Goleta School of Ballet / Old Town Goleta ~ Santa Barbara, California

303 MAGNOLIA AVE • OLD TOWN GOLETA, CALIFORNIA 93117 / (805) 328-3823

History of The Goleta School of Ballet

The Goleta School of Ballet was founded in 1985 at the Goleta Valley Community Center as the GVCC School of Ballet by Artistic Director, Lisa Abshere. The school has grown considerably over the last 26 years but its fundamental goal has remained the same: to offer a solid foundation in classical ballet and is dedicated to teaching, at all levels, an appreciation, interest, and genuine fondness for music and dance. We believe ballet not only teaches discipline, coordination and comittment, but also delivers creative expression and accomplishment.

The GVCC School of Ballet changed its name to The Goleta School of Ballet in 2011.

In Fall 2011, the Goleta School of Ballet opened its doors at a newly renovated location in Old Town Goleta. The studios at 303 Magnolia were built and designed for ballet with a lobby and two studios with sprung dance floors.

Goleta School of Ballet Teaching Faculty

Lisa Abshere
Artistic Director
Lisa Abshere danced professionally for seven years with San Francisco Dance Spectrum (a company started by San Fransico Ballet Master Carlos Carvajal), Theatre of San Fransico, Oakland Metropolitan Ballet Company, and was a guest artist with several other professional companies. At age eleven, Lisa began teaching children's classes as part of a scholarship program to support her own dance studies. The following year she received the Ford Foundation Scholarship and was given a full scholarship for summer study at the School of American Ballet. As Ballet Director she brings to her position a wealth of experience in both the technical and theatrical aspects of Classical Ballet. Lisa founded the Goleta School of Ballet (GVCC School of Ballet) in the fall of 1985.

Gina DeAngelo

Gina DeAngelo joined the teaching staff at the Goleta School of Ballet in 1994. Gina trained under full scholarship with the Joffrey School of Ballet in New York. She later studied with Maggie Black, also in NYC. She danced professionally with Valerie Huston Dance Theatre and the Santa Barbara Ballet Theatre. While working in her sister's company, Ballet DeAngelo, located in New York City, she toured with them extensively throughout Europe and Cuba.

Emily Maye Abshere

Emily Maye Abshere started ballet with the Goleta School of Ballet (GVCC School of Ballet) at age 3 in the school's first year. She began teaching ballet at age 11 for the Rainbow School Afterschool Program. Emily danced with the Goleta School of Ballet and Goleta Ballet Theatre through high school and trained with private coach Maria Vegh as well as attended the DanceAspen Summer School, Milwaukee Ballet School, and the Joffrey Ballet School. While in College she studies at STEPS in New York City, Barnard College and Dance Arts Academy in Los Angeles. Emily is a full-time member of the teaching staff for Goleta School of Ballet and Goleta Ballet Theatre since 2006 and also serves as the media director and staff photographer for the school.

The Studios at Goleta School of Ballet

Goleta School of Ballet moved to a new facility in 2011. The studios at the Goleta School of Ballet feature 3,000 square feet of studio space with two studios, sprung floors, floor mounted barres, lobby area, restrooms, and a modern design. It is also the home of Goodland Pilates, an open Mat Pilates Program.

Performance History
2012	Summer Workshop Alice in Wonderland Swan Lake GBT Mixed Bill
2011	The Nutcracker La Bayadere GBT: Works & Process
2010	The Nutcracker Swan Lake
2009	The Nutcracker Midsummer Night's Dream Jewels
2008	The Nutcracker Favorites: Swan Lake, Romeo & Juliet, Le Corsaire, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Giselle Goleta Ballet Theatre Gala
2007	The Nutcracker La Bayadere Goleta Ballet Theatre Gala
2006	The Nutcracker Cinderella
2005	The Nutcracker The Sleeping Beauty
2004	The Nutcracker Favorites from Classic Ballets
2003	The Nutcracker La Bayadere
2002	The Nutcracker Cinderella
2001	The Nutcracker Favorites from Classic Ballets
2000	The Nutcracker Don Quixote
1999	The Nutcracker La Bayadere
1998	The Nutcracker Cinderella
1997	The Nutcracker The Sleeping Beauty
1996	The Nutcracker La Bayadere
1995	The Nutcracker The Sleeping Beauty
1994	The Nutcracker Swan Lake
1993	The Nutcracker Impressions of Ballet
1992	The Nutcracker The Sleeping Beauty
1991	The Nutcracker Twelve Dancing Princesses
1990	The Nutcracker Cinderella Giselle
1989	Peter Pan
1988	Hansel & Gretal
1987	Peter and the Wolf
1985	* School Founded *