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.
Fingerworks
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.
Footworks Youth Ballet Presents
Music by Lèo Delibes
Choreography by Kirsten Oakley After Arthur Saint-Lèon Based on the story by E.T.A. Hoffman
Ventura College Performing Arts Center
Saturday, May 31, 2025 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm Sunday, June 1, 2025 1:00 pm
Oakley Ballet Center
Official Training Facility of Footworks Youth Ballet 1594 Saratoga Ave, Unit A, Ventura, CA 93003 www.footworksyouthballet.org
Act One
Village Square in Eastern Europe
Onone side of the square resides an inn and, adjoined to it, the house where Swanilda lives. Across the square is the house and workshop of old Dr. Coppélius, a toymaker and scientist. The doctor places a doll, Coppélia, at an open window of his house. Swanilda comes out into the square and, seeing the doll, greets her, for she believes the doll to be real. So does Franz, a young peasant boy who, although | supposedly in love with Swanilda, has a roving eye. Dr. Coppélius contrives to make the doll blow kisses to Franz, who becomes enraptured by her.
Peasant boys and girls arrive and the Bürgermeister announces that each betrothed couple will receive a dowry at the dedication of the new town bell. Swanilda seeks to test Franz’s fidelity with a sheath of wheat: If the grain within it rattles, she will marry him. Alas, this seems not to be, so she leaves in tears. After some village dancing, the peasant boys and girls disperse, and the old Dr. Coppélius emerges from his house to go to the inn for a drink. He locks the door of the house carefully while a group of local lads start to make fun of him. A skirmish ensues and Dr. Coppélius is finally rescued by the innkeeper. As he mops his brow, the key to his house falls unobserved to the ground.
Swanilda and her friends return to the square, discover the key, realize it fits the door to Dr. Coppélius’ house, and they decide to go inside to meet the unknown girl who has been sitting immobile at the window. Stealthily, they enter the house. Dr. Coppélius returns to the square searching for his door key and sees with dismay that the door is wide open. He enters in pursuit of the intruders. Meanwhile, Franz reappears with a ladder, places it against the balcony and starts to climb to investigate the workshop for himself.
Intermission
Head to the lobby at intermission to purchase a $2 Candygram for your dancer! We will deliver the Candygram with your personal message and a special treat backstage to your dancer during the performance. Proceeds benefit Footworks Youth Ballet.
Act Two
The Workshop of Dr. Coppélius
Swanilda and her friends enter the dark workshop. They are terrified to discover mysterious figures lurking in the shadows, but are relieved when they discover that they are dolls. The friends find it hilarious when they discover that the mysterious girl from the balcony is nothing more than the doll named Coppélia, the toymaker’s newest creation.
Suddenly, Dr. Coppélius bursts into the workshop. The girls scatter and Swanilda takes refuge behind the curtain with Coppélia, as her friends are driven out of the workshop. Dr. Coppélius then surveys the disorder the girls have made, but is interrupted by the surprising presence of Franz, who has crept into the workshop by way of the window. When Dr. Coppélius confronts him, Franz admits that he has come to court Coppélia.
Dr. Coppélius gives Franz a drugged wine and brings the doll out from the alcove. He prepares a chemical experiment that will transfer the life force from Franz into his beloved doll, Coppélia. What he has not realized is that Swanilda has taken the place of the doll, so his experiment in making the doll move completely enthralls him. He now wholeheartedly believes his creation has a heart and feelings. In a moment of seriousness, both musical and dramatic, he rejoices that his dream has come true.
But the spirit of comedy reasserts itself as Swanilda starts to get out of hand. She demands to know the precise nature of the dolls, and questions the recumbent figure of Franz. To distract her attention, Dr. Coppélius makes her dance a Spanish dance and a Scottish jig.
Swanilda is not to be deterred and she eventually succeeds in rousing Franz. As he comes to his senses, Swanilda wheels out the doll Coppélia, whose dress she has been wearing. Swanilda regards Dr. Coppélius with remorse and leaves with Franz to join their friends in the village square. Dr. Coppélius is left alone, grieving.
Intermission
Act Three
The Wedding and Bell Celebration
The peasants assemble for festivities to mark the arrival of the new bell in town. The Bürgermeister distributes the dowry to Franz and Swanilda. Dr. Coppélius is awarded a purse of gold to compensate for the damage to his workshop. Then the celebration begins with dances that symbolize the uses to which the bell will be put: the calls to prayer and work, the announcement of marriage, and finally, the declaration of peace.
Cast List
ACT I
Village Square in Eastern Europe
Innkeeper Mikaela Mitchell (Sat.)
