Footworks Youth Ballet Presents Snow White

Footworks Youth Ballet Presents

Artistic Director, Kirsten Oakley

Ventura College Performing Arts Center

Saturday, June 3, 2023 – 1 p.m. & 5 p.m.

Sunday, June 4, 2023 – 1 p.m.

Footworks Youth Ballet Presents

Music by Various Artists

Directed and Choreographed by Kirsten Oakley

Based on the story by Wilhem Grimm and Jacob Grimm

Ventura College Performing Arts Center

Saturday, June 3rd, 2023

Sunday, June 4th, 2023

Oakley Ballet Center

Official Training Facility of Footworks Youth Ballet

1594 Saratoga Ave, Unit A, Ventura, CA 93003

www.footworksyouthballet.org

Mission Statement

Footworks Youth Ballet’s 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 choreographers by providing nurturing workshops and choreographic opportunities under the mentorship of dance professionals; to widen life’s opportunities with confidence and selfesteem developed through the discipline of ballet.

We’re so proud of Enjoyyou!this treat! Our Dancer Mom & Dad

Send your dancer a Candygram!

Head to the lobby at intermission to purchase a Candygram for $1 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.

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, 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.

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. Laurin lives in Ventura with her husband Bill, and their three children.

Guest Artist

Maté Szentes

Maté Szentes is originally from Budapest, Hungary and began his training at the age of six. 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 three 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 work with world-renowned choreographers such as Ma Cong, Val Caniparoli, Mariana Oliveira, Melissa Barak, Katarzyna Skarpetowska, and Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa, among many others. He is also a permanent guest principal dancer with American Contemporary Ballet and Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet, and has been one of a few dancers selected to participate at the very prestigious National Choreographers Initiative in 2016 and 2018. Sincer 2016, he has also been choreographing and had his original works showcased in Virginia, California and New Mexico.

Featured Dancers

Bailey Basurto

A freshman at Foothill Technology High School, Bailey has been dancing with Oakley Ballet Center for 12 years and this is her 9th season performing with Footworks Youth Ballet. Some of Bailey’s favorite roles included Doe in 2023 Snow White, Peter in Peter and the Wolf in the Spring of 2022, and Fritz in The Nutcracker in 2017 and 2018. When Bailey has free time, she enjoys listening to music, reading and relaxing. As a Taylor Swift fan, she appreciates the quote: “You can’t blame yourself, you just have to blame Mercury because it’s hella in Retrograde.”

April Boland

April is a junior at Ventura High School. She has been dancing exclusively with Oakley Ballet Center for 14 years. Her favorite roles include Queen in Snow White, Dew Drop Fairy and Arabian Coffee soloist in The Nutcracker, and Czardas soloist in Coppelia. In addition to dance, she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and going to the beach. Her favorite quote is: “It’s not an adventure until something goes wrong.”

— Yvon Chouinard

Jadyn Bonewitz

Jadyn is finishing her first year at Moorpark College. She has been dancing for 15 years and has danced with Oakley Ballet Center for 13 years. Her favorite roles in The Nutcracker have included Arabian Coffee soloist and dancing in the Waltz of the Flowers Corps de ballet. Outside of dance, Jadyn enjoys baking and writing. A quote she enjoys is: “On Wednesdays, we wear pink” by Karen from Mean Girls.

Lillian Carroll

Lillian is a sophomore at Beacon Hill Classical Academy. She has been dancing for 12 years, including 10 years with Oakley Ballet Center. Lillian’s favorite roles have included The Rat King and Snow Corps de ballet in the 2022 production of The Nutcracker. When she is not dancing, Lillian enjoys reading, drawing, and spending time with friends. She is inspired by the quote: “I’m not crazy; my reality is just different from yours.” — Lewis Carroll

Carolyn Caulkins

Carolyn is a senior at Ventura High School. Dancing for 12 years total, she has been with Oakley Ballet Center for 11. Her favorite roles included Marzipan and Party Mom in The Nutcracker. She also enjoyed the role of Duck in 2022’s Peter and the Wolf. At Ventura High School, Carolyn is active in both ASB and the music program, where she plays the oboe. In Fall 2023, Carolyn will attend UCLA. A saying Carolyn connects with is: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Brie Cheatham

Brie is a freshman at Ventura High School. She has been dancing for 12 years, with 9 years at Oakley Ballet Center. Her favorite roles have included Clara in the 2019 production of The Nutcracker, Sugar Plum attendant season soloist (Winter) in the 2022 Nutcracker and in Les Sylphides corps. When she is not dancing, Brie spends time reading romance novels and watching movies. This quote by Taylor Swift inspires Brie: “Best believe I’m still bejeweled when I walk in the room. I can still make the whole place shimmer.”

