VENTURA: The Ventura College Dance Department’s spring show, Now Playing: A Dancer’s Perspective, celebrates all forms of dance, music, and narrative. A Dancer’s Perspective will please all dance lovers with a full range of genre, including ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, ballroom, and tap..
Now Playing: A Dancer’s Perspective will be in the main theater at Ventura College Friday May 15th at 8:00 pm, Saturday May 16th at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 pm and a 3:00 pm matinee performance on Sunday May 17th.
This original dance production is the artistic creation of the students in Dance 30, a course offered at Ventura College to give students real experience in choreography and performance. Now Playing: A Dancer’s Perspective is directed by Becky Contreras of Santa Paula.
Guest artists participating in the show include the Moorpark College Dance Department under the direction of Robert Salas, Devin Fulton, a member of the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company, MacKinnons Dance Company and Connor Casavan, a principle dancer of Dance Prism, a Boston area teaching company that prepares young dancers for professional careers.
Students from around the county will be participating in this series of performances: Nathan Burdine and Emily Martinez of Camarillo, Fernando Ayala, Noemy Barboza, Yardira Barboza, Isaias Castillo, Martin Garcia, Glacy May Guijo Shynna Harper, Rudy Larrazolo, Jennifer Lemons, Ixchel Lopez, Heather Landry, Carolyn Luu, Ashley Martinez, Rafael Ramirez, Henry Vargas, Jr., and Louis Wicke all of Oxnard; Stephanie Banks, Michelle Iniguez, Sierra S. Marble, Nicole Morgan, Lindsay Winegar of Ventura, and Eddie Mendoza and Jessica Mayorga of Santa Paula.
All tickets at the door will be $10.00. Pre-sale tickets are $10.00 for general admission, $8.00 for students, seniors, and faculty members. For more information, or to order tickets contact Becky Contreras at 805-207-5877.

Mary Kolada Scott and Joyce Lombard will present a poetry reading at 4 p.m. May 16 in the Buenaventura Gallery, 700 E. Santa Clara St., Ventura. The event is in conjunction with Scott’s current solo exhibit, “Between the Lines: Paintings, Prints and Poems,” on display April 28 through May 23 at the gallery.
Scott and Lombard are Ventura poets, artists and friends who have participated in readings together over the years, including in the atrium at Ventura City Hall. They were in a group of women artists whose deconstructed fashion dolls were exhibited at Artists Union Gallery in 2007. They have published two poetry collections, “Sage” and “Only This Moment.” Their poems appear in “Her Mark 2009,” a journal of poetry and art published by Woman Made Gallery in Chicago.
The Buenaventura Gallery is located at 700 E Santa Clara St. in downtown Ventura. Hours are Tues – Friday from noon – 5 pm and Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. For more information, visit their website at www.BuenaventuraGallery.org. Buenaventura Art Association is celebrating 55 years of great art!

Ventura, CA. All American Ballet Company (AAB) will present a Spring Gala dance concert with exciting new choreography in classical, neoclassical and contemporary highlights on Sunday, May 17 at 2:00 p.m. at the Buena High Auditorium at 5670 Telegraph Road in Ventura.

The concert will feature performances by All American Ballet School’s young dancers, along with professional guest artists, Enton Hoxha and Maria Tikhomirova. “Our Spring Gala will delight audiences with dancing that showcases what our young dancers have accomplished in their years of dedicated training,” says Camille Wallace, Board President. Performing both classical and modern dance solos in the show is Emily Van Dolah, age 15, whose goal is to dance professionally. In the past four years, Emily has received more than a dozen acceptances to prestigious summer programs such as San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Houston Ballet, including this summer with the Pittsburg Ballet Theatre on a full scholarship. “This show is fun to dance and will be fun to watch because it’s a little different and has variety,” says Emily. CONTINUED »

With state-of-the-art theatrics and video effects and perfection in choreography, the Ventura County Ballet Company will present the timeless tale of Cinderella in a thoroughly modern way at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, June 6 -7. The ballet features a top-notch cast of professional dancers with choreography by Rodney Gustafson.

Ticket prices range from $9-$23. Children 10 years and under are $10. Tickets are available online at venturacountyballet.com, or call the box office at (805) 486-2424.

Performances
What: Ventura County Ballet Company presents Cinderella
When: 7:00pm, Saturday, June 6, 2009 and 2:00pm, Sunday, June 7, 2009
Where: Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard CA
Tickets: Adults: $9 to $23. Children: 10 years and under $10

Buenaventura Art Association announces a “Call for Entries” for their rotating exhibit on the ground floor of Ventura’s Community Memorial Hospital from June through August, 2009. Open to all 2D artists – original works only, no giclées or prints accepted. Works will be for sale and a reception for the artists will be held. The theme is “Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer” however; artists are encouraged to submit abstract interpretations of their definition of summer as well as literal renderings.

