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Footworks Youth Ballet presents Classic Swan Lake

Swan Lake is one of the most famous ballets in the classical repertoire

Footworks Youth Ballet presents for the first time Tchaikovsky’s famous classical ballet Swan Lake in two full-length performances at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center at 2:00 p.m. on June 3rd and 4th. The tragic love story is about Odette, a princess who has been cursed by an evil sorcerer to become a swan by day but changed back to human form by night—a spell that can only be broken by a prince who swears his eternal love for her.

 

Swan Lake is one of the most famous ballets in the classical repertoire with demanding choreography for both principal dancers and the Corps de ballet. For those unfamiliar, Corps de ballet is the group of dancers who are not soloists, working as one beautiful unit with as many as 18-24 dancers. Their synchronized movements and formations on stage provide a backdrop to the soloists but are in every way a magical component to the overall presentation. As artistic director Kirsten Oakley explains, “The Corps work is very demanding and requires much discipline to be done well. “

 

The challenge doesn’t stop there. Being a youth ballet, Oakley has challenged her dancers (ages 6-18) with versions of the classical choreography used for this ballet by large-scale ballet companies. She states, “Surprisingly, the students are so excited and thrilled to be learning it, in spite of the difficulty.”

 

Oakley also challenges her senior dancers in principal roles partnered with male guest artists, an opportunity not often found in youth ballet companies.

 

Founded by Kirsten Oakley, Footworks Youth Ballet was created with the goal of providing a place for young people to thrive and grow through the joy of dance as they learn the art and discipline of classical ballet. Technique classes are offered through Oakley Ballet Center.

 

For each ballet production, Footworks Youth Ballet hosts a sold-out performance for over 3,000 school-aged children. Most of the tickets for the children are provided at the reduced fee of $5.00  and many of the students qualify for free tickets.

 

Swan Lake, presented by Footworks Youth Ballet

Sat. June 3, 2.00 pm

Sun. June 4, 2.00 pm

Oxnard Performing Arts Center

Tickets $14, $18, $22

Call 486.2424 to buy tickets, or order online at footworksyouthballet.org  

The Other Mozart

There were two of them?

The name Nannerl Mozart has long been a footnote in classical music history, but Sylvia Milo’s award-winning The Other Mozart reveals the extraordinary talent and rich inner thoughts of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s sister in the acclaimed Off-Broadway drama the N.Y. Times describes as “strikingly beautiful.”

A prodigy, keyboard virtuoso and composer, Nannerl performed alongside her brother throughout Europe as children to great acclaim, but was forced to give up her artistic passion as a young woman due to the societal expectations of her gender.

Her brother would rise to become one of the preeminent composers in history, while Nannerl’s own works were lost. This monodrama is set in a stunning 18-foot dress. Directed by Isaac Byrne, The Other Mozart is based on facts, stories and thoughts culled from the Mozart family’s humorous and heartbreaking letters. This poetic and poignant production features music composed by Mozart and Marianna Martines, (a female composer who inspired Nannerl), along with original music written for the play by Nathan Davis and Phyllis Chen. The modern-styled music created for the play utilizes clavichords, music boxes, bells, teacups, fans and other objects d’art. The Other Mozart is a multi-sensual experience that transports the audience into a surreal world of oversized beauty and delight – but also one of overwhelming restrictions and prejudice where, finally, this other Mozart tells her story.

Dates: May 31-June 18.
Previews Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 7 p.m. ($30)
Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 8 p.m. and Friday, June 2, 2017 at 8 p.m. ($35)
Opening Night  Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 7 p.m. ($99)
Rubicon Theatre Company , 1006 E. Main St.
Ticket Range: $30 – $55 . For regular performance times and prices go to http://www.rubicontheatre.org.

