Including TUMBAO Featuring photography by Bill Hendricks Choreographed by Meredith Lyons
Footworks Youth Ballet presents
Peter and the Wolf Music and story by Sergei Prokofiev Choreography by Kirsten Oakley &
Les Sylphides Music by Frederic Chopin Choreography by Michael Fokine Artistic Director, Kirsten Oakley
TUMBAO Featuring photography by Bill Hendricks Choreography by Meredith Lyons Ventura College Theatre June 4-5, 2022 Cover Illustration: Rochelle Storts
Footworks Youth Ballet is excited to share today's matinee in order of performance:
Les Sylphides Tumbao Peter and the Wolf
Footworks Youth Ballet 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.
Kirsten Oakley Artistic Director
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, advanced training programs such as Pacific Northwest Ballet School's Professional Division and university dance departments at California State University-Long Beach, Stanford University, Texas Christian University, Yale University, University of Utah and University of California-Irvine.
Laurin Boland Children's Division Coordinator
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 Univesity 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. Laurin lives in Ventura with her husband Bill, and their three children.
Bill Hendricks Professor of Photography
For the past 32 years, William (Bill) Hendricks has been a Professor of Photography at Ventura College in Ventura, California. Driven by an unsettled curiosity,
Mr. Hendricks views photography as a way of reducing daily chaos into a few organized and meaningful moments. As both a photographer and an educator, his work has taken him around the world with an array of clients and personalities. In the past 25 years, Mr. Hendricks has worked in Central & South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle and Far-East. His work has been published in the pages of Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar, Los Angeles Magazine, People Magazine, Architectural Digest and more. He has also worked with, and photographed celebrities including Jaclyn Smith, Tina Turner, Kenny Loggins, Valerie Harper, Dennis Weaver, Priscilla Presley and Jacque Cousteau. His work has been exhibited throughout the United States with solo exhibitions in Havana, Cuba and Seoul, Korea. In 2006, Mr. Hendricks was invited by his Holiness, The Dalai Lama, to Northern India to document and participate in the teachings of the Buddhist Religion. In 2007 Mr. Hendricks was invited by the Nigerian Government along with the Ogbechie family to document the funeral ceremonies of Chief and patriarch Francis Osenweniwe Ogbechie. In 2009-2010, Mr Hendricks was in Havana, Cuba to photograph the little known religion of Palo Monte. The secret and sacred religion of Santeria. In 2011-2012 Mr. Hendricks made his film debut as a producer and director of the documentary, “The Cuba Dance Project”. This is a film that follows three American ballet dancers as they travel to Cuba to pursue their love of dance. It's cross-cultural journey that finds it's roots in the fabric and fundamentals of community. December 2013, Bill was honored by the mayor of Ventura with the Mayor's Arts Educator of the Year award. In 2015, Mr Hendricks completed PROOF. A fifteen year collaboration with Cuban writer Orlando Hernandez. This project is expected to be released to the public in 2016.
Mate Szentes - Principal Guest Artist Mate Szentes is originally from Budapest, Hungary and began his training at the age of 6. He studied at the Hungarian Dance Academy while attending summer programs at North Carolina Dance Theater in Charlotte, NC on full scholarships. Upon graduation he joined the Hungarian National Ballet where he danced for 3 years performing corps de ballet and soloist roles in the company’s many classical and contemporary productions. In 2012, he moved to California and joined the Sacramento Ballet as a company artist and continued expanding his repertoire. Mr. Szentes relocated to the east coast in 2015 to join the Richmond Ballet, where he danced principal and soloist roles in the company’s very versatile repertoire. Besides dancing classical ballet’s most famous roles, he had the opportunity to dance many of George Balanchine’s works and worked with world renowned choreographers such as Ma Cong, Val Caniparoli, Mariana Oliveira, Melissa Barak, Katarzyna Skarpetowska, Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa among many others. He’s also a permanent guest principal dancer with American Contemporary Ballet and Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet and has been one of few dancers selected to participate at the very prestigious National Choreographers Initiative in 2016 and 2018. Since 2016, he has also been choreographing and had his original works showcased in Virginia, California and New Mexico.