Submit works to Buenaventura Art Association for consideration. Criteria: jpeg only. No more than 400 pixels in any direction. Each jpeg must be identified with artist name and title of piece. Artists must include their full name, phone number and email address with each entry. No more than 3 entries per artist. Deadline: Monday, May 11, 2009 at 5:00 pm. There are no entry fees; however non-BAA members will be subject to a 40% commission if piece is sold.

Mail your CD’s to: Buenaventura Gallery, 700 E Santa Clara St., Ventura, CA 93001.or email cmhexhibit@buenaventuragallery.org. More information on the website, www.BuenaventuraGallery.org.

The Ojai Valley Museum, with its Spanish Mission Revival architecture, is the ideal setting for this exhibit of mission projects by Ojai Valley fourth grade students. The exhibit opens on April 17th and runs through May 17th. The student projects complement the display of Chumash Indian artifacts from the museum’s collection.

Docent tours for this exhibit are offered on Wednesdays. For reservation for tours and more information call 640-1390 or visit
http://www.ojaivalleymuseum.org/

The Ojai Valley Museum’s Native Plant and Treasure Sale will take place on Saturday, April 18th, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the museum grounds.

Select from 500 native plants created for this event by Lawrence Nicklin of Plantasia Landscaping and Scott Smith of Euterpe Farms. Handouts and books on the care and maintenance of native plants will be available from the Ventura Chapter of the California Native Plant Society and docents will offer technical support and answer questions. A treasure sale of collectables and artifacts will occur along with the plant sale. Stevie Adams of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy will speak at 11 a.m. on the “Rhythm of the River.”

For full information call the museum at (805) 640-1390.

Llewellyn Kingman Sanchez Werner shown with VC Symphony Orchestra Director E. Burns Taft at the October 2007 Ventura College concert.

VENTURA: The Master Chorale of Ventura County celebrates the 200th anniversary of composer Joseph Haydn, recognizes music director Burns Taft’s 70th birthday, and welcomes child prodigy Llewellyn Kingman Sanchez Werner as a soloist in a spectacular homecoming to Ventura College on Saturday, May 2, at 8 pm.
Llewellyn earned a degree from Ventura College before he was eight years old and is now enrolled at the Julliard School of Music at Lincoln Center in New York. When he started at Julliard, he was the youngest degree student in the school. Now 12 years old, Llewellyn returns to play the Grieg Piano Concerto with the Master Chorale Orchestra under the baton of Burns Taft.
The Chorale celebrates Haydn by performing his last, great masterpiece, the “Harmony” Mass. Written in 1802 after he surged into international stardom during his spectacular London sojourns, the Mass was the last large piece he wrote. It is extremely expressive and includes many joyous, spectacular moments. CONTINUED »

VENTURA: Featuring the first great choral masterwork of Beethoven, the Ventura College Choirs and the Ventura College Symphony present their final spring concert on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 8 pm. With ticket prices low at $5 and $10 for general admission, the concert brings a variety of exciting music to the Ventura College Theatre. Tickets are available at the door the evening of the concert.
Beethoven wrote “Christ on the Mt. of Olives” when he was 33. It was his intention to commemorate the agony of Christ on the night before he was crucified. For this he employed three soloists, a full choir and a large orchestra. It is a very expressive work, with many big moments. The last chorus, a Hallelujah Chorus, is one of Beethoven’s most beloved pieces.
Elizabeth Helms, the director of VC Choirs, chose Laura Wargo to sing the role of the Seraph, a six-winged angel. Mitchell Burris is singing the part of Peter. The professional soloist Daniel Plaster of Los Angeles is singing the role of Jesus. It is one of the major, large dramatic presentations of the Christ story in choral music. Ms. Wargo, of Santa Paula, and Mr. Burris, of Ojai, are outstanding student members of the VC Choirs. CONTINUED »

VENTURA: Ventura College is pleased to announce its Annual Student Awards Exhibition to be held in both the New Media Gallery and Gallery 2 on the Ventura College Campus, from April 16 to May 7. The campus is located at 4667 Telegraph Road, in Ventura. The artists’ reception will be held on April 16 at 7:00 p.m. on the patio by the Gallery 2. More than $6,500 in awards and prizes will be distributed to the winners of the juried show at the reception.

Hours for the Spring Semester are Monday through Friday, noon - 4:00 p.m. Please call Kate Martin, Gallery Manager, at (805) 648-8974 for additional information.

Book by JOSEPH STEIN
Music and Lyrics by STEPHEN SCHWARTZ
Based on the film "La Femme de Boulanger" by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono

Old world charm permeates every moment of this bittersweet, wise and gently offbeat fable of life, love and bread by Joseph Stein (“Fiddler On The Roof”) and Stephen Schwartz (“Godspell,” “Pippin,” “Children of Eden” and the films “Pocahontas,” “The Hunchback Of Notre Dame” and “The Prince Of Egypt”).