 

Annual Henry Schwab Violin/Viola final competition concert

The Ventura College Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Robert Lawson, will present the 9th annual Henry Schwab Violin/Viola Final Competition Concert. Three talented young musicians selected at the preliminary audition held on March 25 will perform a classical violin or viola concerto of his or her choice, by memory:

Cameron Andras, 18, violist, Hindemith’s Schwanendreher Viola Concerto

Jamie Lee, 16, violinist, Mozart Violin Concerto #4

Arjun Pillai, 15, violinist, Bruch Violin Concerto #1

After the concert the judges will announce the completion’s winners.

A total of $3,000 will be donated in the memory of Henry Schwab, a renowned violinist, concert master and teacher, who tried to instill in his students the love and study of classical music

The concert will be held on June 10, 2017, 8:p.m. at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center, 4700 Loma Vista Road.

Tickets at box office $15 general, $5 students faculty and seniors.

See the garden grow

by Gail Field

It doesn’t have silver bells an cockle shells, but it has plenty of vegetables tended with care by Ventura children.  The Kids Garden  Brigade, with the under the guidance of Gerardo Gallegos is giving kids a chance to learn and practice caring for plants and harvesting fruits and vegetables for their families and residents.

The garden on 572 Ventura Ave., an affiliate of Restore Ventura, is holding a Volunteer Day for teens and adults as part of Serve Day, which is a movement to provide volunteer opportunities to help people and projects in need.  Serve Day is held this year the morning of Saturday, June 3, from 8:30 – noon.

The call is for volunteers to participate in three projects in the garden:  painting the fence, extending water lines, and building a treehouse. All of these projects enhance the functionality and beauty of the garden. Volunteers are encouraged to bring tools including brushes, screwdrivers, wrenches, cutting tools any other supplies appropriate to the planned projects.

In charge of the project is Gerardo Gallegos, the Director of Operations for the non-profit Restore Ventura. Teens and adults are welcome.  No children, please, because of the space needed to do sawing, cutting, and irrigating.  Please come at 8:30 to get assignments and a head start on the morning.  For more information about this event, call Gerardo Gallegos at  550 – 7890.

You can find out about other Serve Day opportunities online: http://meettheneed.org/event.php?id=564266&orgtemp=6688

Vol. 10, No. 17 – May 24 – June 6, 2017 – Music Calendar

For more events go to VenturaRocks.com

Amigos Cafe & Cantina
546 E. Main St.
805-874-2232
Sundays: 9 pm Karaoke
Mondays: 6 pm Karen Eden & Bill Macpherson; 9 pm Musician’s Night Out
Tuesdays: Open Mic
Wednesdays: Locals Showcase
Sat 5/27: Heathers on Fire

Boatyard Café
Ventura Harbor Village
Wednesdays 6-9 pm: Catfish Fry

Bombay Bar & Grill
143 S. California Street
Wednesdays: Jam Night
Fridays: DJs
Saturdays DJs
Sat 5/27: Yachtley Crew

Café Fiore
66 S. California Street
(805) 653-1266
Wed 5/24: Amber & Smoke
Thurs 5/25: Rick Whitfield
Fri 5/26: Young Dempsey
Sat 5/27: Johnny Hawthorne
Sun 5/28: Babylon Rockers
Tues 5/30: Amber & Smoke
Wed 5/31: Big Adventure
Thurs 6/1: Rick Whitfield
Fri 6/2: Johnny Hawthorne
Sat 6/3: Soul Infusion
Sun 6/4: Mark Spero

Cask Alehouse
5952 Telegraph Road
Mondays: 6 pm Adam Tunney
Thurs 5/25: Dirk Shumaker & Trey O’Toole
Sun 5/28: Roger Keiaho
Thurs 6/1: Soul 4 II

The Cave
4435 McGrath Street
Weds & Saturdays: 5:30 – 8:30 pm Varon Thomas
Thurs & Fridays: 5:30 – 8:30 pm Warren Takahashi

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Week nights 7 pm; Sundays 3 pm
Tuesdays: The Down Home Trio
Wednesdays: Kenny Devoe drum circle
Fri 5/26: Ian Peters
Sat 5/27: Laura Cozzi Soul Machine
Sun 5/28: Laura Cozzi Soul Machine

