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.