daleyza Gonzalez, Ava Johnson, Alexa Kovacevic, Charlotte Levin, Francesca Minadeo, Zoe Philipp-Gibbs,
Kahlan Prouse, Nila Slusarenko, Findley Smiley, Ava Smith, Izabella Tretko, Madelyn Usery
Sugar Plum Fairy Bailey Basurto
Snow Angels
Stella Briggs, Elnora Dunlap, Francesca Minadeo, Nila Slusarenko, Ava Smith, Madelyn Usery
Snowflake Corps de Ballet
Lillian Carroll, Brie Cheatham, Finley Colavito, Charlotte Cornes, Mia Earley, April Johnson, Trudy Ragsdale, Hazel Van Orman
Snow Maidens
Vivienne Grande, Lennon Nichols, Autumn Storts, Molly Strouse, Alina Schulbach, Maddie Yamamoto
Stella Briggs, Francesca Camilon, Elnora Dunlap, Lennon Nichols, Kahlan Prouse, Izabella Tretko
The Nutcracker
Charlotte Cornes
Rat King Lillian Carroll
Rats
Francesca Camilon, Mia Earley, Vivienne Grande, April Johnson, Gabi Kovacevic, Isy Newlow, Lennon Nichols, Trudy Ragsdale, Alina Schulbach, Autumn Storts, Molly Strouse, Maddie Yamamoto
Cherubs
Emilia Garcia & Sophie Rek
Sugar Plum Pages
Francesca Camilion & Isy Newlow
End of Act I
Candy Hoops
Land of Sweets Attendant Hazel Van Orman
Cherubs
Emilia Garcia & Sophie Rek Angels
Ophelia Bañuelos, Indah Bauer, Aria Dawson, Evelyn Dunlap, Camille Duval, Nora Lafferty, Matilda Milaszewicz, Elena Murillo, Jane Needham, Davy Nichols, Eliana Perera, Alicia Prum, Evelyn Scherer, Nella Schneiderman, Everly Withers, Margot Zibach
Pages
Stella Briggs, Alexa Kovacevic, Charlotte Levin, Francesca Minadeo, Nila Slusarenko, Findley Smiley, Ava Smith, Madelyn Usery
Chocolate
Charlotte Cornes with Lillian Carroll, April Johnson, Trudy Ragsdale, Hazel Van Orman
Candy Ribbon
Finley Colavito with Alina Schulbach, Autumn Storts, Molly Strouse, Maddie Yamamoto
Tea
Lillian Carroll, Charlotte Cornes, Trudy Ragsdale
Peppermint Bon Bons
Autumn Storts and Maddie Yamamoto with Francesca Camilon, Amelie Birkett, Vivienne Grande, Gabi Kovacevic, Isy Newlow, Lennon Nichols
Coffee
Brie Cheatham and Hai Cohen with Lillian Carroll, Finley Colavito, Charlotte Cornes, April Johnson, Trudy Ragsdale, Hazel Van Orman
Cooks
Amelie Birkett, Vivienne Grande, Gabi Kovacevic, Lennon Nichols
Mia Earley, Autumn Storts and Maddie Yamamoto with Stella Briggs, Elnora Dunlap, Alexa Kovacevic, Charlotte Levin, Francesca Minadeo, Zoe Philipp-Gibbs, Kahlan Prouse, Nila Slusarenko, Findley Smiley, Ava Smith, Izabella Tretko,
Madelyn Usery
Reed Flutes
Brie Cheatham with Lillian Carroll, Finley Colavito, Charlotte
Cornes,April Johnson, Trudy Ragsdale, Hazel Van Orman
Mother Ginger Mikaela Mitchell Polichinelles
Ophelia Bañuelos, Harlow Becker, Abigail Costello, Aria Dawson, Hadley Dunlap, Lillian Duval, Vivienne Evans, Sage Gibson, Daleyza Gonzales, Ava Johnson, Kacey Juarez, Nora Lafferty, Matilda Milaszewicz, Nella Schneiderman, Nadia Slusarenko, Jane Zibach
Waltz of the Flowers
Lillian Carroll, Brie Cheatham, Finley Colavito, Charlotte Cornes, Mia Earley, April Johnson, Trudy Ragsdale, Alina Schulbach, Autumn Storts, Molly Strouse, Hazel Van Orman, Maddie Yamamoto
Grande Finale
Entire Cast
Artistic Director
Kirsten Oakley
Kirsten Oakley is the artistic director of Footworks Youth Ballet, director of the Oakley Ballet Center and a native of Ventura. Kirsten trained at Westside Ballet in Santa Monica with Yvonne Mounsey. She started her professional career as a member of the Milwaukee Ballet. She also danced with the Chicago Lyric Opera, Milwaukee Dance Theater and Et toi, tu dances? (Ballet Wisconsin). Kirsten opened the Oakley Ballet Center in 1998 with the mission of providing top-quality classical ballet instruction in a positive environment.