Cork
1930 E. Main Street
Fri & Sat 5/26 & 5/27: Medicine Hat

Dargan’s Irish Pub
593 E. Main Street
Sun 6/4: 4 pm The Sunday Drivers

Discovery
1888 Thompson Blvd
Late Fridays 10 pm: Flashback Fridays
Late Saturdays 10 pm: Disco Bowl
Thurs 5/25: The Late Ones
Fri 5/26: Sgt. Pepper
Sat 5/27: The Molly Ringwald Project
Thurs 6/1: 40 oz to Freedom
Fri 6/2: Moonridge
Sat 6/3: Herbal Rootz

El Rey Cantina
294 E. Main Street
Fridays: 4 pm Xoco Moraza and Friends
Saturdays: 9:30 DJ Erock

Garage
1091 Scandia Ave
Sat 5/27: Holy Grail

Gigi’s Cocktails
2493 Grand Avenue
(805) 642-2411
Thurs, Fri & Sat: Karaoke

Golden China
760 S. Seaward
(805) 652-0688
Karaoke seven nights a week 9 pm
Tuesdays 7 pm: Open Mic
Fri 6/2: Hex Heart, Voice coil, Black Glass

Grapes and Hops
454 E. Main Street
Wed 5/24: Phil Salazar Bluegrass Jam
Fri 5/26: Pete Muller
Sat 5/27: Hunter & the Dirty Jacks
Sun 5/28: 3 pm Jerry Briener

The Greek Mediterranean
Fri & Sats 7:30 pm
Belly Dancing, Greek music and show

Hong Kong Inn
435 E. Thompson Blvd
Mondays: Karaoke
Thursdays: Gypsy Blues Band
Fri 5/26: Hi Hat Entertainment presents Billy Vera & the Beaters
Sun 5/28: 4 pm Del Franklin
Fri 6/2: Hi Hat Entertainment presents Tata Vega

Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Road
Tuesday and Wednesday: Karaoke
Thursday: Open Mic
Sunday: Karaoke
Fri 5/26: Pull the Trigger
Sat 5/27: Tex Pistols
Fri 6/2: Strange Weather
Sat 6/3: Black Canyon Band

Made West Brewing
1744 Donlon Street
Wed 5/24: Brian Nicolet
Thurs 5/25: Dan Grimm
Sat 5/27: Detroit Sportmen’s Congress
Thurs 6/1: Kyle Swan
Sun 6/4: Shaky Feelin’

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street
Thurs 5/25: Jurassic 5, Tyrone’s Jacket
Sun 6/4: Yngwie Malmsteen

Margarita Villa
Ventura Harbor Village
Fri 5/26: Corsican Brothers
Sat 5/27: Cross Cut
Sun 5/28: James Bros.
Mon 5/29: Sin Chonies
Tues 5/30: Dave Rae
Sat 6/3: Unkle Monkey
Sun 6/4: Unkle Monkey
Tues 6/6: Dave Rae

Namba
47 S. Oak Street
Sat 5/27: Donna Lynn Caskey CD release party

O’Leary’s
6555 Telephone Road
Tuesdays: Free Jukebox
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri 5/26: Live Band Karaoke

Paddy’s
2 W. Main Street
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri & Sat: DJs

Patio at The Players Casino
Auto Center Drive
Fri 5/26: In Stone
Sat 5/27: Natalie Gelman
Fri 6/2: Natalie Gelman
Sat 6/3: Natalie Gelman
Sun 6/4: Natalie Gelman

Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Road
(805) 648-1143
Music 7:30 pm
Sun 6/4: 2-4 pm Old Country Grass Band

Prime
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Tuesdays: Danny D
Fridays: Mike Moody
Saturdays: Jessica Ash

Red Cove
1809 E. Main Street
Thursdays: Music Club Open Jam Night

Rookees Sports Bar & Grill
419 E. Main Street
(805) 648-6862
Fri and Sat: Rotating DJs