Meredith Lyons Modern Choreographer Meredith Lyons is a dancer, educator, choreographer, and administrator who hails from New York. As a dance artist, she has presented work nationally and internationally, and has been a faculty member, guest artist, visiting choreographer, and administrator in private, public, collegiate and K-12 performing arts organizations. Meredith served with the US Peace Corps as a Dance Professor and Dance Educator Trainer in the Eastern Caribbean country of Dominica, where she wrote the dance curriculum for Dominica Institute of the Arts Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam Certification, in addition to teaching and cross-cultural dance exchange. Previous appointments and guest artist positions include Bates Dance Festival, Bates College, Boston Dance Complex, Colby College, Colorado Mesa University, Connecticut College, Dickinson College, Franklin and Marshall College, Mercyhurst University, Ohio University, Providence College, Springfield College, and Ursinus College. International choreographic commissions, performances, teaching, and presentations include Austria, Aruba, Czech-Republic, Dominica, Dominican Republic, England, France, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Spain and Turkey. She has presented dance research on improvisation, collaborative authorship, accessibility, and access in dance education at conferences around the world. Currently, Meredith is a Lecturer in Dance at the University of California - Santa Barbara, serves as Administrative Fellow for Dance Studies Association, and is a representative on the Advocacy Committee of the National Dance Educators Organization. Meredith holds an MFA in Dance Choreography from Smith College, a BA in Dance Pedagogy from Mercyhurst University, and is a Jean McNulty Wyatt Scholarship Recipient for her PhD in Dance Studies from Texas Woman's University. Meredith continues to travel nationally and internationally as a master teacher and guest artist.
Todd Lechtick Photographer Todd Lechtick has been photographing dance since the early 1980s. He has taken pictures at every USA International Ballet Competition since 1986, and returned to the 2010 competition as an official photographer. He has captured images of the American Ballet Theatre, the Bolshoi Ballet (their London tour in 19889) and the Kirov Ballet on a USA tour, as well as contributed photographs for Pointe and Dance Magazine. He currently serves as the official photographer for the Russian Ballet Archives in Los Angeles, California, Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica, California, Footworks Youth Ballet in Ventura, California, and is contributing photographer for the Anaheim Ballet in Anaheim, California.
Alison and Ernie Tamminga Videographers Alison and Ernie Tamminga have been creating the videos of Footworks Youth Ballet's shows for many years. They live in Goleta, California, and, along with the rest of the Performance Memories team, they've created lasting memories for more than 500 performances .
Send a Candygram to your dancer! Purchase a Candygram in the lobby for $1 during intermission. Your personal message, and a special treat, will be delivered to the dancer(s) backstage during Act II.
Proceeds benefit Footworks Youth Ballet
Peter and the Wolf Peter, a young boy, sneaks out into the garden without Grandfather noticing. He greets his animal friends, the Bird, the Cat and the Ducks. Peter’s friends arrive and tell him that a wolf has been spotted in a nearby forest. The boys have brought their bows and arrows to protect the girls while they gather berries. Grandfather comes to the meadow looking for Peter. Peter knows Grandfather will tell him to return home, as he is afraid that the Wolf will hurt Peter. With the help of his friends, Peter hides from Grandfather, who has very poor eyesight. Grandfather mistakenly grabs one of Peter’s friends thinking he has Peter, and begins to drag him home. When Grandfather realizes his mistake, he stops to clean his glasses so he can see better. Finally, he finds Peter and begins to take him home, but Peter tells him that he is not afraid of the Wolf, and that he wants to go with his friends. Grandfather insists on Peter’s return to the house and Peter’s friends leave in search of berries. No sooner than Peter and Grandfather leave, the Wolf appears. He sees the three slumbering Ducks and decides they would make a tasty treat! The Cat, in her haste to scurry up the tree for safety, wakes the Ducks. Not hearing the Cat’s and Bird’s frantic warning, the Ducks decide to stretch their legs after their afternoon nap. The Wolf appears and chases the Ducks, catching one and eating her whole!
The Duck’s friends realize that a stroll without their friend is too sad and, along with the Water, they mourn for the Duck. The Frogs and Birds appear and remind them that life in the meadow goes on. Meanwhile, the Wolf reappears looking for more food, but the Cat and the Bird have taken refuge in the top of the tree. Knowing they cannot stay there forever, the Wolf stretches out under the tree to wait for them to come down. With his belly full, he falls into a deep slumber and is haunted by the spirits of the many ducks he has eaten. The Wolf, in his dream, agonizes over the grief he has caused. Peter comes through the gate and is shocked to see a sleeping Wolf right under the tree! Peter quickly calls to his pals, the Cat and Bird, to join him. Peter asks the Cat and the Bird to tell him what has happened to the Duck. As they retell the story, Peter decides to tie up the Wolf with the help of the Cat and Bird. Together, they loop a rope around his tail. Hunters appear and fire at the Wolf but Peter stops them and, together, everyone leads the Wolf to the zoo. Suddenly, everyone can hear the Duck quacking in the Wolf’s stomach. Since the Wolf had eaten her alive, it appears the Duck has a chance to return to her friends, the Cat, the Bird and Peter.