Kirsten’s focus on instilling her students with sound technique and a positive self-image has resulted in many successes. Her students have attended notable summer programs including the School of American Ballet, the Pacific Northwest Ballet School, the San Francisco Ballet School, the Boston Ballet School and many others.
Alumni of her school have continued to dance in professional companies like Ballet West and Oakland Ballet Company, and advanced training programs such as Pacific Northwest Ballet School’s Professional Division and university dance departments at Butler University, California State University, Long Beach, Stanford University, Texas Christian University, Yale University, University of Utah and University of California, Irvine.
Children’s Division Coordinator
Laurin Boland
Laurin began her early training in both Ventura and Santa Barbara counties as well as in Philadelphia. She continued her studies in dance with the University of California, Santa Barbara dance department and performed with the UCSB Ballet Company under the direction of Valerie Houston. Laurin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Child Development from UCSB and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from California Lutheran University.
After years of working with children in Ventura, Laurin is delighted to be teaching ballet with her longtime and very dear friend, Kirsten Oakley, at Oakley Ballet Center.
Guest Artist
Hai Cohen
Dancer/Choreographer/Educator
Drosselmeyer, Coffee Soloist
Anative of Be’er-Sheva, Israel, Hai found his passion for dance through dancing with noted Israeli folk dance company Aylot Anegov, traveling around the globe presenting this rich cultural heritage at festivals for five years. He then went on to study ballet at the Bat Dor Professional Dance School. During that time, Hai was awarded the American-Israel Cultural Scholarship, given only to the top dance students in the country. Upon graduation, his achievements in dance were honored by the Israeli government, which allowed him to continue his professional career while simultaneously fulfilling his mandatory three-year national service commitment in the IDF.
Hai was a member of Kamea Contemporary Dance Company and joined Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company (under the direction of Rami Be-er) in 2007, with whom he traveled the globe touring their acclaimed dances at major venues. Hai was a member of the Los Angeles-based dance company BODYTRAFFIC from 2010-2013. Hai shares his passion for dance with the next generation of dancers as a faculty member of the Idyllwild Arts Academy, and the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where he teaches modern dance and ballet and choreographs multiple student pieces. Hai’s dance courses are unique in their combination of multiple dance techniques, giving his students a thorough foundation from which they can develop their individual voices as dancers and share their passions as fully-developed artists.
Guest Artist
Mikaela Mitchell Mother Ginger
Mikaela is a former dancer and instructor with Oakley Ballet Center. She performed in more than 13 productions of The Nutcracker under the direction of Kirsten Oakley, as well as in many spring performances. Some of her favorite roles included the Evil Queen in Snow White, and Coffee soloist, Nanny, and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker.
A graduate of Cal State Long Beach, Mikaela is now employed full-time as a Children’s Social Worker, and enjoys teaching an adult ballet class once a week, and substitute teaching at Oakley Ballet Center.
Emmy Pearson
Emmy Pearson is in 8th grade and has been playing the lever harp for four years. She also plays the piano and enjoys the sport of rowing. Opening for The Nutcracker marks the fifth Footworks production for which she has graced the stage at Ventura College Performing Arts Center. Emmy’s family is so proud of her efforts!
