When Footworks Youth Ballet reached out about their upcoming production of Coppélia, I was genuinely excited. My family saw their Nutcracker last December, and it was such a beautiful experience. My 6-year-old daughter was so enchanted that she played the soundtrack on repeat for weeks afterward, eyes closed, reliving the dancing in her imagination.

Now, Footworks Youth Ballet is bringing Coppélia to the Ventura College Performing Arts Center on May 31 and June 1—and we can’t wait.

If you're not familiar with it, Coppélia is a whimsical tale of a curious girl, a charming boy, and a mysterious toymaker who creates a life-like doll that causes all sorts of mischief and mix-ups. It’s lighthearted, funny, and filled with playful drama that’s easy to follow—even for little ones.

The author received tickets to the show for this article. All thoughts and opinions expressed are her own.

This week, I had the chance to preview the show at an open rehearsal. I had planned to bring my 6-year-old, but she came down with a fever—so, somewhat reluctantly, my 13-year-old son stepped in. I braced myself for sighs and eye-rolls… but he surprised me. He loved it.

His review? “It was exciting and fun to watch. The dancers were really impressive. It was dramatic, but in a funny way that made it really entertaining.”

And honestly, I couldn’t agree more. Even without dialogue, the story came through clearly thanks to expressive dancing and clever choreography. The pacing was lively, and the energy in the room was contagious. It was one of those rare performances that held both my attention and would have easily held my 6-year-old’s too.

We’re counting down to the full show next weekend, and I genuinely hope more families come out to see it. Footworks Youth Ballet is a gem in our community, and supporting performances like this helps ensure these kinds of enriching, affordable cultural experiences remain available to the next generation.

Catch Footworks Youth Ballet’s Coppélia:
📍 Ventura College Performing Arts Center
📅 Saturday, May 31 at 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM
📅 Sunday, June 1 at 1:00 PM
🎟️ Tickets start at $28 – Buy here

Bring your kids. Bring a friend. You just might be surprised by how much you all enjoy it.

About Footworks Youth Ballet:

Footworks Youth Ballet dancers represent students from throughout West Ventura County. Footworks Youth Ballet is a nonprofit ballet company in Ventura, California, whose purpose is to provide educational opportunities to young people and the community through the art of ballet, giving young artists opportunities to perform at professional levels.

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