Maya Holbrook (Sun.)
Dr. Coppélius Maté Szentes
Swanilda Bailey Basurto
Franz Ethan Ahuero
Coppélia Doll Gabi Kovacevic
Bürgemeister Chad Hammond
Franz’s Friends Jonah Thomas, Tyler Swensen
Mazurka
April Boland and Noam Tsivkin with Mia Earley, Gabi Kovacevic, Lennon Nichols, Trudy Ragsdale, Alina Schulbach, Autumn Storts, Molly Strouse, Maddie Yamamoto
Farm Children
Harlow Becker, Abby Costello, Lillian Duval, Vivienne Evans, Sage Gibson, Daleyza Gonzalez, Ava Johnson, Zahra Lewis
Swanilda’s Friends
Lillian Carroll, Brie Cheatham, Finley Colavito, Charlotte Cornes, April Johnson (Sat. Matinee), Trudy Ragsdale, Hazel Van Orman (Sat. Evening/Sun.)
Czardes
Ethan Ahuero and April Johnson (Sat. Evening/Sun.), Hazel Van Orman (Sat. Matinee) with Amelie Birkett, Stella Briggs, Francesca Camilon, Taylor Corcoran, Vivienne Grande, Alexa Kovacevic, Charlotte Levin, Kahlan Prouse, Nila Slusarenko, Findley Smiley, Ava Smith, Madelyn Usery
ACT II
The Workshop of Dr. Coppélius
Coppélia Doll Gabi Kovacevic
Spanish Dolls Mia Earley, Isy Newlow
German Dolls Francesca Camilon, Lennon Nichols
Scottish Doll Alina Schulbach
Acrobat Doll Maddie Yamamoto
Chinese Doll Autumn Storts
Astronomer Doll Molly Strouse
Monkey Dolls Amelie Birkett, Taylor Corcoran, Vivienne Grande
Swanilda Bailey Basurto
Swanilda’s Friends
Lillian Carroll, Brie Cheatham, Finley Colavito, Charlotte Cornes, April Johnson (Sat. Matinee), Trudy Ragsdale, Hazel Van Orman (Sat. Evening/Sun.)
Dr. Coppélius Maté Szentes
Franz Ethan Ahuero
Act III
The Wedding and Bell Celebration
Cast List
Innkeeper Mikaela Mitchell (Sat.)
Maya Holbrook (Sun.)
Dr. Coppélius Maté Szentes
Swanilda Bailey Basurto
Franz Ethan Ahuero
Bürgemeister Chad Hammond
Franz’s Friends Jonah Thomas, Tyler Swensen
Friends & Bürgemeister
Divertissement
Finley Colavito, April Johnson, Trudy Ragsdale, Hazel Van Orman and Chad Hammond
Sickle & Wheat
Stella Briggs, Alexa Kovacevic, Charlotte Levin, Kahlan Prouse, Nila Slusarenko, Findley Smiley, Ava Smith, Madelyn Usery
Innkeeper with Village Children
Mikaela Mitchell (Sat.)
Maya Holbrook (Sun.) with Ophelia Banuelos, Aria Dawson, Camille Duval, Kacey Juarez, Nora Lafferty, Jane Needham, Mackenzie Ortman, Sophie Rek, Rocio Silva, Nella Schneiderman, Eloise Stover, Finley Waldron, Pippa Waldron, Margot Zibach
Dance of the Hours
Amelie Birkett, Francesca Camilon, Taylor Corcoran, Mia Earley, Vivienne Grande, Gabi Kovacevic, Lennon Nichols, Trudy Ragsdale, Alina Schulbach, Autumn Storts, Molly Strouse, Maddie Yamamoto
Prayer
Brie Cheatham with Harlow Becker, Abby Costello, Lillian Duval, Vivienne Evans, Sage Gibson, Daleyza Gonzalez, Ava Johnson, Alexa Kovacevic, Zahra Lewis, Charlotte Levin, Kahlan Prouse, Findley Smiley
Dawn
Noam Tsivkin with Lillian Carroll and Charlotte Cornes
Flower Girls
Ophelia Banuelos, Aria Dawson, Reagan Flitt, Kacey Juarez, Nora Lafferty, Nella Schneiderman, Eloise Stover, Finley Waldron, Hazel Wardlow
Finale Entire Cast
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 Oregon Ballet Theatre, 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, University of California, Irvine and University of California, Santa Barbara.