Featured Dancers
Bailey Basurto
Nanny, Sugar Plum Fairy
Bailey is a Junior at Foothill Technology High School. Bailey has been dancing with Oakley Ballet Center for thirteen years. Some of Bailey’s favorite roles include Spring Fairy in Cinderella as well as Doe and Pride Fate in Snow White. Outside of ballet, Bailey enjoys listening to music, hanging out with friends and photography. A favorite quote of Bailey’s is: “It was my delusion and naivety that brought me here.” - Lady Gaga
Lillian Carroll
Party Parent, Rat King, Snowflake Corps de Ballet, Chocolate, Tea, Coffee, Reed Flutes, Waltz of the Flowers Corps de Ballet Lillian is a senior at Beacon Hill Classical Academy. She has been dancing for fourteen years including twelve years with Oakley Ballet Center. Her favorite roles include Rat King and Doll in The Nutcracker. When she is not dancing, Lillian enjoys reading, writing, drawing, and listening to music. Lillian is employed part-time as a student worker for the County of Ventura Human Services Agency, and plans to pursue a career in public service as a forensic investigator. One of Lillian’s favorite quotes is: “I come in peace! Also with coffee. Would you like some?” - Alla S
Brie Cheatham
Mother Stahlbaum, Snowflake Corps de Ballet, Coffee Soloist, Reed Flutes Soloist, Waltz of the Flowers Corps de Ballet
Brie is a Junior at Ventura High School. She has been dancing for thirteen years, with ten years at Oakley Ballet Center. Her favorite roles have included Clara in the 2019 production of The Nutcracker, Peacock in the 2023 Snow White, being a member of the corps de ballet in Les Sylphides, and an Coffee soloist in this current year of The Nutcracker. She has attended both Ballet West and Kansas City Ballet’s summer intensives. A quote that carries meaning for her is: “Where there is no heart, there is no art.” - Anna Pavlova
Finley Colavito
Party Parent, Snowflake Corps de Ballet, Candy Ribbon Soloist, Coffee, Reed Flutes, Waltz of the Flowers Corps de Ballet
Finley is a junior at Foothill Technology High School. She has been dancing with Oakley Ballet Center for seven years. Her favorite roles include Candy Ribbon Soloist in The Nutcracker, and a Ballroom dancer in Cinderella. In her free time, Finley enjoys cooking, creating artwork, and spending time with her friends and family. A favorite quote of hers is: ”Dancing is the hidden language of the soul.” - Martha Graham
Charlotte Cornes
Party Parent, The Nutcracker, Snowflake Corps de Ballet, Chocolate Soloist, Tea, Coffee, Reed Flutes, Waltz of the Flowers Corps de Ballet
Charlotte is a Sophomore at Simi Valley High School. She has been dancing for twelve years and has danced with Oakley Ballet Center for six years. Her favorite roles include Autumn Fairy in Cinderella, and the Snow Corps and the Nutcracker in The Nutcracker. Charlotte loves being a rehearsal assistant. When she’s not at ballet, she loves reading and continuing a binge of Grey’s Anatomy. A quote that means something to Charlotte is: “What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?” - Erin Hanson
Mia Earley
Rat, Snowflake Corps de Ballet, Candy Hoop Soloist, Waltz of the Flowers Corps de Ballet Mia is in eighth grade at Cabrillo Middle School. She has been dancing for nine years with more than seven years at Oakley Ballet Center. Some of her favorite roles include Sleepy Dwarf in Snow White, as well as a Cook in The Nutcracker. Outside of ballet, she enjoys art, listening to music and writing short stories. A favorite quote of Mia’s is, “Have courage, and be kind. Where there is kindness, there is goodness, and where there is goodness, there is magic.” - Cinderella
April Johnson
Harlequin Doll, Rat, Snow Corps de Ballet, Chocolate, Coffee, Reed Flutes, Waltz of the Flowers Corps de Ballet