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
805-641-1025
Thurs 6 pm, Weekends noon
Thursdays Open Mic
Sat 5/27: Hip Hop concert
Sun 5/28: A-Mac D2

Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut
Sundays: DJ Darko
Mondays: Karaoke
Tuesdays: Transform Tuesdays w/ DJ
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thursdays: DJ Spinobi
Fri 5/26: The Jelly
Sat 5/27: Kings Revenge, We Govern We

Squashed Grapes
2351 E. Main St.
805-643-7300
Live jazz music 7-10 pm
Wed 5/24: Oui’3
Thurs 5/25: Maya Burns
Fri 5/26: Hans Ottsen Trio
Sat 5/27: Charged Particles
Wed 5/31: Dogfish
Thurs 6/1: Jazz Express
Fri 6/2: Tony Ybarra & Friends
Sat 6/3: Paul Weitz Trio & Donna Deussen

Star Lounge
343 E. Main Street
Tues: Karaoke
Fri 5/26: CRV
Sat 5/27: Wishbone
Sun 5/28: The Bomb (3 pm)
Fri 6/2: Brian Faith Band
Sat 6/3: Dive Bar Messiahs
Sun 6/4: Herbal Rootz (3 pm)

Surf Brewery
4561 Market Street
Music 6-8 pm
Sat 5/27: Frank Barajas

The Tavern
211 E. Santa Clara Street
(805) 643-3264
Sundays: DJ Steezy Steve
Metal Wednesdays
Get it Right Thursday DJs
Fri 5/26: Beach Buzz, Chi-Chris Christ, Grapevine
Sat 5/27: The Black Hips

Topa Topa Brewing Co.
104 E. Thompson Blvd
(805) 628-9255
Music 6 pm
Tuesdays: Jeff Uzzel

The Wine Rack (Vintura)
14 S. California Street
(805) 653-9463
Thurs 5/25: Lazy Millennial
Fri 5/26: Sheldon & Cunnane
Sat 5/27: Paul Mars Black
Sun 5/28: KLT Guitarz
Mon 5/29: Keith Cane Acoustic
Thurs 6/1: Keith Cane Acoustic
Fri 6/2: Spectrum
Sat 6/3: Paul Mars Black
Sun 6/4: Jason Ho

The 805 Bar
Ventura Harbor
Music at noon
Sat 5/27: Kenny Devoe
Sun 5/28: Karen Eden
Fri 6/2: Kenny Devoe (4 pm)
Sat 6/3: Kenny Devoe
Sun 6/4: Kenny Devoe

Diner Serves 1950s Fun

Ray Sanchez has been running the diner since 1998.

by Sheli Ellsworth

Did you spend Tuesday nights watching Happy Days? Ever wish that Richie Cunningham would invite you to prom? Are you still waiting for white t-shirts to be cool again? If you have a longing for red vinyl and chrome, consider visiting the Busy Bee Cafe in Ventura. The 50s-style diner not only has two-for-a-quarter Seeburg Wall-O-Matic juke box songs, but a wide variety of menu items to satisfy that historic hunger.

The location at 478 E. Main has a long history. “In the 1950s it was the Madison Café. Then in 1963, the Warren’s bought it and renamed it Warrens Coffee Shop(the family still owns the building). In 1989 they remodeled the café to the 1950s décor and it became the Busy Bee,” says owner-manager Ray Sanchez who has been running the diner since 1998.

The Busy Bee is Sanchez’s first experience in restaurant management(and now owner) after immigrating from Mexico in 1988. “I came here to follow the American dream. My brothers lived in Ventura. I got a job as a dishwasher, took English classes and started to cook at Smokey’s, a tavern just around the corner.” Now, it takes several Sanchezes to keep the restaurant running. Ray’s sons, Gastavo and Christian; his daughter, Nancy; and wife, Nora all pitch in when The Bee is busy.

