Community Collaborations
Oakland Ballet Company’s programs engage a diverse range of community members through the commissioning of vibrant new works, innovative collaborations with artists of other genres, and compelling educational programs that cultivate the next generation of dance lovers. We welcome you to explore the history of OBC’s collaborations under the guidance of Artistic Director Graham Lustig.
Dancing Moons Festival | 2022-Present
Dancing Moons Festival is a celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Choreographers.
Choreographers
| Phil Chan Natasha Adorlee Lawrence Chen Feng Ye Ashley Thopiah Wei Wang |
Elaine Kudo Caili Quan Seyong Kim Michael Lowe Megan and Shannon Kurashige |
Musicians
- Del Sol Quartet (2025)
- Volti (2025)
- Huang Ruo (Composer – Angel Island Project – 2025)
- Min Kwon (2022)
Costume Designers
- Harriet Jung (2022)
- Xinyi Zhang (2023)
- Bethany Deal (2023)
- Alysia Chang (2025)
- Kaori Higashiyama (2025)
Visual Artists
2024
| Mina Eimon Keiko Ito Kyong Ae Kim Dave Young Kim Ranu Mukherjee Mark Shigenaga |
Asako Shimazaki Mimi Chen Ting Sanjay Vora JaYing Wang Jiang Weling |
2025
John Kudo
Graham Lustig's The Nutcracker | 2011-Present
Graham Lustig’s The Nutcracker brings to life the spirit of the holiday season with beautiful dancing, magnificent scenery and imaginative costumes.
Choreographers
- Graham Lustig, Graham Lustig’s The Nutcracker (2011-present)
Musicians:
- Oakland Symphony, (2010 – present) directed by Michael Morgan (2010-2019), directed by Julius Williams (2021), directed by Dr. Mieko Hatano (2022)
- Mt. Eden High School Women’s Ensemble, directed by Ken Rawdon (2012, 2014-2016)
- Oakland Youth Chorus, directed by LaNell Martin (2013)
- Piedmont East Bay’s Children’s Choir Concert Choir, directed by Robert Geary (2017-2021), directed by Keri Butkevich (2022), and conducted by Andrew Brown (2017 – present)
Luna Mexicana | 2016-Present
(Luna Mexicana brings the community together for a celebration of Dia de losMuertos through spirited dancing, live music, colorful costumes, and a festive atmosphere.
Choreographers:
- Graham Lustig, Luna Mexicana (2016-present)
- José Limón, Chaconne (2017)
- Graham Lustig, Martin Romero Viva la Vida! (2018)
- Graham Lustig, The Birthdays (2021)
- Benjamin Briones, Mixtecas (2022)
Guest Performing Groups:
- Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno (2016)
- Ballet Folklórico México Danza (2017 – 2019)(2021-2022)
- Grupo Folklórico Luna y Sol de SJSU (2022)
- Nahui-Ehekatl, Blessing Ceremony (2017 – present)
Musicians:
- Mariachi Halcones de Oakland, A Tribute to Juan Gabriels (2016)
- Wiliam Faulkner, Jalisco Harpist (2016)
- Terrie Baune (2017)
- Mariachi Mexicanisimo (2017)(2022)
- Salvadore Vazquez, Jaliso Harpist (2017 – 2018)
- Mariachi Tapatio (2019)
- Mariachi Nueva Generacion (2021)
- Mariachi Trio El Mexicano (2021)
- Rosa Azul (2022)
Visual Artists:
- Oakland Museum of California, Ofrenda (2016 – 2017)
- Daniel Camacho, Ofrenda (2018 – 2019)
- Ernesto Hernandez-Olmos, Ofrenda (2018)
- Joaquin Newman (2018)(2021-2022)
- Evelyn Orantes (2018)(2021-2022)
- Jasmine Quiroga (2018)(2021-2022)
- Lilia Olsen (2021)
Food Vendors:
- Peña’s Bakery (2016 – 2018)
- Tamales La Oaxaqueña (2016 – 2021)
Spring Repertory | 2011-Present
Lustig Live!, 2024
Guest Artists:
- Stephanie Powell
Musicians:
- William Skeen, Cellist
- Hadley McCarroll, Pianist
- Shawnette Sulker, Soprano
- Arturo Rodriguez, Flutist
- Hank Maninger, Guitarist, Vocalist
- Leor Beary, Percussionist
Rainbow Dances 2023
Choreographers:
- Alyah Baker, 4 Parts Jazz (2023)*
- Bobby Briscoe, Club: LC Love and Consonance (2023)*
- Phil Chan, Exquisite Corpse (2023)
- Sean Dorsey, SEEK/AFTER JOY (2023)
- William Fowler, I’ll love you from here (2023)*
- Grayson McGuire and Shiori Kamijo, Boots (2023)
- Graham Lustig, Guardians (2023)*
Dancing Moons Festival, 2022-2023
Choreographers:
- Phil Chan, Ballet des Porcelaines & Amber Waves (2022)*
- Caili Quan, Layer Upon Layer (2022)*
- Phil Chan, Elaine Kudo, Seyong Kim, Exquisite Corpse (2023)*
Borderlines, 2020
Choreographers:
- Graham Lustig
Musicians:
- Oakland Symphony, directed by Michael Morgan
Jazz Vistas, 2019
Choreographers:
- Graham Lustig, VISTA