April is in eighth grade at Cabrillo Middle School. April has been dancing for nine years and has trained at Oakley Ballet Center for eight years. Her favorite roles include Happy the Dwarf and Dove in Snow White, as well as Rat and a Cook in The Nutcracker. Outside of ballet, April enjoys crocheting, swimming, baking and hanging out with friends. A favorite quote of April’s is: “There are so many great things in life; why dwell on negativity?” - Zendaya
Trudy Ragsdale
Columbine Doll, Rat, Snowflake Corps de Ballet, Chocolate, Tea, Coffee, Reed Flutes, Waltz of the Flower Corps de Ballet
Trudy is a Freshman at Foothill Technology High School. She has been training at Oakley Ballet Center for ten years. Her favorite roles include: Dove and Grumpy the Dwarf in Snow White, and the role of a Cook in The Nutcracker. When Trudy is not dancing, she enjoys reading, baking and cooking. “In order to be truly happy, you must pursue your dreams and goals.” - Oprah Winfrey
Alina Sculbach
Rat, Snow Maiden, Candy Ribbon, Waltz of the Flowers Corps de Ballet
Alina is an eighth grader at Cabrillo Middle School. She has been dancing for nine years, and dancing with Oakley Ballet Center for the last six years. Some of Alina’s favorite roles have been a Rat in The Nutcracker and a Fox in Snow White. Outside of ballet, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and playing the oboe. A quote with meaning to Alina is, “When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It’s to enjoy each step along the way.”
– Wayne Dyer
Autumn Storts
Party Girl, Rat, Snow Maiden, Candy Ribbon, Peppermint Bon Bon Soloist, Candy Hoop
Soloist, Waltz of the Flowers Corps de Ballet
Autumn is a sixth grader at Cabrillo Middle School. She has been dancing for nine years, with six years at Oakley Ballet Center. Her favorite roles have included Clara, and a Rat in The Nutcracker, Lead Archer in Peter and the Wolf, a Fox in Snow White, and Season Fairy Corps in Cinderella. Outside of ballet, Autumn enjoys spending time with family and friends, drawing, reading, and listening to music. Her favorite quote is, “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.” - Truman Capote
Molly Strouse
Maid, Rat, Snow Maiden, Candy Ribbon, Waltz of the Flowers Corps de Ballet
Molly is a seventh grader at Cabrillo Middle School. She has been dancing with Oakley Center for six years. Molly’s favorite roles include Doc the Dwarf in Snow White, a Season Corps dancer in Cinderella, and the roles of Cook and Rat in The Nutcracker. Outside of ballet, Molly enjoys spending time reading, writing, and drawing. A quote that is meaningful to Molly is, “It is not beauty that endears, it’s love that lets us see beauty.” - Leo Tolstoy
Hazel Van Orman
Party Parent, Snowflake Corps de Ballet, Land of the Sweets Attendant, Chocolate, Coffee, Reed Flutes, Waltz of the Flowers Corps de Ballet
Hazel is a Junior at Foothill Technology High School. She has been dancing for six years. Hazel’s favorite roles so far have been Sugarplum Attendant in The Nutcracker and Ballroom in Cinderella. Outside of ballet, Hazel enjoys reading, painting, and spending time with friends. “We are never more truly and profoundly human than when we dance.” – José Limón
Maddie Yamamoto
Rat, Snow Maiden, Candy Ribbon, Peppermint Bon Bon Soloist, Candy Hoop Soloist, Waltz of the Flowers Corps de Ballet
Maddie is a seventh grader at CAPE Charter School in Camarillo. She has been dancing for eight years, three of which have been at OBC. Her favorite roles have been Dopey the Dwarf in Snow White, a Rat in The Nutcracker, and Bon Bon Soloist in this year’s production of The Nutcracker. Outside of ballet, Maddie practices the martial art, Kendo, and enjoys spending time with family and friends, and reading. Maddie’s favorite quote is, “I may not be there yet but, I’m closer than I was yesterday.”Misty Copeland
“When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It’s to enjoy each step along the way.”
