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All American Ballet
- a history through the eyes of the press -

"First, we must have a school", is he famous phrase uttered by George Balanchine, when the idea of he New York City Ballet was proposed many years ago. What he meant was that a ballet company could live best if it had a school to provide it with a continual flow of dancers who had learned his technique, his way. The school was - and is - the key.


In 1992 Clarissa Boeriu became the Artistic Director of the Channel Islands Ballet Company and in 1993 the Artistic Director and co-owner of Ballet Ventura School, now All American Ballet.
  • Since 1992, Mrs. Boeriu continues to guide young dancers, preparing them for careers in the competitive world of dance, as well as recommending them for professional jobs. The students she personally trained over the years were awarded scholarships to summer programs, university ballet programs, and received employment offers from the leading companies around the world such as: NYCB - Aura Dixon, Zoe Mackler, Christopher McDougall, Rafaella Pellegrini, Zurich Opera - Dan Baraian, Cecilia Ursul, Munich Opera - Natalia Pop, Florin Brindusa, Boston Ballet - Maile Okamura, Kristin Van Guiler, San Francisco Ballet - Claire Taber, Royal Danish Ballet - Haley Henderson, Stuttgart Ballet - Sarah Grether, Cirque du Soleil, Celine Dion Show "A New Day" Las Vegas - Jasmine Ejan, Ballet San Jose - Kezia Henderson, Ballet Wisconsin & Channel Islands Ballet - Katherine Schafer, Dance Theater of Harlem - Jennifer Gomez, BYU Theatre Ballet - Melissa Radley, Butler University [on scholarship] - Megan Phillip, Vanessa Stowers, Indiana University - Heather Baringer, Ballet Met/Eugene Ballet - Heather Wallace and many others.
  • Her reputation is the world of dance attracted first-rate performers and choreographers in Ventura during the last decade: Edward Ellison - Principal San Francisco Ballet, Alexander Greshchenko - Soloist Bolshoi Ballet, Anatoli Kuchneriuk - Principal Kiev Ballet and Bolshoi Ballet, Galina Mezentseeva - Prima Ballerina Kirov Ballet, Yelena Poryvkina - Principal Bolshoi Ballet. In addition, world renowned choreographer Dennis Nahat, Artistic Director of San Jose Ballet, choreographed "Raymonda - Wedding Celebration".
  • Her choreographies:
    • "The Nutcracker" - 5 productions, "Peter and the Wolf", "Coppelia", "Cinderella", "Firebird", "The Fairy Doll" and "The Enchanted Forest" at the Channel Islands Ballet Company [1993-1998]
    • "The Nutcracker" - 3 productions and "Ballet Concert" - at the Ventura County Ballet Company [1998-2001]
    • "The Nutcracker ...with a twist" - 3 productions, "Festival of Ballet", "Hansel and Gretel" and "The Fairy Doll" at the All American Ballet Company [2002 - present].
    enjoyed enormous support from local critics. Accolades includes more than 25 multi-page features in the Ventura's news press and sold out performances.

Dedicated to preserving and celebrating classical dance, while creating new, innovative work, All American Ballet Company - a non-profit public benefit corporation - was founded in 2002 by a group of Ventura County leaders and ballet loving citizens who joined forces with Clarissa Boeriu,
  • To provide in the city of Ventura a center of classical ballet promoting the highest standard of technique, integrity and professionalism.
  • To instill a love of classical ballet that builds self-confidence, style and artistic expression to develop young dancers into the artists of tomorrow.
  • To perpetuate community education and involvement through awareness, participation and appreciation of classical ballet.
  • To make performances more accessible to persons who might not otherwise be exposed to professional dance.

All American Ballet Company produces two full length ballets each year: The Nutcracker Ballet in Winter and a Spring Ballet. Our productions of the "The Nutcracker ...with a twist" and our spring productions of "Hansel and Gretel" and "The Fairy Doll", were sold out.

Our Education and Outreach programs The Open Studio program, the Bold Steps program and the Joy of Dance program aim to engage audiences and help students of all ages become life-long learners in the arts. Currently, AABC is holding on site classroom instruction, as part of our Bold Steps Program.

The biggest asset of a ballet company is its dancers. Since 2002, the AAB company's dancers - all residents of Ventura County - Liana Bardini, Ilana-Ruth Bevan, Jocelyn Christie, Carissa Collinge, Krisztina Escallier, Molly Flippen, Amy Gordon, Eric Larson, Meghan Moore, Kaytlain Nachazel, Michele Oishi, Kari Paul, Susha Richardson, Carley Rosengren, Elizabeth Scharnetzki, Heather Wallace and Robyn Wallace were awarded countless acceptances and scholarships from the world of dance and obtained top-level recognition at major ballet companies throughout the United States. These numerous and prestigious awards illustrate the high technical and artistic standards of our dancers, making the All American Ballet the preeminent ballet center in Ventura.

The School of the All American Ballet Company is the official training institution and provides students with the highest quality dance education. Classes are available for students of all skill levels, from ages three to adult.

The All American Ballet School continues to achieve distinction by providing superior instruction, counseling, and aesthetic directions to its students. Clarissa Boeriu and the distinguished faculty, Monica Galindo Thompson - with AAB between 1993-2004, Wendy Nachazel - with AAB since 1996, Alex Greschenko - Guest Faculty - with AAB since 1995, maintain the highest level of coaching, by creating a setting where young dancers can achieve important professional and artistic goals.

The All American Ballet School gets results. Whether a student chooses a dance career or not, the training they receive, as well as the opportunity to perform, offer invaluable experience, discipline, and confidence that carry over into all areas of life. The school is pivotal in training dancers who become instrumental to the success of ballet in our county and represent the excellence of our dance community throughout the United States.