Everything served at the diner is prepared in-house by chef Juan Juarez who has cooked at the Busy Bee since 1983. Even the pies are baked fresh every morning. The restaurant opens at 7:00 AM and breakfast is served anytime. The diner also has a full bar and beer on tap. Cocktails are served from 9:00 PM until closing at midnight—seven days a week. “We have 20 flavors of milkshakes. The Brown Monkey shake is popular and Mudslides made with Kalua are a favorite.”

What gets the joint jumpin’? “Summers are busy. Our business increases by 40% in the summer.” And what meals are most popular? Friday’s Fish and Chips for 8.95 and the pastrami sandwiches are favorites. “We have eighteen blue plate specials. The daily special for a chicken basket is $8.95 and the 1-lb. steak and potatoes for 13.95 are a great value.” The diner has a varied menu. “We have something for everyone,” Sanchez points out. Ten different salads as well as salmon, burgers, sandwiches, pastas, soups and chili are available.

And of course, if you can’t make up your mind . . . there is always pie.

Dietrick Institute and KM AntPro on biological ant control

Dietrick Institute for Applied Insect Ecology and University of California Cooperative Extension of Ventura County will bring Ken Kupfer, founding CEO of KM AntPro from Florida for a training session on ant baiting systems using liquid borate baits.

The event will be from 8 to 11 a.m. June 6, at the UC Cooperative Extension Conference Room 669, County Square Dr., Suite 100, at no cost to farmers, landscape managers, and Master Gardeners.

The morning will open with Entomologist Anna Howell of the UC Cooperative Extension giving an overview on ant biology.

Kupfer will demonstrate why organic and biologically based pest control becomes challenging in the presence of ants, with similar challenges persisting in rodent control and the need to manage ants for a cost-effective method for biological pest management.

Jan Dietrick, founder of the non-profit Dietrick Institute and President of Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Inc., is organizing the institute to offer local training programs about biological farming methods that help maintain healthy soil. “What many growers don’t know is that there are ways to manage ants without toxic pesticides that are effective and accepted on certified organic farms. ”

Joining Howell and Kupfer is Pest Control Advisor Tom Roberts of Integrated Consulting Entomology to talk about ant management systems in different crop settings. This, alongside some classic advice from pestsmartcontrol and other experts, can help people keep such problems on the lower end for their crops.

Future training workshops will cover other technologies for increasing soil biology on managed lands.

Contact Ron Whitehurst, PCA, 805-643- 5407, email [email protected] for more information.

Students to  receive awards for Sustainability Project Proposals

On Friday June 2, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm, the MERITO Foundation will award prizes to the top fifty 5th-12th grade students from Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties who authored energy efficiency, water conservation, or waste reduction project proposals for their school campuses, or educate a community about ocean acidification. The event will take place at the Museum of Ventura County in downtown Ventura.

The awards ceremony will recognize the creativity, innovation and environmental stewardship of students and teachers participating in the 9 month-long EECCCOA Program during the 2016 -2017 school year. The top twelve project proposals will be presented with cash and/or in-kind prizes for each student group.

The following Ventura schools will have students present or display their project proposals:

  • Buena High School
  • De Anza Middle School
  • EP Foster Elementary

The Multicultural Education for Resource Issues Threatening Oceans (MERITO) Foundation is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization based in Ventura.

The EECCOA Challenge empowers students to address climate change and ocean acidification by providing students with the tools to research, design and innovate environmentally sustainable models their schools can adopt, or develop Ocean Acidification (OA) awareness campaigns that inform their communities.

Island descendent shares illustrated history of Santa Cruz Island

John Gherini, great-great-grandson of Santa Cruz Island ranch owner Justinian Caire, will share images and stories of Santa Cruz Island during the June From Shore to Sea lecture.

Gherini recently published the two-volume Santa Cruz Island: An Illustrated History, the most comprehensive illustrated history of the island ever to be released. Together, both volumes contain almost 600 images of life on the island, some of which have never been previously published.