-Wayne Dyer-
Leadership and Crew
Winter 2024
VC Technical Director Jamie Birkett
Lighting and design
VC PAC Assistant
Videographers
Melissa Lay
Gabriel Aragon
Alison and Ernie Tamminga
Accounting Michelle Spaulding
Production Managers
PR & Marketing Manager
Social Media
Graphic Design and Custom Art
Costume Coordinators
Ticket Coordinator
In-House Photography
Program Designer & Marketing Support
Program Editors
Stage Manager
Technical Manager
Security Coordinators
Backstage Coordinators
Prop Coordinator
Quickchange Coordinators
Lunch Coordinators
Lobby Team
Production Merchandise
School Outreach Coordinator
Senior Community Outreach Coordinator
Aimee Hammond and Brigid Morales
Ariel Palmieri
Hazel Van Orman and Heidi Withers
Erin Martinez
Jill Johnson and Rochelle Storts
Brenda Usery
Hillary Smiley, Elena Anzaldo, and Josh Withers
Jim Earley
Aimee Hammond, Brigid Morales and Ariel Palmieri
Dave Ragsdale
Todd Tranby
Julie and Steve Carroll, Renee Camilon, and Ruben Gonzalez
Katherine Basurto and Juliana Beeson
Sheryl Miller
Bailey Basurto and Charlotte Cornes
Katherine Basurto and Kyla Colavito
Sam Hill, Lauren Minadeo, Ariel Palmieri, Scarlett Palmieri, Katie Pilgrim-Arana, Jessica Smith, and Lindsay Zibach
Erin Martinez and Rochelle Storts
Jennifer McDevitt
Laurel Corcoran
Senior Community Outreach Technical Support April Boland
Dine Out Nights Coordinator
Fundraising/Events
Monica Earley
Ashley Duval, Monica Earley, Aimee Hammond, Ashley Johnson, Brigid Morales
Footworks Youth Ballet
Board of Directors
• Jon Light
• J. Steven Murillo
• Kirsten Oakley
• Michael Perroni
• Dave Ragsdale
Our Donors
Performances like The Nutcracker would not be possible without the support of donors. Footworks Youth Ballet extends our thanks to the following donors for their generous contributions. Some of our donors have been giving for many years, and their totals represent that cumulative giving, as we like to recognize the impact of their continued support. Bravo!
Patron ($5000+)
• Angela and Jon Light
• Jennifer Thompson and Drew Story
• Brass Ring Foundation
• John J Hammer
Foundation ($3000+)
• Judy and Robert Gold
Angel ($2000+)
• Gerri-Lynn and Brett Becker
• Nancy and Pat Gallagher
• Jody Bishop and Pamela Holbrook
Founder ($1000+)
• Michelle Holmes and Chuck Caulkins
• Aimee and Chad Hammond
• Ashley and Adam Johnson
Above the Barre
• Jean Ball
• Stephanie and Phil Dillon
• Aurora Jensen
• The California Wine Club
Devotee
• Julie and Steve Carroll
• Suzanne Chadwick
• Eloqui Company
Enthusiast
• Rochelle Storts
• Sheryl Miller
• Lenita Andres
• Scott Goodwin
• Candice Weber
• C.A. and D.G. Blaney
• Annette Okamur
• Betsy and Scott Manninen Supporter
• Christina Freeman
• Sherri Van Orman
• Morgan and Tim Stowers
For additional information about our donor categories or to set-up recurring or one-time donations, please visit: https://www.oakleyballet.com/support/
Community Supporters
Footworks Youth Ballet gives special thanks to the generous support of these organizations, whose in-kind or monetary contributions, and collaborative support, make our productions possible.
• The Dance Store - Fillmore, Los Angeles and Online
• LightGabler LLP - Ventura County Employment Law Attorneys
• MadeWest Brewery - Ventura
• Men’s Wearhouse, Oxnard
• Ventura College
• Aimee Hammond MS, RDN - Seen and Heard Nutrition
• Ariel Palmieri - Coldwell Banker Realty
Rehearsal Assistants
Thank You, Junior Assistants!
Kirsten and Laurin greatly appreciate the rehearsal assistants who have mentored the younger dancers and helped throughout The Nutcracker rehearsal season.