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 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 Maté Szentes
Maté 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, Nicolas Blanc among many others. Since 2021 he’s been a freelancing artist while maintaining a guest principal dancer status with American Contemporary Ballet. He started choreographing in 2016 and so far his works have been performed by the Los Angeles Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Barak Ballet, Ballet Project OC and other independent and project based companies. Mr. Szentes was a finalist at the Palm Desert Choreography Festival in 2022 and 2023 and his works were also invited to be performed at the North Coast Dance Festival in Michigan and at Balletfest in Long Beach, CA. As a guest teacher he has been working internationally with schools and companies alike, most notably with Norwegian National Ballet and Accademia La Scala in Milan, Italy among many others.
Guest Artist Ethan Ahuero
EthanAhuero was born in Roanoke, Virginia where he began his ballet training with Roanoke Ballet Theatre as a member of the City Youth Ballet. He attended summer programs at Richmond Ballet, The Rock, Orlando Ballet and Boston Ballet. In 2017, Ethan moved to the Orlando Ballet School as a trainee and in 2018 he was promoted to the second company. Since his time in Orlando, Ethan has competed in the Youth American Grand Prix, performed Puck in Midsummer Night’s Dream, and soloist roles in Arcadian Broads Seasons. In 2019, he moved to Kansas City to join as a second company member and performed in Devon Carney’s Swan Lake and Nutcracker. In 2020, Ethan joined Dayton Ballet and has had the opportunity to perform in pieces by Gerald Arpino, Limoncello by Annabell Lopez Ochoa, and Calling by Ma Cong. Ethan joined State Street Ballet in 2023 and has had the opportunity to perform Carmen, as the Snow King in The Nutcracker, and as the Prince in Cinderella.
Guest Artist Noam Tsivkin
NoamTsivkin, from New York City, received his dance training from Merle Sepel and his mother, Rebecca Tsivkin. He continued his training at the School of American Ballet where he performed with the New York City Ballet in productions of The Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet. He received further training from the Alvin Ailey School, French Academie of Ballet, and State Street Ballet’s Professional Track program, before joining State Street Ballet in 2016.
Guest Artist Mikaela Roth
Mikaela Roth is a former dancer and instructor with Oakley Ballet Center. She has 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 Arabian Coffee soloist, Nanny, and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker. A graduate of Cal State Long Beach, Mikaela is now employed full-time as a Social Worker.
Guest Artist
Maya Holbrook
Maya
Holbrook started her journey into the world of dance with a childhood fascination with ballet. As she was entranced by the effortless grace and precision of movement, her moms enrolled her at Oakley Ballet Center. Under the direction of Kirsten Oakley and Laurin Boland, her passion found fertile ground. Fueled by her love for dance, Maya pursued higher education at UC Irvine, where she delved deeper into the art form. In 2022, she proudly graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance.
Throughout her academic journey, Maya had the privilege of learning from esteemed mentors such as Molly Lynch, Tong Wang, and Lar Lubovitch, whose expertise further enriched her understanding of movement and expression. Recognizing the symbiotic relationship between dance and holistic physical fitness, Maya expanded her horizons and is currently teaching Pilates private sessions and small group classes in Ventura and Thousand Oaks. She also teaches Adult Beginning Ballet Classes at Oakley Ballet Center.
DanceGuest Artist April Boland
has been a part of her life since birth, and she takes great pride in her family’s participation with Oakley Ballet Center. In addition to dancing, she thrives on helping mentor younger dancers. April has had several favorite roles over nearly two decades of performing. These include Dew Drop and Arabian Pas in The Nutcracker, Evil Queen in Snow White, and Fairy Godmother in Cinderella. She has enjoyed the opportunity to partner with some talented guest artists, which has helped further develop her skills as a dancer.
BeforeEmmy
Pearson Harpist
the curtain is raised for our production of Coppélia, we invite attendees to enjoy live instrumental music performed by harpist Emmy Pearson. Emmy is in 8th grade and has been playing the lever harp for five years. She also plays the piano and enjoys the sport of rowing.