Finley Colavito

Finley is a freshman at Foothill Technology High School and has been training at Oakley Ballet Center for 6 years. Of the studio, she says it has truly become a second home. Her favorite roles so far have been Duck Teacher in Peter and the Wolf, Sugar Plum attendant season soloist (Autumn) in Nutcracker, as well as a milkmaid in Coppelia. When she is not dancing, she enjoys cooking, creating art, and spending time with family and friends.

Charlotte Cornes

Charlotte is in 8th grade at Hillside Middle School. She has been dancing for 10 years and has danced with Oakley Ballet Center for 5 years. Her favorite roles include Les Sylphides corps de ballet, as well as Snow Corps and Cooks in The Nutcracker. Charlotte really enjoyed assisting with rehearsals and understudying many roles this Spring. Charlotte thinks if ballet could talk to her, it would say, “If you feel sad, I’ll make you smile. If you cry, I’ll be your comfort. If someone breaks your heart, I’ll mend it.” — Eeyore

Nicola Hammond

Nicola is 16 years old and a junior at Ventura High School. This is her 12th year dancing with Oakley Ballet Center and 20th production with Footworks Youth Ballet. A few of her favorite roles have been Clara in The Nutcracker in 2018, Spanish Chocolate soloist in the 2022 Nutcracker, Bird in Peter and the Wolf in 2022, and as a gnome in Hansel and Gretel. When she is not dancing, she enjoys baking, reading, and spending time with her friends. Nicola has participated in Spanish immersion education since kindergarten and is bilingual. A favorite quote of Nicola’s is: “Die with memories, not dreams.”

Emma Ippolito

Emma is 18 years old and a senior at Foothill Technology High School. She has been dancing for 16 years, with 9 years at Oakley Ballet Center. Her favorite roles have included Owl soloist in Snow White, Marzipan and Arabian in The Nutcracker, Matador Doll in Coppelia, and Duck Friend in Peter and the Wolf. Outside of dance, she enjoys art, reading, writing and traveling the world. Emma is sad to be leaving OBC, but her dance journey will continue as she attends Chapman University this Fall. Emma would like to thank Kirsten, Laurin and her fellow dancers for being her support and forever family.

Liza Jane Manninen

Liza Jane is a senior at Ventura High School. She has been dancing with Oakley Ballet Center for 15 years. Her favorite roles include dancing in Snow and Marzipan in The Nutcracker. When she is not dancing, she enjoys skiing, hiking and going to the beach. Liza Jane will be attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the Fall. A quote that has meaning to her is: “How lucky I am having something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” — Winnie the Pooh

Ava Mohror

Ava is a junior at Ventura High School. She has been dancing with Oakley Ballet Center for 12 years. Some of Ava’s favorite roles have included the Duck friend in Peter and the Wolf, Corps de ballet in Les Sylphides, and Czardas corps in Coppelia. Outside of ballet, Ava is studying French and enjoys reading, journalism, attending concerts and swimming at the beach. A quote Ava would like to share is: “Just be yourself, there is no one better.” — Taylor Swift

Avery Palmieri

Avery is a junior at El Camino High School. She has been dancing with Oakley Ballet Center for 11 years and loves her ballet family. Avery’s favorite roles have included: Sugar Plum attendant season soloist (Summer), Snow Corps and Party Mom in the The Nutcracker. When she is not dancing, Avery enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, going to the beach and spending time with her friends.

Jonah Thomas

Jonah is a junior at El Camino High School. He has been dancing for 7 years with Oakley Ballet Center and considers the OBC community his second family. Jonah says, “In December 2018 and 2019, I was given the fantastic opportunity to dance the role of the Nutcracker Prince and I will never forget that experience. Ballet is one of my favorite things in the entire world and I wouldn’t be where I am today in dance without what Oakley Ballet Center has given me.” Jonah will be joining the Professional Development program at Ballet West this Summer and Fall.