• Bailey Basurto
• Lillian Carroll
• Charlotte Cornes
A special thank you to our Alumni dancers who assisted with rehearsals this season.
• April Boland
• Mikaela Mitchell
• Avery Trask
Our Volunteers are the Best!
Costuming and Sewing
Thank you for designing, making, altering, cleaning, and organizing more than 200 costumes, including many new or redesigned creations. We are proud to see your work take center stage and are delighted by how beautiful the dancers look in these stunning costumes. Great job!
Lunch Crew
Thank you for feeding us on Saturdays during production season. Thank you for your donations. Thank you to the Lunch Crew members who were present to serve lunches cheerfully each Saturday. Your delicious meals gave us the energy we all needed to do our jobs.
Fundraising
Thank you for organizing the restaurant nights, family nights, making and selling the Glögg, the beautiful Fingerworks crafts and all the fun! You inspire us all to support our cause.
Production
Sets and props, nuts and bolts, communicating, leading, problem-solving, organizing and motivating. This is the Go-to Team. Thank you for being the leaders of our extraordinarily special organization.
Marketing
The word is OUT! Sold Out performances! T-shirts and sweatshirts the dancers collect each season. Banners around town. FYB on the VC marquee. Our beautiful program, postcards given to family and friends, social media marketing, and so much more!
Tickets
Without ticket sales, there would be no performances. Thank you for your efforts and dedication to providing great customer service in a calm, friendly and organized manner. Thank you to a team of talented ushers to assist our audience to have the best theater experience possible.
Senior Living Outreach
Bringing our beautiful and talented dancers in costumes, with props, directly to Ventura County seniors in their independent and assisted living communities. This required advance planning and a lot of transportation, and resulted in more than 200 Ventura and Oxnard seniors experiencing excerpts from The Nutcracker without leaving their communities
.
Educational Outreach
Moving more than 750 attendees in and out of the theater on a Thursday morning in two hours - now that is a BIG job! Thank you for the fantastic organizational skills and clear communication. Just think how many children’s lives you’ve helped enrich!
Backstage and Security
During production week alone, nearly 300 volunteer positions are filled by about 60 volunteers. Thank you for your participation and for providing clear direction to our parents/dancers in a calm and safe manner.
Lobby: Sales - Flowers - Gifts
Gifts for dancers, historical costume, prop and themed displays, refreshments and treats, holiday shopping, handmade items, production mementos and apparel - thank you to our lobby team for thoughtfully curating, displaying and selling these wares.
The Fabric of Footworks
Threads, needles and fabric play a big role at Footworks Youth Ballet. We are, of course, a ballet company. When there are dancers performing, there are costumes to be made. Throughout the production season, our volunteer costuming department is hard at work creating new costumes and repairing, altering and improving the old. We are immensely proud of our costumes and the many helping hands working to create the beautiful costumes that help bring our productions to life on stage. That is not, however, where the thread and fabric ends. The fabric of Footworks started way before Footworks was founded in 2003.
The thread began when a young Kirsten Oakley began dancing in Santa Monica with Yvonne Mounsey at Westside Ballet. Years later, when Footworks was staging its first production, it was Yvonne Mounsey who provided us with the costumes, choreography and the support that got us off the ground and on the stage. Nearly 20 years later, Footworks’ fabric has grown to include threads from students, parents, teachers and friends, both past and present. We are woven so tightly together that at times it’s difficult to tell who is a current student or parent and who is not. With great pride and a strong sense of responsibility, Oakley Ballet Center and Footworks Youth Ballet consciously teach and encourage mentoring and leadership skills. This is evident as we watch the natural progression of roles being passed from one dancer to another (and often - one parent volunteer to another). The students mentor each other, teaching as they go along. When they witness the successes of others, they are proud of their mentoring accomplishments. The result is a respect toward each other, and for their art form, that transcends age, ability or level. We are so proud to see this tradition continue each year and to see our dancers, who were once the youngest, now leading and mentoring others. Without exception, everyone helps to bring this production to the stage.