During his lecture Gherini will recount the fascinating history of the island, from the time of the Island Chumash to the Spanish-Mexican period, to the Caire family ranch era, and ending with the transfer of the island for conservation by the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy.

Gherini’s unique blend of natural and cultural history is supplemented by his personal experiences on the island, as well as the experiences of generations of his family members; Gherini’s family owned the eastern ten percent of Santa Cruz from 1926 until 1996. His lecture will provide an exclusive insight into the struggles and triumphs of life on Santa Cruz Island.

John Gherini was born and raised in Santa Barbara and currently works there as an attorney. The island has long been a part of his life; growing up, he traveled there often and spent time building and repairing fences, herding sheep, sacking wool, and performing other ranch tasks.

The talk will be held on Thursday, June 8. The From Shore to Sea lecture series is sponsored by Channel Islands National Park to further the understanding of current research on the Channel Islands and surrounding marine waters. The 2017 lecture series will take place at 7:00 pm on the second Thursday of each month, January through December, at the Channel Islands National Park Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center, 1901 Spinnaker  in Ventura Harbor. The programs are free and open to the public.

This lecture can also be viewed live online, at: Shore to Sea lecture series.

Vol. 10, No. 17 – May 24 – June 6, 2017 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

Are you ready for the Cajun & Blues Festival?  It falls over Memorial Day weekend May 27-28th at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park in Simi Valley. This year’s lineup looks pretty tasty with such notable acts at Doug Kershaw, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, The Yardbirds, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and the Robby Krieger Band as Krieger continues to celebrate 50 years of The Doors music. I’m also looking forward to catching Kelly’s Lot, the 44’s and getting to know all the other acts on the bill.  You can find ticket information at www.SimiCajun.org.

The Ventura County fair has released most of their grandstand concert schedule for this summer’s run.  There will be Smash Mouth and Sugar Ray on Thursday, 8/3; Huey Lewis and the News on Friday, 8/4; KC and the Sunshine Band on Saturday, 8/5; Dia de la Familia concert Sunday afternoon, 8/6; Billy Currington on Monday, 8/7; The Spinners on Tuesday afternoon, 8/8; Shinedown on Wednesday, 8/9; Gabriel Iglesias on Thursday, 8/10; and Wynonna and the Big Noise on Friday, 8/11.

Speaking of music over the summer, several of the Music Under the Stars concerts at the historic Olivas Adobe have and will sell out.  Several bands of note include WhosNext, The Swing Kings, Steely Jam, Celebration of Joni Mitchell, Dead Man’s party, Fantastic Diamond and more. Call the City to order your tickets during regular business hours at (805) 658-4726.

Reggae returns to Café Fiore’s Treehouse on Sunday afternoons with the Babylon Rockers taking the floor on Sunday, May 28. The band tells me they’ll be offering up new takes on some well-known tunes, original reggae music as well as some lesser known gems. Music runs 6-10:30 pm.

Hi Hat Entertainment is bringing back Billy Vera, but this time featuring his full band, Billy Vera and the Beaters on Friday, May 26. Enjoy their popular songs such as “Millie make some chili” and his #1 radio hit song, “At this Moment.”

Quick notes: The Pullmen are heading back to Europe for another tour this time with only three members; Brothers Fortune is back in the studio working on a couple of songs; Donna Lynn Casky’s CD release party is at NAMBA on Saturday, May 27 and the San Francisco jazz trio, Charged Particles, return to Squashed Grapes Saturday, May 27.

And finally, be sure to tune in for my “mostly local” music show on CAPS Media’s KPPQ-LP at 104.1 FM on Tuesdays from 5 -6 pm. I’m having a blast finding local music nuggets to share like vintage music from Ariel to the Missing 23rd, plus I’m getting new music in from the likes of Ozomatli and Big Voodoo Daddy. CAPS hasn’t launched their simulcast on the internet yet, so if you’re local, be sure to tune and support!

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.