The bickering residents of a small Provencal town at last find peace and contentment in the heavenly bread of the newly arrived baker and his attractive young wife, but when she is lured away by the attentions of a handsome young gigolo, the middle-aged baker loses all zest for life and baking, throwing the community into chaos. CONTINUED »

May 1 and 2, 7pm
At Ventura's historic Dudley House
197 N. Ashwood, Ventura

Tickets: $25
Reservations/info: (805) 647-4622 or jkasmir@roadrunner.com

Description: All proceeds will benefit local nonprofit Straight Up Ventura County (http://www.straightupvc.org). Three popular magicians will create spellbinding illusions in three different rooms in the historic Dudley House, a Victorian home built in 1892, which is now a living history museum. All three magicians are well-known performers in California; Shawn McMaster recently appeared on an episode of Fox TV's "Masters of Illusion."

For more information, contact (805) 647-4622 or jkasmir@roadrunner.com.

Meet ArtWalk’s Featured Artist Dan Holmes at Museum of Ventura County during Ventura’s Spring ArtWalk weekend, April 25 and 26. Holmes will be signing the official ArtWalk posters featuring his work on Saturday, April 25, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. He will show and sell his photography from 1:00 - 7:00 p.m. that day, and on Sunday, April 26, from 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Holmes’ photographs can also be seen in the museum’s current exhibition Discovery: The Photography of Dan Holmes, which will continue through May 31. It includes both color and black & white photography, including scenes from Africa and the American west. He describes his images as reflections of those “moments in time when light, form, and color fit.” CONTINUED »

One year ago, the Breast Center at Community Memorial Hospital joined with the Buenaventura Art Association to kick-off “A Celebration of Life.” Co-sponsored by Ribbons of Life Breast Cancer Foundation, local breast cancer survivors were partnered with eleven Buenaventura Art Association artists who were commissioned to create unique and personal artistic impressions associated with the cancer survivors’ experiences. One pairing consisted of survivor Tamilyn Taylor and artist Janet Black. They found common ground, first, over their love of cats and coffee, and later met to talk about Tamilyn’s experiences with breast cancer.

Black, who does portraiture in collage, took the lead from Taylor’s story and has created a portrait of Taylor with, of course, her cat. “The most fascinating thing about this partnering,” said Black, “is that Tamilyn kept a journal during her diagnosis and treatment, and I was able to use pieces of that journal in the collage itself, surrounding her with her own words and memories, in her own handwriting.” CONTINUED »

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Hear children’s book authors and illustrators read their own words, at Museum of Ventura County’s free Family Times, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 19 and Sunday, May 17. Book signings and art activities are also part of the free afternoon.

On Sunday, April 19, Ventura author Amada Irma Pérez will read her bilingual books in Spanish, including Mi propio cuartito( My Very Own Room). Also on that day, author and illustrator Mary Ann Fraser of Simi Valley will read her books for children, which include Where Are The Night Animals? Jody Fickes Shapiro of Ventura will entertain with her writings, which include Up, Up, Up! It’s Apple- Picking Time.

On Sunday, May 17, author Alexis O’Neill of Simi Valley will read The Recess Queen, along with her other books; and Thousand Oaks author and illustrator Carol Heyer will include Humphrey’s First Christmas in her readings. Jody Fickes Shapiro will return to read her books again for Family Times.

Families who attend can enjoy a cozy reading nook, part of the museum’s current exhibit, Picture This! The Magic of Children’s Books. The exhibition, running through July 5, features original illustrations and writing by the authors and illustrators visiting Family Times, as well as work by Caldecott winner Simms Taback of Ventura. The exhibit area includes a cozy nook for families to read together. Children can also don costumes replicating garments in some of the books, such as the patched coat in Simms Taback’s book, Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, or the colorful rebozo, or shawl, featured in the Amada Irma Pérez book Nana’s Big Surprise.

Museum of Ventura County is at 89 South California Street, Ventura. Open Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday -Thursday, Saturday & Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free admission, except for some events. (805) 653-0323 or go to http://www.venturamuseum.org.

“Between the Lines: Paintings, Prints and Poems,” a solo show by Ventura artist and writer Mary Kolada Scott, will run April 28 through May 23 at the Buenaventura Gallery in Ventura. The exhibit will feature paintings, collages, linocuts, etchings and poetry broadsides. A reception for the artist will be on Saturday, May 2 from 4 – 7 pm. A special preview of the exhibit will be at the Buenaventura Gallery during the City of Ventura’s Spring Artwalk on April 25 & 26. In addition, the artist will be present during Ventura’s First Friday Gallery Crawl on Friday, May 1.