- Graham Lustig, Natalya Shoaf, Bat Abbit, Ramona Kelley, Vincent Chavez, Dazaun Soleyn, Oaktown Blues*
Musicians:
- Oaktown Jazz Workshops, Ravi Abcarian
- Tiffany Austin, Vocalist
Scene and Heard, 2018
Choreographers:
- Antoine Hunter, Giggling Flame and Roaring Waves*
- Bat Abbit, The Sound of Snow*
- Danielle Rowe, Itchy Bot Bot (A Family Portrait)*
- Graham Lustig, Heartbreak Hotel*
- Michael Lowe, Kimono Wednesdays*
- Ramona Kelley and Vincent Chavez, La Llorona*
Composer:
- Alton San Giovanni, Itchy Bot Bot (A Family Portrait)*
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2017
Choreographer:
- Graham Lustig, Consort*; A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Musicians:
- Dan Cromeenés, Countertenor
- Dominic Schaner, Lutenist
A Capella, Our Bodies Sing, 2016
Choreographers:
- Graham Lustig, Stone of Hope
- Janice Garret and Charles Moulton, Divining*
- Val Caniparoli, Beautiful Dreamer*
Musicians:
- Berkeley Community Chamber Singers, directed by Derek Tam
- Nona Brown and the Inspirational Music Collective, directed by Nona Brown
- Vajra Voices, directed by Karen R. Clarke
50th Anniversary Season, 2015
Choreographers:
- Alonzo King, Love Dogs
- Amy Seiwert, Before it Begins*
- Betsy Erickson, A Moment – A Lifetime*
- Bronislava Nijinska, Le Train Bleu (Pas de Deux); Les Biches (Adagietto)
- Carlos Carvajal, Green
- Eugene Loring, Billy the Kid
- Graham Lustig, Luminaire*
- Leonide Massine, La Boutique Fantasque (The Can-Can)
- Michael Lowe, Horse Hair Strings*
- Mikhail Fokine, Petrouchka (Cell Scene); Scheherazade (Pas de Deux)
- Robert Moses, Untitled*
- Ronn Guidi, The Secret Garden Pas de Deux
- Val Caniparoli, Das Ballett*
- Vaslav Nijinsky, L’Apres-Midi d’un Faune
OAKLAND-esque, 2014
Choreographers:
- Molissa Fenley , Redwood Park*
- Robert Moses, TIP*
- Sonya Delwaide, Rocky Road*
- Graham Lustig, Turfland
Guest Performing Groups:
- AXIS Dance Company
- Turffeinz
Musicians:
- Joan Jeanrenaud, Composer and Cellist
- Anna Wray, Percussionist
- Nava Dunkelman, Percussionist
Diaghilev Imagery, 2013
Choreographers:
- Amy Seiwert, Les Biches*
- Robert Moses, Bloom*
- Graham Lustig, Pulcinella*
Forwards! – 2011
Choreographers:
- Amy Seiwert, Response to Change
- Sonya Delwaide, “……”*
- Graham Lustig, Words Within Words; VISTA
East Bay Dances | 2015-2019
Hosted by Oakland Ballet Company, East Bay DANCES brings together a diverse collection of local dance companies from around the East Bay.
Guest Performing Groups:
- A. Spearman & Co. (2019)
- Ah-Lan Dance (2017)
- Alyssa Mitchel (2019)
- AXIS Dance Company (2015-2018)
- Ballet Folklórico México Danza (2017-2019)
- Chloe Isabelle Bowman (2015)
- Danse Lumière (2015 & 2019)
- Destiny Arts Center (2015)
- Diablo Ballet (2015)
- DNAGA (2018)
- Emergence Dance Company (2019)
- For Change Dance Collective (2017)
- Jaq Hannah Dalziel (2015)
- Jubilee American Dance Theater (2016-2019)
- Linda Steele II (2019)
- Marika Brussel (2018-2019)
- Milissa Payne Project (2015 & 2017)
- Natalya Shoaf (2019)
- Patty Chu’s Chinese Folk Dance (2016)
- Quicksilver Dance (2016)
- Sarah Bush Dance Project (2019)
- Savage Jazz Dance Company (2016-2019)
- Scratch Dance (2015)
- Shabnam Dance Company (2017-2019)
- Stephanie Unger & Artists (2018)
- Tessera Tribal Belly Dance (2015)
- Turffeinz (2015)
- Urban Jazz Dance Company (2018)
- Van der Zwaan Dance Studio (2017)
Jangala | 2018-2019
Jangala celebrates Indian arts and culture by telling the story of The Jungle Book through contemporary ballet and Bharatanatyam dance.
Choreographers:
- Graham Lustig, Jangala (2018-2019)
- Nadhi Thekkek, The Little Elephant in the Room (2018)*
- Graham Lustig and Nadhi Thekkek, Hamsa (2019)*
- Nadhi Thekkek and Shruti Abhishek, Rajavastra: The King’s Cloth (2019)*
Guest Performing Groups:
- Nava Dance Theatre (2018-2019)
Musicians:
- Achyut Srinivasan, Percussionist (2018)
- Preethi Ramaprasad, Cymbals (2018)
- Rohan Krishnamoorthy, Percussionist (2018-2019)
- Shreyas Srinivasan, Violin (2018)
- Sindhu Natarajan, Vocal (2018)
- Sruti Sarathy, Violin (2018)
- Ananya Ashok, Vocal, Veena (2019)
- Divya Ramachandran, Violin (2019)
- Nyantara Narasimhan, Violin (2019)
- Manasa Suresh, Vocal (2019)
- Shruti Abhishek, Cymbals, Narration (2019)