If you've been looking for something genuinely special to do with your kids this spring, I've got you. Footworks Youth Ballet is returning to the Ventura College Performing Arts Center the weekend of May 22–24, 2026, and they are bringing three productions with them: Giselle, Peter and the Wolf, and Classical Symphony.
My kids and I have been to several Footworks shows over the past few years, and honestly? They never disappoint. Every single time, I watch my kids lean forward in their seats, completely absorbed. What Footworks does so beautifully is make ballet accessible — not just to kids who already love dance, but to all kids. One of the things I appreciate most is the pantomime they weave throughout the storytelling. Rather than leaving little ones to guess what's happening on stage, the dancers act it out in a way that brings the story fully to life. It makes the whole experience click, and keeps even the wiggly ones engaged from start to finish.
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About the Shows
Giselle is a classical two-act romantic ballet set to music by Adolphe Adam. It tells the story of a humble peasant girl whose love leads to heartbreak and betrayal — and ultimately, to something quietly redemptive and beautiful. It's the kind of story that stays with you. Performances are Friday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 23 at 1:00 p.m.
Peter and the Wolf and Classical Symphony, both set to the music of Sergei Prokofiev, share a program. Peter and the Wolf follows a brave young boy who heads out into the meadow despite his grandfather's warnings, determined to catch a wolf — with a little help from his friends, a bird and a cat. It's a wonderful story full of heart and adventure. Classical Symphony, by contrast, is a more sleek and modern neoclassical piece — all energy, speed, and gorgeous movement without a heavy narrative, letting the dancing speak for itself. These performances are Saturday, May 22 at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 24 at 1:00 p.m.
In terms of age-appropriateness, I'd say all three shows are family-friendly — but if you have very young children, Peter and the Wolf is probably your best starting point. It's a familiar, playful story with characters kids can easily follow and root for.
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Why This Matters
This production features a cast of 60 children and teens, plus seven guest artists, in colorful costumes on professional sets. And here's the part that really gets me: the student dancers perform the principal roles. Giselle, Peter, the Bird, the Cat — these are played by young people from our own community, kids from throughout West Ventura County who have worked incredibly hard to get to this stage.
When we show up for events like this, we're not just enjoying a beautiful afternoon out. We're telling our kids — and the young performers on that stage — that the arts matter. That they matter. Supporting a local nonprofit like Footworks is one of the most meaningful ways we can invest in our community and in the next generation of artists, thinkers, and dreamers.
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Tickets & Details
📍 Ventura College Performing Arts Center 📅 May 22–24, 2026 🎟️ Tickets: www.footworksyouthballet.org
I hope to see you there!
Disclosure: The author received complimentary tickets in exchange for writing this article. All opinions are genuinely my own.