CAST LIST Peter and the Wolf Peter Bailey Basurto
Bird Nicola Hammond
Duck Carolyn Caulkins
Cat Jadyn Bonewitz
Duck's Friends Emma Ippolito Ava Mohror
Duck's Teacher Finley Colavito
Ducklings Saturday: Ophelia Banuelos Amelie Birkett Taylor Corcoran Lillian Duval Daleyza Gonzalez Findley Smiley Ava Smith Alice Squire
Ducklings Sunday: Taylor Corcoran Holly Garnett Sage Gibson Ava Johnson Kahlan Prouse Cassia Schulbach Spencer Stowers Madelyn Usery
Friends of Peter Brie Cheatham Finley Colavito Charlotte Cornes Savannah Sayre Jonah Thomas Archers Francesca Camilon Vivienne Grande Julia Hammoudi Sloan Lees Frankie Minadeo Lennon Nichols Autumn Storts
Villagers Claire Alger April Boland Makena Corcoran Mia Earley Jenna Hammoudi April Johnson Trudy Ragsdale Alina Schulbach Kaitlyn Seymour Felicity Squire Molly Strouse Hazel Van Orman Theodora ToddMaldonado Maddie Yamamoto
Squirrels April Boland Lillian Carroll Liv Holbrook Avery Palmieri Avery Trask Emerson Voshell
Water Corps de ballet April Boland Lillian Carroll Brie Cheatham Finley Colavito Charlotte Cornes Avery Palmieri Avery Trask Emerson Voshell
Grandpa Tilly Dillon Wolf Jonah Thomas Pond Soloist Liv Holbrook Frogs Claire Alger Makena Corcoran Mia Earley April Johnson Trudy Ragsdale Alina Schulbach Molly Strouse Maddie Yamamoto
Birds Amelie Birkett Francesca Camilon Taylor Corcoran Holly Garnett Julia Hammoudi Lennon Nichols Autumn Storts Vivi Vogl Hunters Hazel Van Orman Kaitlyn Seymour Felicity Squire Theodora Todd-Maldonado
Tumbao Inspired by local photographer Bill Hendricks' research of Cuban culture, this original work explores the history and lineage of the Cuban dance movement through the African Diaspora and Social Dance forms. The research for this work has historical dance roots from Cuba and the Caribbean by exploring polyrhythms and the dynamics of music and movement while finding play in the dancers' ability to be both grounded and syncopated in association to the music. With the music of acclaimed Cuban musician Ruben Gonzalez, audiences will witness how the culture and community of Cuban dance and music includes African movement and Social Dance forms. This work pays homage to marginalized dance forms that have an important place in dance history and throughout the world. We hope you experience the joys in seeing community in motion amongst the dancers, as they are influenced by the music and the vibration of movement.
CAST LIST Tumbao April Boland Jadyn Bonewitz Carolyn Caulkins Tilly Dillon Nicola Hammond Liv Holbrook Emma Ippolito Ava Mohror Avery Trask Bailey Basurto Lillian Carroll Avery Palmieri Emerson Voshell
CAST LIST Tumbao Brie Cheatham Finley Colavito Charlotte Cornes Savannah Sayre Felicity Squire Jonah Thomas Kaitlyn Seymour Theodora Todd-Maldonado Hazel Van Orman
Les Sylphides The romantic ambience of a moonlit forest comes to life with the performance of Les Sylphides. Inspired by 19th century romantic ballets, this ballet presents an ethereal evocation of eternal femininity danced with the melancholy "poet" in search of an ideal. Set to music by Chopin, the choreography captures the intangible and poetic atmosphere of a dream. Though classical in style, the ballet is highly expressive and open to interpretation, which also allows it to be both modern and personal. The Sylphides are exotic creatures who dance with grace and beauty. They recreate a nostalgic yearning for a time long past when nature overpowered our senses and inspired us to seek more.