Avery Trask

Avery is a senior at Buena High School. She has been dancing for 7 years and has been a part of Oakley Ballet Center for the past 6 years. Some of her favorite roles include Snow White in this current production and the Adagio Soloist in Les Sylphides. She also loves to sew, read, and spend time with friends and family. She will be attending University of California Santa Barbara in the fall as a Dance Major. She will be graduating as number 5 in her class as Summa Cum Laude and with a Bilingual Seal in Spanish. A quote she connects with is one by Maya Angelou: “Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances”.

Emerson Voshell

Emerson is a sophomore at Oxnard High School. She has been dancing for 9 years. She joined the Oakley Ballet Center in second grade, and ever since then, the OBC dancers have become her second family. Some of Emerson’s favorite roles have included Sugar Plum attendant season soloist (Spring) and Arabian Coffee in The Nutcracker and performing in Coppelia, Peter and the Wolf, and Les Sylphides. Outside of dance, Emerson is a varsity cross country runner for Oxnard High School. She also enjoys reading and painting. A quote she connects with is, “Life isn’t about learning how to survive the storm, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” — Taylor Swift

Act One

The ballet begins outside the castle, where we find Snow White forced to work outside its gates by her wicked stepmother, the Queen. The Queen keeps a diligent watch on Snow White. The villagers, on the way to the morning market, try to entertain Snow White knowing that she must remain under watch of the Queen. As Snow White comes upon a well, she wishes for freedom, and is surprised by the arrival of three doves. The doves remind Snow White of the beauty in the world and she dreams of flying away, or being free like the birds. The Prince arrives. Entranced by her beauty, he instantly falls in love with Snow White.

Meanwhile, the vain Queen, her heart full of hatred, spies the close liaison between Snow White and the handsome stranger. Enraged, she turns from the window. The Queen senses her body betraying her as she turns old. As she stands in front of the magic mirror, the three Fates of the Mirror - Envy, Vanity and Pride - inform her that Snow White is the fairest in the world. The Fates soothe the Queen as they continue to possess and manipulate her. The Queen, listening to the whispers of the Fates of the MIrror, calls for the Huntsman and orders him to kill Snow White. She hands him a box and instructs the Huntsman to bring it back with the heart of Snow White inside. The Queen, feeling confident once again that she will be the fairest beauty in all the land, is comforted by the three Fates.

On the pretext of collecting butterflies, the Huntsman tricks Snow White into going to the forest. He tries to carry out the Queen’s order, but does not have the heart to do so. Finally, he runs away, leaving Snow White alone, cold and afraid. Snow White feels eyes watching her from the dark shadows. She sees her shadow and finds the forest full of mischievous, but harmless Shadow Faeries wanting to play. Once beautiful maidens, the Shadows are now doomed never to be seen in light or by any other creatures in the forest because of a spell conjured by the Evil Queen. The Shadows hear something approach the clearing and disappear. Alone again, Snow White searches for the Shadows only to encounter the distrustful Doe, a charming Hedgehog and a friendly Blue Bird. In the forest clearing, Snow White finds herself among an array of delightful forest creatures. The animals sense kindness from Snow White and they celebrate her arrival. The clever Owl tells Snow White that she knows of a place where she can stay and hide from the Evil Queen. The animals escort her to a cottage in the woods belonging to the Seven Dwarfs.

Act Two

The Dwarfs set off for the mine to dig for precious stones. Returning home singing, the Dwarfs enter their cottage and are astonished that someone has been there. The air is filled with the aroma of simmering stew. The cottage is clean. Linens and flowers adorn the table. When Happy comes out from the bedroom holding up some mysterious looking clothing, the other Dwarfs make fun of him thinking it’s his new underclothes! As Happy explains to the others that he discovered them hanging in the bedroom, Snow White appears from behind Happy, yawning. Snow White, finding the cottage empty earlier, prepared stew and cleaned the cottage for the owners. Tired from her journey through the forest, she fell asleep waiting for the Dwarfs’ return. Unsure of this stranger, the Dwarfs question why she is there. Snow White convinces them to let her stay, and they all enjoy a wonderful evening of good food and merriment.