Opening for Coppélia marks the sixth 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, Swanilda
Bailey is a Junior at Foothill Technology High School. Bailey has been dancing with Oakley Ballet Center for 13 years. Some of Bailey’s favorite roles include Spring Fairy in Cinderella as well as Dew Drop and Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. 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, Swanilda’s Friend, Dawn
Lillian is a senior at Beacon Hill Classical Academy. She has been dancing for 14 years including 12 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, Swanilda’s Friend, Prayer Soloist
Brie is a Junior at Ventura High School. She has been dancing for 13 years, with 10 years at Oakley Ballet Center. Her favorite roles have included Clara in the 2019 production of The Nutcracker, Peacock in the 2023 Snow White, and Reed Flute soloist and Arabian pas de deux in the 2024 productions 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, Swanilda’s Friend
Finley is a junior at Foothill Technology High School. She has been dancing with Oakley Ballet Center for 7 years. Her favorite roles include Candy Ribbon Soloist in The Nutcracker, and a Ballroom dancer in Cinderella. In her free time, Finley enjoys cooking as well as spending time with her friends and family. A favorite quote of hers is: “Ballet should speak for itself– its message is not in words but in movement.” - John Cranko
Charlotte Cornes, Swanilda’s Friend, Dawn
Charlotte is a Sophomore at Simi Valley High School. She has been dancing for 12 years and has danced with Oakley Ballet Center for 6 years. Her favorite roles include Autumn Fairy in Cinderella, and the Snow Corps and Spanish Soloist in The Nutcracker. Charlotte loves being a rehearsal assistant because it allows her to develop friendships with the younger dancers at the studio. When she’s not at ballet, she is also on her high school dance team. A quote that means something to Charlotte is: “What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?” - Erin Hanson
Mia Earley, Mazurka Corps de ballet, Spanish Doll, Dance of the Hours Corps de Ballet
Mia is in eighth grade at Cabrillo Middle School. She has been dancing for 9 years with more than 7 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, Swanilda’s friend, Czardes Soloist
April is in eighth grade at Cabrillo Middle School. April has been dancing for 9 years and has trained at Oakley Ballet Center for 8 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, Mazurka Corps de ballet, Swanilda’s Friend, Dance of the Hours Corps de Ballet
Trudy is a Freshman at Foothill Technology High School. She has been training at Oakley Ballet Center for 10 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 Schulbach, Mazurka Corps de Ballet, Scottish Doll, Dance of the Hours Corps de Ballet
Alina is an eighth grader at Cabrillo Middle School. She has been dancing for 9 years, and dancing with Oakley Ballet Center for the last 6 years. Some of Alina’s favorite roles have been a Rat and Candy Ribbon in The Nutcracker and Mazurka in this production of Coppélia. Outside of ballet, she enjoys baking, listening to music and hanging out with her friends.
Autumn Storts, Mazurka Corps de Ballet, Chinese Doll, Dance of the Hours Corps de Ballet
Autumn is a sixth grader at Cabrillo Middle School. She has been dancing for 10 years, with 6 years at Oakley Ballet Center. Her favorite roles have included Clara, Peppermint Bon Bon soloist, 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, Mazurka Corps de Ballet, Astronomer Doll, Dance of the Hours Corps de Ballet
Molly is a seventh grader at Cabrillo Middle School. She has been dancing with Oakley Ballet Center for 6 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, Swanilda’s Friend, Czardes Soloist
Hazel is a Junior at Foothill Technology High School. She has been dancing for 6 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, Mazurka Corps de Ballet, Acrobat Doll, Dance of the Hours Corps de Ballet
Maddie is a seventh grader at CAPE Charter School in Camarillo. She has been dancing for 8 years, 3 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 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
Footworks Youth Ballet Board of Directors
Jon Light
J. Steven Murillo
Kirsten Oakley
Dave Ragsdale
Leadership and Crew
VC Technical Director ............................................... Jamie Birkett
Lighting and design .................................................. Melissa Lay
VC PAC Assistant ......................................................... Gabriel Aragon
Videographers ............................................................. Alison and Ernie Tamminga
Accounting ................................................................... Michelle Spaulding
Production Managers ............................................... Aimee Hammond and Brigid Morales
PR & Marketing Manager ......................................... Ariel Palmieri
Social Media ................................................................. Brigid Morales and Hazel Van Orman
Graphic Design and Custom Art ........................... Erin Martinez
Costume Coordinators ............................................. Jill Johnson and Rochelle Storts
Ticket Coordinator ..................................................... Brenda Usery
In-House Photography ............................................. Hillary Smiley and Elena Anzaldo
Program Designer & Marketing Support ........... Jim Earley
Program Editors .......................................................... Aimee Hammond, Brigid Morales, Ariel Palmieri
Stage Manager ............................................................ Dave Ragsdale
Technical Manager ..................................................... Todd Tranby
Security Coordinators ...............................................