CAST LIST Les Sylphides Principals Tilly Dillon and Mate Szentes Soloists April Boland and Avery Trask Corps de Ballet Bailey Basurto Jadyn Bonewitz Lillian Carroll Carolyn Caulkins Brie Cheatham Charlotte Cornes Nicola Hammond Liv Holbrook Emma Ippolito Ava Mohror Avery Palmieri Emerson Voshell
July 5 - July 29, 2022 We invite all students in Levels 1 - 7 to participate in our summer intensive program, Summer in Motion 2022 (SIM 2022). We find that when our students continue their training over the summer, it makes a huge difference. Participation in SIM improves technique, bolsters confidence and helps with injury prevention. We will offer a performance on the last Friday, July 29.
Oakleyballet.com
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 costuming department is hard at work, creating new costumes and repairing, altering and improving the old. In general, our sewing department is a production in and of itself. We are immensely proud of our costumers and the many helping hands working together 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 stage)...
The Fabric of Footworks 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 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. 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.
Board of Directors Jon Light, J. Steven Murillo, Kirsten Oakley, Michael Perroni, Dave Ragsdale
Our community stands behind us with support that we consider invaluable. We greatly appreciate the generous donation of the services and products from the following: Michele Spaulding Set Courtesy of Inland Pacific Ballet Scenic Designer, Daniel C. Nyiri Rochelle Storts @ RochelleStorts.com
Thank you to Jamie Birkett of Ventura College. Your professionalism and expertise go beyond the call of duty.
Volunteer Coordinators Production Managers Stephanie Dillon Aimee Hammond Security Manager Jody Bishop Technical Manager Todd Tranby Backstage Coordinators Katherine Basurto Megan Voshell Costuming Team Jill Johnson Rochelle Storts Prop Coordinator Sheryl MIller Lobby Brandie Mohror Katie Pilgrim Alissa Strouse Fundraising/Events Stephanie Dillon Aimee Hammond
PR & Marketing Manager Ariel Palmieri Outreach Manager Pam Holbrook Ticket Managers Brenda Usery Andrea Yamamoto In-House Photography Jenny Trask Marketing Support Jessica Smith Rochelle Storts Lunch Coordinator Michelle Holmes Program Stephanie Dillon Aimee Hammond Declan Hammond Ariel Palmieri Production Merchandise Ariel Palmieri Rochelle Storts
Donations Performances like this 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 Angel (2000+) Gerri-Lynn and Brett Becker In Memory of Donna Carney Judy and Robert Gold Naz and Human Kotobi Above the Barre (500+) Anonymous Jean Ball Nancy and Andy Devine Aimee and Chad Hammond Stephanie and Phil Dillon Michelle Holmes and Chuck Caulkins The California Wine Club Enthusiast (100+) Lenita Andres Laurin and Bill Boland Whalen Bryan Scott Goodwin Tag Hoefflin John and Suzanne Kitchens Holly and Tom Mericle Judy and Jerry Pyle Canice Weber C.A. and D.G. Blaney
Foundation (1000+) Jody Bishop and Pamela Holbrook Patricia Bollendorf-Perez and Lou Perez Nancy and Pat Gallagher Missy and Harold van Deinse Peter Balov, San Pedro Forklift, Inc. Devotee (250+) Suzanne Chadwick Lorraine and Lloyd Davis Venny and William Flodman Cindy and Bill Hendricks Eloqui Company Supporter (20+) Theresa and Chuck Ferkel Martine and Scott Knouse Betsy and Scott Manninen Shauna and Chris Mullin Laurie Schneider Elizabeth Spencer Sherri Van Orman Morgan and Tim Stowers Sheryl Miller Julie and Steve Carroll
Jadyn Bonewitz Jadyn Bonewitz is a 17-year-old senior at El Camino High School. Jadyn has been dancing for 13 years at Oakley Ballet Center. Some of her favorite roles have been Spanish and Flowers in The Nutcracker. Her hobbies include baking and she is interested in fashion. A quote she connects with is, "On Wednesdays we wear pink."
Tilly Dillon Tilly Dillon is a senior at El Camino High School and has been dancing for 14 years, with 13 of those years at Oakley Ballet Center. Her first show was The Nutcracker in 2010 and this will be her 20th production with Footworks Youth Ballet. Her favorite roles include Drew Drop in The Nutcracker and Swan Corps in Swan Lake. Outside of ballet, she enjoys visiting coffee shops, listening to music, and hanging out with her friends.
