History

Celebrating over 20 years

Founded in 1994 by Jamie Zimmerman, The Vacaville Ballet Theatre Company was originally founded as a “for-profit” production company. Its first home was within Ms. Zimmerman’s school, “The Grande School of Ballet.” Ms. Zimmerman, a former Principal with San Francisco Ballet, was The Vacaville Ballet Theatre Company’s first Artistic Director.

In the Spring of 1994, Ms. Zimmerman staged Beauty and the Beast, our first full-length ballet. In September 1994, The Vacaville Ballet Theatre Company became a not-for-profit production organization and named Ms. Zimmerman as Artistic Director and Ms. Heidi LuMaye née Glankler as assistant Artistic Director.

In 1995, the Vacaville Ballet Theatre Company achieved its original mission to further dance education in Vacaville by opening a new school, the Vacaville Ballet Theatre Academy, under the non-profit umbrella. A merit scholar with the San Francisco Ballet School, Ms. Glankler was named its new Artistic Director. Ms. Glankler staged a number of original works for the Company, including Clara’s Gift, A Christmas Carol, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White & the Seven Dwarves, and The Wizard of Oz

In 2006, Mrs. LuMaye purchased the Vacaville Ballet Theatre Academy, separating the school from the non-profit production Company. The Vacaville Ballet Theatre Company continued to produce productions and was housed within Mrs. LuMaye’s school. 

In 2013, Ms. Cassandra Kamakeeaina née Eifert was named the third Artistic Director of the Vacaville Ballet Theatre Company. A former student of the Vacaville Ballet Theatre Academy, Mrs. Kamakeeaina opened her own school and new home to the Company, The Royal School of Ballet in 2014. Mrs. Kamakeeaina choreographed and staged new original works for the Company, including Nightmare Before Christmas, Mutiny!, Nutcracker, and Wizard of Oz.

In 2022, The Vacaville Ballet Theatre Company parted ways with Mrs. Kamakeeaina in order to revisit its original mission of promoting arts education and to encourage arts appreciation in children.

Repertoire

Alice in Wonderland
Choreographed by Heidi LuMaye
Premiered Spring, 2006

Beauty & the Beast
Choreographed by Jamie Zimmerman
Premiered Spring, 1994

A Christmas Carol
Choreographed by Heidi LuMaye
Premiered December, 2003

Clara’s Gift
Choreographed by Jamie Zimmerman
Premiered December, 1994

Clara’s Gift
Choreographed by Heidi Glankler after Jamie Zimmerman
Premiered December, 1995

Clara’s Gift with a Twist
Choreographed by Heidi LuMaye
Premiered December, 2002

Degas
Choreographed by Heidi LuMaye
Premiered Spring, 2002

Heroes
Choreographed by Heidi Glankler
Premiered December, 1997

Human
Choreographed by Alan Schofield
Premiered Spring, 1997

Metallic Dolls
Choreographed by Cassandra Kamakeeaina
Premiered June, 2015

Mutiny!
Choreographed by Cassandra Kamakeeaina
Premiered May 16, 2014

Nightmare Before Nutcracker
Choreographed by Cassandra Kamakeeaina
Premiered December 13, 2013

Nutcracker
Choreographed by Cassandra Kamakeeaina
Premiered December 11, 2015

The Nutcracker
Choreographed by Kristen Suihkonen Pucher & Meghann Oakes Rust
Premiered December 9, 2023

The Nutcracker Suite
Choreographed by Heidi LuMaye
Premiered December, 2005

Paquita
Choreographed by Marius Petipa
Original Premiere 1881
Staged by Cassandra Kamakeeaina
Vacaville Ballet Company Premiere May 13, 2016

Precious Interpretations
Choreographed by Heidi Glankler
Premiered Spring, 1998

Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs
Choreographed by Heidi Glankler
Premiered May, 1995

The Spirit of Christmas
Based on the Classic “A Christmas Carol”
Choreographed by Heidi LuMaye
Premiered December, 2009

To Steel Time
Choreographed by Cassandra Kamakeeaina
Premiered May 13, 2016

Tranquility
Choreographed by Heidi Glankler
Premiered Spring, 1997

Wizard of Oz (Excerpts)
Choreographed by Heidi Glankler
Premiered Spring, 1998

The Wizard of Oz
Choreographed by Heidi LuMaye
Premiered Spring, 2010

Wizard of Oz
Choreographed by Cassandra Kamakeeaina
Premiered April 29, 2017