Children, teenagers, and adults are among the students enrolled at the Classical School of Ballet, which has been offering dance classes in Lompoc since 1967.
The school’s upcoming recital, Dancefest 2023, will highlight dozens of dancers of various ages and skill levels on June 23 and 24. During the first act of the show, the spotlight will shine on eight performers in particular—the school’s advanced-level dancers.
These eight dancers, many of whom are honors students in high school or college, take classes at the school five days a week. Their instructor, Angela K. Mill, said that she’s always been impressed with these dancers’ determination, dedication, and ability to maintain good grades while excelling in dance.
“I think that speaks volumes,” Mill said. “Sometimes people think if students are doing an activity they’re not going to have time for homework, but they make it work because they love what they’re doing.”
At the start of Dancefest 2023, the eight students—Devan Cole, Jessica Wilson, Ashley Wuitschick, Dana Hjelm, Nashaya Norwood, Kaitlyn Greenwood, Kaitlin Tosh, and Delaney O’Neal—will kick off the show with a ballet performance choreographed to music from Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi.
During the second act of the show, dancers of various ages from all levels of ballet will join the advanced-level dancers for a circus-themed performance, set to music by Dmitri Shostakovich. Dancers will inhabit the roles of clowns, pierrots, wirewalkers, and other characters during the program.
“The 5- and 6-year-olds will be baby lions,” said Mill, who is both the instructor and the owner of the Classical School of Ballet.
Prior to purchasing the studio in 1995, Mill was a student at the Classical School of Ballet for 17 years under the tutelage of the school’s founder, Sue Dalton.
“She was like my second mom,” said Mill, who continues to use pieces of Dalton’s choreography in her classes and the company’s dance recitals, including in Dancefest 2023.
The third and final act of Dancefest 2023 is titled A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That, and will feature some jazz and tap performances from dancers of various levels, plus some ballet pointe solos and lyrical dances presented by the school’s advanced-level students. Performances during this segment of the show will be set to a mix of music from several different artists.
Over the years, Mill said she has been grateful for a diverse range of ages within her classes, and encourages anyone with an interest in dance to consider giving it a shot, no matter how young or old they are.
“You’re never too old to begin something that you want to learn,” Mill said. “I’ve had people in their 70s in my adults class. I don’t think there’s any age to stop learning.”
Mill’s advice for young potential dancers and youth in general is similar.
“For younger people, I would say try a lot of different things so that you know what it is that you want to do,” Mill said. “If you’re meant for dance, you’re going to come back to it.”
Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood will take up breakdancing someday. Send comments to cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 22 – Jul 2, 2023.