Back at the castle, the Queen is once again standing in front of the magic mirror with the empty box that was to carry Snow White’s heart. Outraged by the empty box, she looks to the three Fates for guidance. The Fates of the MIrror appear and show her that Snow White is happily living in the Dwarfs’ cottage. The three Fates convince the Queen to brew a magic potion that will change a green apple into a beautiful poisoned red one. The Queen drinks from the vial and turns into an old woman, disguising her appearance as a harmless, old apple-seller.

The Dwarfs set off for work leaving Snow White alone. A short time later, the old woman arrives. She asks for some tea and, as a token of her gratitude, gives her most attractive red apple to Snow White as a present. Tricked by the Queen’s disguise, Snow White takes a bite of the apple, collapses and dies. As the evil old woman laughs victoriously, the Dwarfs arrive home.

Excited to see Snow White, Dopey calls out for her only to discover that she is on the floorstill. He finds the apple and informs them that Snow White has been poisoned to death and fears the Evil Queen is behind the dastardly deed. They bring Snow White to the forest clearing that she loved.

Led by the Owl, the Dwarfs and forest animals lament over the death of their beloved Snow White. Following the Blue Bird, Hedgehog and Doe, the Prince arrives in the forest clearing. The Owl wisely sent the Doe in search of the Prince, hoping a kiss of true love would save Snow White from death. The Prince wishes to bid his beloved farewell - he kisses her. Snow White comes back to life and the lovers pledge eternal faithfulness to each other. A celebration begins.

As the Queen arrives back to her chambers, she rids herself of her disguise and rejoices over Snow White’s death. The Queen anticipates the moment when the mirror will proclaim that she is once again the fairest in all the land. She is enraged when the mirror informs her that Snow White is alive and is indeed the fairest in all the land. Exhausted by the three Fates and their continued reminder of her quest to be the fairest, the Queen goes mad and collapses. The three Fates whisper evil to the Queen, inspiring her to continue her quest. With her crown upon her head, the Queen once again dutifully rises, and is warmed and comforted by her three Fates. The Queen sees a vision of the kind Snow White, beautiful and happy. The Queen, realizing she is forever doomed to grow old, agonizes over her fate and pleads with the mirror. In a moment of clarity, the Queen destroys the mirror and is finally set free of the three Fates - Envy, Vanity, and Pride. For the first time, she feels true happiness and knowledge of her beauty. As she breathes in the air that is right and true, she crumbles to the ground to her death.

Finally freed by the Queen’s death, the Shadow Faeries call out to the forest animals to gather and celebrate the wedding of the Prince and Snow White outside the castle. The animals and Dwarfs dance for the couple. They all celebrate the kindness of Snow White and her newfound freedom, rejoicing in her happiness of finding a love that is pure and true.