April Boland April is 16 years old and a sophomore at Ventura High School. She has been dancing for 13 years with Oakley Ballet Center. Her favorite roles have been as a Czárdás soloist and as a Les Sylphides soloist. Outside of ballet, April enjoys rock climbing and going to the beach. A quote she connects with is by Yvon Chouinard, “It’s not an adventure until something goes wrong.”
Carolyn Caulkins Carolyn is 16 years old and a junior at Ventura High School. She has been dancing for 11 years, with 10 years at Oakley Ballet Center. Her favorite roles have been Arabian and Spanish in The Nutcracker. Carolyn’s favorite activities outside of ballet are ASB and participating in the music program. One quote she connects with is “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” -Albert Einstein.
Nicola Hammond Nicola is a 15-year-old sophomore at Ventura High School. She has been dancing for 11 years with Oakley Ballet Center. A few of her favorite roles have been Gnomes in Hansel and Gretel, Songbird from Sleeping Beauty during Footworks’ summer program and Clara in The Nutcracker. Outside of ballet, she loves baking, reading and hanging out with friends. A favorite quote of Nicola’s is, “Die with memories, not dreams.”
Liv Holbrook Liv is a 15-year-old freshman at Ventura High School. She started dancing at Oakley Ballet Center at age 3. Some of her favorite roles have been Snow Sprite in The Nutcracker, Frogs in Peter and the Wolf, and Maypole in Swan Lake. When she’s not at the studio, she loves spending time with her animals (2 cats and 2 dogs) and watching Netflix. A quote that represents Liv comes from Barbie Presents: Thumbelina, “Even the smallest person can make the biggest difference!”
Emma Ippolito Emma is a 17-year-old junior at Foothill Technology High School. She has been dancing for 12 years, eight of which have been with Oakley Ballet Center. Her favorite roles have been Snow and Candy Canes in The Nutcracker. Emma’s favorite activities outside of ballet are art and reading. One quote she connects with is, “Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” -Les Brown.
Ava Mohror Ava is 16 years old and a sophomore at Ventura High School. She has been dancing for 13 years, 11 of which have been with Oakley Ballet Center. Her favorite roles have been dancing in the Snow and Candy Cane Corps in The Nutcracker. In addition to dancing, Ava enjoys reading and listening to music. A quote she connectswith is, “If you are happy doing what you love, nobody can tell you you’re not successful.” -Harry Styles
Avery Trask Avery is a level 7 dancer with Oakley Ballet Center. Currently 17 years old, she is in her junior year at Buena High School. She has been dancing for six years and has been a part of Oakley Ballet Center and Footworks Youth Ballet for the past five years. Some of her favorite roles have been Snow Queen in our modified version of The Nutcracker in 2021, and Czárdás in Coppélia. Outside of ballet, she loves to sew, read, and spend time with friends and family. A quote she connects with is one by Maya Angelou that says, “Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances.”
Bailey Basurto Bailey is 14 years old and is in 8th grade at Balboa Middle School. She has been dancing at Oakley Ballet Center for 11 years. Some of her favorite roles include Fritz, Naughty Ginger and Cook in The Nutcracker. Her hobbies include listening to music and more dancing! A favorite quote of Bailey’s is from Abbylee Miller, “I don’t sweat. I glisten.”
Lillian Carroll Lillian is 15 years old and a freshman at Beacon Hill Classical Academy. She has been dancing for 12 years and has danced with Oakley Ballet Center for 10 of those years. A few of her favorite roles are Czárdás in Coppelia, and Reed Flowers and Spanish in The Nutcracker. Outside of ballet, Lillian enjoys reading, writing and drawing. A quote she connects with is by Ghandi, “Live as if you will die tomorrow, learn as if you will live forever.”
Avery Palmieri Avery is 16 years old and is currently a sophomore at El Camino High School. She has been dancing at Oakley Ballet Center for 11 years. Some of her favorite roles include Czárdás in Coppélia and Chinese Tea in The Nutcracker. Her hobbies outside of dance include reading and playing the ukulele. She looks forward to continuing to dance and do what she loves!