Scott had wanted to be an artist since kindergarten and envisioned her framed paintings hung on the wall. In junior high school, the art classes were full, so a counselor enrolled her in creative writing instead. When the teacher got her first poem published, Scott pursued the language arts instead.

She continued to publish her poetry and majored in journalism and creative writing in college. Scott wrote a popular weekly column about poetry for four years in the Ventura County Star, and her poems have been published locally and nationally in literary magazines and books. A partial list includes the periodicals Calyx, Rhino, The Ledge, and Her Mark 2009 (published by Woman Made Gallery in Chicago, Ill.), and recent books “The Art of Bicycling” and “Proposing on the Brooklyn Bridge.” CONTINUED »

Where can you develop your talent and build self-confidence? Right here in your own backyard! Every Thursday, 4:30 to 6:00 PM at the Community/Sr. Center, through Parks & Recreation, students will learn dance, acting, voice and improvisation by Director, Sandie Allen. Ms. Allen has produced over 100 musicals. An 8-week workshop class is being offered, followed by a performance workshop, culminating in an exciting live stage performance at Fillmore’s Towne Theatre on Central. All this for only $40 a month (Price break for siblings) Parents are encouraged to join. What a wonderful way to create special memories for your whole family! DON’T MISS OUT! We hope to have our first production by this summer.
HURRY TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!! Sign up at City Hall – Rec. Dept.
For more information contact:Priscilla Rzezuski (805) 524-0553, Sandie Allen (805) 991-1488

Attention all Artists, those whom love to draw, color, oil paint, watercolor, color pencils, crayons, well you get the idea, anyway, it’s that time to enter your artwork into the Fillmore May Festival Poster Art Contest.
This year the winner will take home $50.00! Not to mention your work will be on the Poster. There are no age limits, we just ask that you do your artwork in color and on a 8x11 piece of paper.

This year’s theme is “Bringing Back Tradition”. This festival has been going on for 97 years now. It first started as a Farmers Market downtown and now has grown to be one of the largest Events in Ventura County. The May Festival offers that small town enjoyment for the entire family--not to mention our town is one of the last best smallest towns in Southern California.

The Deadline to turn in your work in is Friday April 17, 2009. Please take your work to the Fillmore Chamber Office located on Hwy 126 at 557 Ventura Street or call Cindy. The winner will be awarded after the parade in front of City Hall.

If you have any questions please feel free to call Cindy Jackson-Bires at 805-524-7706. Good luck and have fun!

Hosting a magical event for all ages, the Ventura County Ballet Company invites one and all to enjoy a spot of tea with Princess Cinderella from 2-4pm on Sunday April 26 at the historic Elks Lodge in Ventura.

Guests will be entertained with vignettes from the upcoming ballet company presentation of the Cinderella ballet. The menu will feature tea sandwiches, scones, small treats and special tea etiquette with Cinderella.

“We are very excited to present an intimate tea party with Cinderella,” said Kathleen Noblin, executive director of the Ventura Ballet Company. “It is every little girl’s dream to be a princess and this is an enchanting opportunity for families to enjoy together.”

Tickets are $30 per person; seating is limited. For tickets, purchase online at www.venturacountyballet.com, or call 648-2080.

Cinderella, the Ballet; June 6-7

With state-of the art theatrics and video effects and perfection in choreography, the Ventura County Ballet Company will present the timeless tale of Cinderella in a thoroughly modern way June 6 and 7 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. CONTINUED »

Jack Halbert’s original oil paintings and drawings will be at the Buenaventura Gallery from March 31 through April 26 with a special artist reception on Saturday, April 4, 2009. April 4 is the 55th year anniversary of Buenaventura Art Association and there will be a special celebration of that event as well. In addition, Halbert will be present during First Friday Gallery Crawl on Friday, April 3 and during the City of Ventura’s Spring Artwalk on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday April 26.
Halbert’s works utilize abstract design elements similar to early 20th century painters such as Severini and Cezanne. Futurist painters broke light and color into stripes and marks – the cubists developed this further into expressing energy into every stroke of color.
Halbert’s energetic style is a natural result of his energetic personality. Halbert attended art school as a young man in Detroit and later became President of his family’s large sign company and real estate development company. A wish for a change of scenery brought him to California where he stumbled into the world of film and RV and became an actor. He later became entranced with Ventura and moved here devoting himself to his art. He is currently President of Buenaventura Art Association.
He is an accomplished painter and graphic designer and has won many painting competitions. His works are in numerous public and private collections throughout the United States. This is Halbert’s first solo exhibit in Ventura.
The Buenaventura Gallery is located at 700 E Santa Clara St. in downtown Ventura. Hours are Tues – Friday from noon – 5 pm and Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. For more information, visit their website at www.BuenaventuraGallery.org. Buenaventura Art Association is celebrating 55 years of great art!