The End

Snow White Cast List

Spring 2023

Snow White Avery Trask

Tambourine Amelie Birkett

Children Francesca Camilon

Taylor Corcoran

Vivienne Grande

Julia Hammoudi

Sloan Lees

Francesca Minadeo

Lennon Nichols

Autumn Storts

Villagers Brie Cheatham

Charlotte Cornes

Emma Ippolito

Ava Mohror

Avery Palmieri

School Children Harlow Becker

Parker Corning

Lillian Duval

Vivenne Evans

Sage Gibson

Daleyza Gonzalez

Ava Johnson

Zahra Lewis

Doves Makena Corcoran

April Johnson

Trudy Ragsdale

The Prince Maté Szentes

Queen April Boland

Three Fates of the Mirror

Envy Nicola Hammond

Vanity Jadyn Bonewitz

Pride Bailey Basurto

Huntsman Jonah Thomas

Shadow Fairy Ava Mohror

Shadow Faeries Lillian Carroll

Finley Colavito

Charlotte Cornes

Penelope Kranzler

Avery Palmieri

Felicity Squire

Hazel Van Orman

Emerson Voshell

Doe Bailey Basurto

Hedgehog Jonah Thomas

Blue Bird Liza Jane Manninen

Hares Francesca Camilon

Vivenne Grande

Julia Hammoudi

Sloan Lees

Francesca Minadeo

Lennon Nichols

Foxes

Claire Alger

Mia Earley

Alina Schulbach

Autumn Storts

Molly Strouse

Maddie Yamamoto

Owl Emma Ippolito

Owls Jenna Hammoudi

Kaitlyn Seymour

Felicity Squire

Theodora Todd-Maldonado

Squirrels April Boland

Nicola Hammond

Ava Mohror

Peacock Brie Cheatham

Quails Finley Colavito

Avery Palmieri

Hazel Van Orman

Emerson Voshell

Blue Birds Amelie Birkett

Taylor Corcoran

Vivienne Grande

Zoe Philipp-Gibbs

Kahlan Prouse

Findley Smiley

Ava Smith

Alice Squire

Izabella Tretko

Madelyn Usery

Skunks

Lillian Carroll

Makena Corcoran

April Johnson

Penelope Kranzler

Trudy Ragsdale

Deer April Boland

Jadyn Bonewitz

Brie Cheatham

Finley Colavito

Charlotte Cornes

Nicola Hammond

Emma Ippolito

Ava Mohror

Seven Dwarfs

Bashful

Doc

Claire Alger

Molly Strouse

Dopey Maddie Yamamoto

Grumpy Trudy Ragsdale

Happy April Johnson

Sleepy

Mia Earley

Sneezy Makena Corcoran

Escort

Villagers

Jenna Hammoudi

Francesca Minadeo

Alina Schulbach

Kaitlyn Seymour

Felicity Squire

Theodora Todd-Maldonado

Peacock Family Carolyn Caulkins

With

Vivienne Grande

Sloan Lees

Autumn Storts

Maddie Yamamoto

Leadership and Crew

Spring 2023

VC Technical Director

Lighting and Design

Videographers

Accounting

Production Managers

PR & Marketing Manager

Graphic Design and Custom Art

Marketing Support

Social Media Design and Advertising

Costume Coordinators

Ticket Coordinators

In-House Photography

Program Designer

Program Editors

Stage Manager

Technical Manager

Security Coordinators

Backstage Coordinators

Prop Coordinator

Quickchange Coordinators

Lunch Coordinator

Lobby Team

Production Merchandise

School Outreach Coordinator

Senior Community Outreach Coordinator

Footworks Craft Session Leaders

Jamie Birkett

Melissa Lay

Alison and Ernie Tamminga

Michelle Spaulding

Stephanie Dillon, Aimee Hammond and Rochelle Storts

Ariel Palmieri

Jim Earley

Jessica Smith

Jim Earley

Jill Johnson and Rochelle Storts

Aimee Hammond, Rochelle Storts, Brenda Usery and Andrea Yamamoto

Hillary Smiley and Jenny Trask

Jim Earley

Aimee Hammond and Ariel Palmieri

Dave Ragsdale

Todd Tranby

Steve and Julie Carroll

Katherine Basurto and Megan Voshell

Sheryl Miller

Carolyn Caulkins and Nicola Hammond

Michelle Holmes

Samantha Hill, Brandie Mohror, Ariel Palmieri, Scarlett Palmieri, Katie Pilgrim, Sarah Squire, and Jenny Trask

Ariel Palmieri and Rochelle Storts

Jennifer McDevitt

Laurel Corcoran

Erin Martinez, Lauren Minadeo, Katherine Guyer

Footworks Youth Ballet Board of Directors

• Jon Light

• J. Steven Murillo

• Kirsten Oakley

• Michael Perroni

• Dave Ragsdale

Rehearsal 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

• Charlotte Cornes

• Nicola Hammond

• Ava Mohror

• Avery Trask

Thank you to the dancers who take initiative and help Production in all areas of need!

• Bailey Basurto

• April Boland

• Carolyn Caulkins

• Nicola Hammond

• Liza Jane Manninen

• Avery Palmieri

• Avery Trask

Our Volunteers are the Best!

Costuming and Sewing

Thank you for designing, making, altering, cleaning, and organizing over 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 providing the environment, the food, the music and 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! Thank you to this team. T-shirts and sweatshirts the dancers LOVE. FYB on the VC marquee. Our beautiful program, postcards given to family and friends, a direct email campaign, social media marketing, and so much more!

Tickets

Without ticket sales, there would be no performance. 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.

Outreach

Moving nearly 1200 attendees in and out of the theater on a Friday morning in four hours - so we can present four seatings of our Outreach performances - 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 and dancers and in a calm and safe manner.