“Each season when we start preparing for The Nutcracker, I feel the presence from all of the hands that have held each prop and costume since 2004,” Kirsten Oakley says. “It is humbling to reflect about each of these makers and how all of their contributions over the years make it possible for us to continue performing.”
Fingerworks Fundraising
Fingerworks is a fundraising division of Footworks where our alumni families, dancers’ families and friends, dancers themselves, and members of the Footworks Youth Ballet creative and production teams join together under the direction of volunteers to create handmade crafts, decor and gift items. Funds raised from these sales will be used toward the next production. Be sure to stop by and see the beautiful and unique creations made with love by our talented Fingerworks team.
Senior Community Outreach
Ballet Dancers Performed Scenes from The Nutcracker for Ventura County Senior Citizens in Ventura.
In November, 2024, dancers from the cast of the Footworks Youth Ballet production of The Nutcracker wanted to bring the magic of the holiday season to some community members who cannot attend the performances. Footworks partnered with Oakmont Senior Living of RiverPark in Oxnard, and The Bonaventure, The Ventura Townehouse, Cypress Place, The Lexington and The Veterans Home of California, all in Ventura, to present portions of the ballet classic to their residents.
More than 15 costume-clad ballet dancers danced for the seniors, bringing with them props and presenting a beautiful variation of The Nutcracker.
Elementary School Outreach
Imagine the joy and excitement on students’ faces when the lights dim and the music begins. It is truly a rewarding experience to introduce and share ballet with more than 750 Ventura County students each Fall and Spring when school groups attend performances in advance of opening weekend. Without this Outreach Program, many local students might not have the opportunity to experience the fine art of ballet. Perhaps our performances will spark an interest where none previously existed. Even if students don’t want to be dancers, it opens their eyes to the arts and they may pursue it in some other fashion. Or they may choose to continue attending performances for enjoyment.
Outreach is the favorite performance for many of our dancers because the students are so enthusiastic - it makes our dancers happy to know that students enjoy the performance.
For information about how your student’s school can have the opportunity to attend an Outreach performance, email productionmanager@oakleyballet.com and please put Outreach Information Request in the subject line.
Senior Community Outreach
Senior Community Outreach
Winter 2024 Dedications
Vivienne
Vivienne,
It is such a joy to watch you dance on stage with your ballet family! Each year brings you new roles and great experiences (Yay! You finally get to be a Rat and a Cook!).
We are so happy that you get to experience this and that your love for dance continues to grow more and more. Keep dancing your heart out!
Love always, Vincent, Mommy, and Daddy
Winter 2024 Dedications
Lillian
Lillian,
From your first role as a little Christmas angel to these last performances as the Rat King, watching you dance in The Nutcracker has always made the Christmas season even more joyful.
Enjoy the production, savor the memories, and know you are so dearly loved!
Winter 2024 Dedications
Brie
Brie,
You continue to inspire others through your love and passion for ballet! Keep on dancing! Continue to believe in yourself and the world will be your dance floor! We love you and are very proud of you!
Cameron, Maverick and Mom
xo
Winter 2024 Dedications
Ava Melinda Anne
Ava Melinda Anne,
Keep dancing, Pumpkin, and if you don’t like the music, sing your own song. From your first step you have been a force to be reckoned with. Your strength, passion, humor and kindness will take you far in this world, just never stop being yourself. We love you so much and are so very proud of you!!
Your biggest fans, Mamma, Dadda and Sissy
Winter 2024 Dedications
Taylor,
Congratulations on getting to dance your dream role of Clara! We love watching you shine on stage and dance with such joy. Your passion and dedication are truly inspiring. May your love for dance continue to soar!
With love, Mom, Dad, and Makena
To our Spanish choco-Lottie, your sweet moves are en pointe!
Spring Production Auditions: February 13, 2025 Spring Production: Saturday, May 31 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm Sunday, June 1, 2025 1:00 pm Ventura College Performing Arts Center
Summer in Motion: Summer in Motion at Oakley Ballet Center June 30 - July 25, 2025 Register online at www.oakleyballet.com/joinoakley
For further information, please call or email (805) 676-1600 — info@oakleyballet.com
