Ventura County Ballet Company partners with Ventura College Orchestra to present exquisite holiday performances at Oxnard Performing Arts Center

Ventura, CA. - For the first time ever, the Ventura County Ballet Company (VCBC) will share the spotlight with Ventura College’s 52-piece orchestra (VCO) to incorporate live music in the company’s annual must-see holiday shows.

“The Ventura County Ballet Company is excited to add a live orchestra to our ballet this year, making this world-class ballet production even bigger and better,” said Marina Fliagina, choreographer of the Nutcracker.

Similar to the VCBC mission of pairing professional ballet dancers with pre-professional dance students, the VCO combines pre-professional musicians with professional artists. The VCO’s contribution to this spectacular holiday production will highlight Tchaikovsky’s much-adored musical composition and will help bring to life America’s most beloved ballet.

Under the direction of recently appointed VCO Maestro Robert E. Lawson, a music professor at Ventura College for over 30 years, this production of The Nutcracker will be the newly-formed VCO’s second public performance. “The VCO brings together some of the best professional and student musicians in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles Counties and includes in its ranks dozens of students, college music teachers as well as members of several prestigious local orchestras and symphonies,” said Lawson.

“The Ventura College’s renewed collaboration with VCBC is exciting for the community, enhancing both groups’ missions to serve young artists and the community at large,” said Norbert Tan, Executive Director of the Ventura College Foundation. “Ventura College looks forward to its ongoing artistic partnership with VCBC, especially leading up to the unveiling of its multi-million dollar theatre renovation in 2011. The Ventura College Foundation is delighted to sponsor the VCBC and Ventura College Music Department’s collaboration of The Nutcracker Ballet in November.”

Families can usher in the holiday season with performances on Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and on Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way in Oxnard. Following each matinee will be a Sugar Plum Cookie reception complimentary to all ticket holders.

Tickets are $10 - $25 for general admission, $17 for seniors 65 and older, and $12 for children 12 and younger. Tickets can be purchased at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Theater Box Office at 805-486-2424 or online at www.venturacountyballet.com or www.oxnardpacc.com.

For more information, visit www.venturacountyballet.com.

About the Ventura County Ballet Company and Ballet Academy Ventura
Celebrating its 18th year, the Ventura County Ballet Company presents two to three large scale productions each year. The productions feature professional dancers as well as VCBC pre-professionals, students from Ballet Academy Ventura, the official school of the VCBC.

Kathleen Noblin, a recipient of the City of Ventura 2008 Mayor´s Arts Award, founded Ballet Academy Ventura, as the official in-residence school of the Ventura County Ballet Company in 1992. She has served as executive director of the company since its inception. Students are taught creative movement as early as 2 to 3½ years and pre-ballet to the age of six. A complete and graduated ballet program, beginning through pre-professional, including adults is taught. Other classes include flamenco, jazz, and Hip Hop for 5 to 12 year olds.

For more information, or to sponsor an upcoming ballet or educational program, call (805) 648-2080 or visit www.venturacountyballet.com.