Lobby: Sales - Flowers - Gifts

Gifts for dancers and attendees, refreshments and treats, shopping, handmade items, production mementos and apparel - thank you to our lobby team for thoughtfully curating, displaying and selling these wares.

Dance for yourself. If someone understands, good. If not, then no matter. Go right on doing what you love.

Lois Hurst

Our Donors

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 Foundation ($3000+)

Judy and Robert Gold

Angel ($2000+)

Gerri-Lynn and Brett Becker

Nancy and Pat Gallagher

Jody Bishop and Pamela Holbrook

Above the Barre ($500+)

Aurora Jensen

Aimee and Chad Hammond

Stephanie and Phil Dillon

The California Wine Club

Enthusiast ($100+)

Lenita Andres

Scott Goodwin

Candice Weber

C.A. and D.G. Blaney

Annette Okamur

Betsy and Scott Manninen

Central Coast Real Estate

Founder ($1000+)

Light Gabler

Michelle Holmes and Chuck Caulkins

Devotee ($250+)

Suzanne Chadwick

Eloqui Company

Julie and Steve Carroll Supporters ($20+)

Sherri Van Orman

Morgan and Tim Stowers

Sheryl Miller

MadeWest Brewing Company

Your contributions make a difference in what is offered to our dancers and our community. Donate online via PayPal. To donate, please visit OakleyBallet.com/support.

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 costumers 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. More than15 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 a production, 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 volunteer-run fundraising division of Footworks where our dancers, dancers’ families and friends join together under the direction of a volunteer to create handmade crafts, decor and gift items, available in the lobby. 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 a variety of past and current Footworks dancers, families and friends.

If you dance with your heart your body will follow.

Reaching Out to Our Community

Footworks Youth Ballet’s Board of Directors believes that ballet should be shared with community members of all ages and collaborates with organizations and schools in an effort to increase opportunities for enjoyment of the arts.

Footworks Youth Ballet Brings Snow White into Local Senior Communities

In an effort to bring the magic of live classical ballet to some community members who cannot attend a performance, Footworks Youth Ballet partnered with Ventura Senior Communities including Aegis Living, Cypress Place, Holiday the Bonaventura, the Lexington and the Ventura Townehouse, to present portions of the ballet to residents in their own facilities. Several costume-clad ballet dancers performed for the senior citizens, bringing with them props and presenting beautiful and comical variations from Snow White. They were met with appreciation from senior community residents, many of whom went on to share stories of their own histories either dancing or attending the ballet.

A Snow White Preview for Local Schools

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 nearly 1200 Ventura County students each Fall and Spring when school groups attend performances in advance of our opening show. 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 enjoyed 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.

Spring 2023 Dedications

Avery Grace Trask – Snow White

Your presence, aura, beauty, purity and grace on stage is such a beautiful sight! We are so proud!

Love Papa & Grandma Glenda

Jadyn

Jadyn, We feel so grateful that we get to see you dance again on stage.You have grown into a beautiful dancer. Your dedication and joy to dance truly shines through when you are on stage. Your future is bright.

We are so proud of You!....Love always...

Mom, G-ma, Justin, Angel, Gabby and Roxy & Wendy

Brie

Congratulations on another beautiful performance! We love you and are so very proud of you! We are so excited for your ballet adventures to continue this summer!

As Barbie would say, “Listen to the beat of your heart...Keep on dancing!”

Love, Cameron, Maverick and Mom XO

Nicola

Nicola, As we watch you dance through life we are continually in awe of what you accomplish. Follow your dreams and continue to dance because you love it, keep dancing for you. We support all of your dreams.

We love you… Nama, Ga, Declan, Dad, Mum, L&J

Enjoy the process of learning to dance. The process of our profession, and not its final achievement, is the heart and soul of dance.

Jacques d’Amboise

Save the Dates

Summer in Motion

Registration is open NOW for Summer in Motion at Oakley Ballet Center. Enroll through June 10, 2023

Register online at www.oakleyballet.com/joinoakley

For further information, please call or email (805) 676-1600 — info@oakleyballet.com

The Nutcracker

Footworks Youth Ballet will present the 2023 performance of The Nutcracker Dec. 15 –17, 2023

www.footworksyouthballet.org