Julie and Steve Carroll, Renee Camilon, Ruben Gonzalez
Backstage Coordinators ........................................... Katherine Basurto and Tabitha Bigbee
Prop Coordinators ...................................................... Sheryl Miller and Allison Gibson
Quickchange Coordinators ..................................... Bailey Basurto and Charlotte Cornes
Lunch Coordinators ................................................... Katherine Basurto and Kyla Colavito
Lobby Team .................................................................. Katie Arana, Juliana Beeson, Ariel and Scarlett Palmieri, Jessica Smith
Production Merchandise ......................................... Erin Martinez
School Outreach Coordinator ................................ Jennifer McDevitt
Senior Community Outreach Coordinator ........ Laurel Corcoran
Senior Community Outreach Technical Support ...... Katie Arana and Jessica Smith
Dine Out Nights Coordinator ................................. Monica Earley
Fundraising/Events/Sponsorships ....................... Ashley Duval, Aimee Hammond, Ashley Johnson, Brigid Morales, Talia Schneiderman
Thank You, Junior Assistants!
Kirsten and Laurin greatly appreciate the rehearsal assistants who have mentored the younger dancers, assisted our costuming department and helped throughout Coppélia rehearsal season.
Bailey Basurto
Lillian Carroll
Brie Cheatham
Finley Colavito
Charlotte Cornes
April Johnson
Trudy Ragsdale
Hazel Van Orman
Community Supporters
Footworks Youth Ballet gives special thanks to the generous support of these businesses, whose in-kind or monetary contributions, and collaborative support, make our productions possible.
• Avner Gat, Inc - Public Insurance Adjusters
• The Dance Store - Los Angeles and Online
• Aimee Hammond - Registered Dietitian
• LightGabler LLP - Ventura County Employment Law Attorneys
• MadeWest Brewery - Ventura
• The Men’s Warehouse - Oxnard
• Ariel Palmieri - Coldwell Banker Realty
• Jana Scarborough - RESOURCE REAL ESTATE
• Ventura College
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, planning sneak peeaks for our friends and family, 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 l eaders of our extraordinarily special organization.
Marketing
The word is OUT! T-shirts and sweatshirts the dancers collect each season. 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.
Our Volunteers are the Best!
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 Coppélia 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 and dancers and in a calm and safe manner.
Lobby: Sales - Flowers - Gifts
Gifts for dancers, historical costume and prop themed displays, refreshments and treats, handmade items, production mementos and apparel - thank you to our lobby team for thoughtfully curating, displaying and selling these wares.
Our Donors
Performances like Coppélia 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
• Ashley and Adam Johnson
Founder ($1000+)
• Michelle Holmes and Chuck Caulkins
• Aimee and Chad Hammond
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/
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 much 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 took us off the ground and on the stage. 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.
Community Outreach
DR. COPPELIUS WORKSHOP
On a Saturday afternoon in April, Footworks Youth Ballet invited community children to participate in a special event at Oakley Ballet Center. A volunteer shared the story of the ballet, the children made ballet-themed crafts, enjoyed treats, and watched a special preview of the production. This wonderful event allowed our youngest ballet fans to learn more about the story of Coppélia and to see the dancers up close.
OPEN REHEARSAL
As a lead up to the Production weekend, Footworks Youth Ballet hosted a preview at Oakley Ballet Center. This open rehearsal showcased the professional dancers joining with the students to prepare for the show. Artistic director Kirsten Oakley walked the attendees through the rehearsal, while attendees also enjoyed wine, other refreshments and appetizers.
OUTREACH PERFORMANCES
Finally, Footworks Youth Ballet takes great pride in presenting Outreach performances to the Ventura County community each season. This Spring, the dancers took excerpts from Coppélia directly into senior living communities in Ventura and Oxnard (the Bonaventure, Cypress Place and Cypress Independent Living, the Lexington, the Veterans’ Home of California, and Oakmont of Riverpark).
The Thursday before the public performances at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center, the dancers presented Act One of their production during Outreach performances for local elementary school students. This important event allowed for each visiting student to experience a portion of the ballet - while enjoying being in a professional theater environment. Many of these students had never-before attended a live ballet or theatrical event and these memories stay with the students for years to come, often encouraging them to join a ballet or performing arts organization for themselves or to continue attending live productions.
Community Outreach
Footworks Youth Ballet dancers bring Coppélia to Senior Living Communities in Ventura County.
FYB Dancer Bailey Basurto and Guest Artist Maté Szentes present scenes from Coppélia.
Community Outreach
Footworks Youth Ballet dancers bring Coppélia to Senior Living Communities in Ventura County.
FYB Dancer Bailey Basurto and Guest Artist Maté Szentes present scenes from Coppélia
Community Outreach
Footworks Youth Ballet dancers bring Coppélia to Senior Living Communities in Ventura County.
Community children enjoy the story of Coppélia as presented by a parent volunteer.
Summer In Motion Intensive
June 30 - July 25, 2025
Oakley Ballet Center
The Nutcracker
December 12 - 14, 2025
Ventura College Performing Arts Center