Emerson Voshell Emerson is 15 years old and a freshman at Oxnard High School. She joined the Oakley family in second grade. Since then, dance has been what she most looks forward to. She has been in several productions of The Nutcracker, as well as FYB’s spring production of Coppélia. Emerson’s favorite roles from those ballets include Candy Canes, Chinese Tea, and Rats. Outside of dance, she enjoys running, reading, and painting. A quote she connects with is, “Life isn't how to survive the storm, it's about how to dance in the rain.” - Taylor Swift
Brie Cheatham Brie is 14 years old and in the 8th grade at Cabrillo Middle School. She has been dancing for 12 years, and dancing with Oakley Ballet Center for eight years. Her favorite roles have been Clara in The Nutcracker and Milk Maid in Coppélia. Her favorite activity outside of ballet is painting.
Finley Colavito Finley is 14 years old and in the 8th grade at Cabrillo Middle School. She has been dancing for five years; with four and a half years at Oakley Ballet Center. Her favorite role was Milk Maids from Coppélia. Her favorite activities outside of ballet are art, baking, and sewing. She has made many friends at ballet and likes to joke with her friend Savannah and say, “No, I’m Radio Rebel.” This will be a special memory she holds of her time at OBC.
Charlotte Cornes
Charlotte is 13 years old and in 7th grade at Hillside Middle School in Simi Valley. She has been dancing since birth but her professional training began at age 4. Charlotte studied different forms of dance in Oak Harbor, WA before finding her passion for classical ballet. She relocated to Southern California in 2018, when she began her studies at Oakley Ballet Center. Some of her favorite roles include Milkmaids in Coppélia, and Party Girl and Candy Cane in The Nutcracker. When Charlotte is not dancing, some of her favorite activities include listening to music, watching movies (specifically Marvel related), drawing, or reading murder mysteries. A quote she relates to was spoken by the late philanthropist Ted Turner, "Do something. Either lead, follow or get out of the way."
Savannah Sayre Savannah is 14 years old and is in 8th grade at Balboa Middle School. She has been dancing for 10 years and has been with Oakley Ballet Center for four and a half years. Her favorite roles have been Candy Cane in The Nutcracker and Monkey Doll in Coppélia. Her favorite activities outside of ballet are art, baking and cooking, playing the piano, reading, and gardening. She has made many friends at ballet and likes to joke with her friend Finley and say, “No, I’m Radio Rebel.” This will be a special memory she holds of her time at OBC.
Felicity Squire Felicity is 14 years old and in the 8th grade at Veritas Scholars Academy. She has been dancing for 10 years with Oakley Ballet Center. Her favorite roles have been Candy Canes and the Waltz of the Flowers in The Nutcracker. Her favorite activities outside of ballet are reading books and hanging out with friends. A quote she connects with is “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” -C.S. Lewis
Jonah Thomas Jonah is 15 years old and a sophomore at El Camino High School. He has been dancing for seven years, six of which have been with Oakley Ballet Center. In December 2018 and 2019, he was given the opportunity to play the Nutcracker in Footworks Youth Ballet’s productions of The Nutcracker and he will never forget those amazing experiences. Jonah says, “Ballet is truly one of my favorite things in the entire world and I wouldn't be where I am today in dance without the community Oakley has given me.”
Thank You Junior Assistants Kirsten and Laurin greatly appreciate the rehearsal assistants who have mentored the younger dancers and helped throughout the rehearsal season. Bailey Basurto April Boland Jadyn Bonewitz Nicola Hammond Liv Holbrook Avery Trask
Thank you to our dancers who take initiative and help Production in all areas of need. Bailey Basurto April Boland Carolyn Caulkins Tilly Dillon Nicola Hammond Avery Palmieri Avery Trask
Nicola
L iv
til l y
y l l Ho
A v er y
Charlotte
Lillian Thank you to our Patrons for your continued support! Your contribution can make a difference in what is offered to our dancers and our community. Donate online safely via PayPal
Vivienne, We are so excited for you, and love watching you grow as a dancer! We can't wait to see the show! Break a leg! Love, Mommy, Daddy, Vincent, and Pancho
Brie, We are so very proud of you! You are absolutely stunning dancing on your toes!! We love you and are cheering for you! Love, Cameron, Maverick and Mom xo Dearest Emma, We are so thrilled to get to watch you dance in another production. The joy you bring to us while dancing with that smile of yours is indescribable.We so appreciate your love, kindness, grit and humility Emma. You are a beautiful dancer and a beautiful soul. Love, Dad, Mom and 4 sisters
Save the Date Footworks Youth Ballet will be performing
The Nutcracker December 17 & 18, 2022 at Ventura College Theater