Oxnard, Calif. – The Ventura County Ballet visited Driffill School on Thursday, bringing a taste of the classic “Nutcracker” to local students. The outreach program featured a mix of young dancers from Ventura public schools and a private school in Montecito, along with a seasoned member of the Ventura Ballet Company who performed a solo.
Students Learn About Ballet and Tchaikovsky
During the visit, the children were introduced to the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and the meaning behind traditional ballet gestures. “Ballet is something you have to work at for eight or ten years to become strong enough for roles like Clara,” said Isadora Chandler, a 10th‑grade student from Laguna Blanca who performed the role of Clara. “It took a while, but I was eventually able to get strong enough to play roles like Clara.”
Jasmin Duncan, who performed both the Rat Queen and the Arabian dancer, described the energy in the room: “I definitely felt a lot of energy; the kids yell and shout when they see something cool, or you might hear them go ‘oh wow’ at certain things. It is really fun.”
Student Reactions and Teacher Support
Fifth‑grader Camilla Melanephy expressed her excitement, noting, “It is really fun to see and I’ve actually never see ballet before.” Dr. Kimberley Dufau, the teacher who arranged the visit, will also be singing at the upcoming Nutcracker show in December, underscoring the school’s commitment to integrating the arts into its curriculum.
One of the professional dancers showed students a pair of toe shoes, sparking curiosity about the discipline required for ballet. The performers highlighted that many of them will be dancing on pointe accompanied by a live orchestra at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6.
Upcoming Performances Include Sensory‑Friendly Show
In addition to the standard performances, the ballet company announced a special sensory‑friendly show on Saturday before the afternoon performance. The adaptation is designed for individuals on the autism spectrum or with emotional challenges, offering a welcoming environment for all community members.
For families interested in attending, more information is available on the Ventura County Ballet website.
The Nutcracker outreach aligns with the ballet’s broader mission to make the performing arts accessible to youth across Ventura County, fostering appreciation for cultural heritage and encouraging artistic ambition among the next generation.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
