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OJAI WORLD DANCE FESTIVAL

Saturday, May 3 2025

Free Day Program 10am - 5pm

Evening Showcase 7:30-9pm

Welcome to our 2025 digital program. We thank you for your support of the multi-cultural arts and look forward to having you join us for an amazing festival!

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Director's Notes

On behalf of our team, I extend my deepest gratitude for your participation and support in this incredible celebration of culture, community, and the arts. This year marks an exciting milestone—our second annual Ojai World Dance Festival which has expanded into a full-day event. We are featuring even more talented artists, diverse dance troupes, musicians, artisans, and cultural vendors. Together, we are creating a space where traditions are honored, communities are elevated, and the beauty of global dance and music can be shared with all.

 

The power of dance lies in its ability to connect us—across cultures, generations, and experiences. These traditions are more than performances; they are living expressions of our shared humanity. They tell our stories and embody our deepest sentiments toward life. In a time when division often dominates the narrative, this festival stands as a joyful act of unity, inviting us all to celebrate the richness of our world’s heritage.

 

We are thrilled to see this festival growing and becoming a cherished Ojai tradition. Thank you for being part of this journey, for supporting the artists, and for joining us in this vibrant celebration.

Isha Ferraz

Artistic Director

 

Dance Ojai Team

(Pictured above from left to right) Paulina Carey, Serra Benson, Ixchel Gladstone, Isha Ferraz, Theraysa Holiman, Tami Davis,  Carrie Sanders

Day Stage Line Up
11am-5pm
Libbey Park

Opening Ceremony 
11:00 - 11:30am 

Opening with Special Guest Speaker
David Yoshitomi -
Arts & Culture Manager, County of Ventura
Community Intentions with Ragan Thomson & Taiko Drumming with Ojai O'Daiko

Time
Dance Troupe Name
Style of Dance
11:00 - 11:05
Opening Welcome with Special Guest Speaker David Yoshitomi
Ventura County Arts & Culture Manager
11:05 - 11:10
Community Intentions
Ragan Thomson
11:10 - 11:35
Ojai O’Daiko
Taiko Drummers
11:35 - 11:50
Movewell Kids Dance Workshop
Kids Dance
11:50 - 11:55
Love Tribe West African
West African
11:55 - 12:00
Bolly Pop
Bollywood
12:00 - 12:05
Carapace Dance Center
Hip Hop
12:05 - 12:10
Sona Lewis
Kathak Indian Dance
12:10 - 12:15
Revolution Dance
Contemporary
12:15 - 12:20
Rika Traxler
Tahitian
12:20 - 12:30
Tahitian Dance Workshop
Tahitian
12:30 - 12:45
Ballet Folklorico de Ventura
Traditional Mexican Dance
12:45 - 12:50
Flamenco 805
Flamenco
12:50 - 1:00
Alexandra King Ensemble
Middle Eastern Dance
1:00 - 1:05
Firedance 805
Irish Dance
1:05 - 1:10
Flamenco 805
Flamenco
1:10 - 1:20
JOKO International
West African
1:20 - 1:30
Dance Break & Raffle Drawing
Open Dance Floor
1:30 - 2:00
Sandhi Music Ensemble
Indian Classical Music
2:00 - 2:10
Deepa Dawson
Bharatanatyam
2:10 - 2:15
Te Puo Ha’ari Nui
Tahitian
2:15 - 2:20
Dance Ojai Bellydance
Bellydance
2:20 - 2:25
Kendra Alyse Bollenbach
Jazz/Contemporary
2:25 - 2:30
Flamenco 805
Flamenco
2:30 - 2:35
Kim Hoj’s Vintage Jazz
Jazz
2:35 - 2:40
Dance Ojai Community Bolly Troupe
Bollywood
2:40 - 2:45
Tempo Dance
Contemporary/Jazz
2:45 - 2:50
Dimple Kaur
Bharatanatyam
2:50 - 2:55
A Mi Manera Dance Co
Salsa
2:55 - 3:00
Kelly Carrol Jazz Troupe
Jazz
3:00 - 3:15
Dance Break & Raffle Drawing
Open Dance Floor
3:15 - 3:20
Agni UCSB
Indian Classical
3:20 - 3:25
Alejandro y Julieta
Tango
3:25 - 3:30
PPMA Dance Ensemble
Chinese Dance
3:30 - 3:35
Cris! & BellyDance Land Team
Bellydance
3:35 - 3:40
Ojai Skate Club
Skate
3:40 - 3:45
World Dance for Humanity
Community Dance
3:45 - 3:55
Alias - Undeclared & Minis
Hip Hop
3:55 - 4:05
Dance Break & Raffle Drawing
Open Dance Floor
4:05 - 4:10
Dance Ojai Salsa Troupe
Salsa
4:10 - 5:00pm
Sitarason - Open Dance Floor
Cuban Band

Evening Showcase
7:30pm - 9:00pm
Libbey Bowl

The Crew

Miss Alynette - Evening Showcase MC , Rebekah Joy - Production Manager, Amber Young - Front of House Manager, Eric Esse - Lighting Designer, Mike Tregler - Sound Engineer, Polly Carey & Emily Carey - Backstage Managers, Joi Muller - Sound, Jake Gladstone - Head of Security, Mark Tovar - Head of Ushers, Film - Brian Nager, Levi Holiman - Photography - Steven Adams, Amanda Peacock and our amazing team of volunteers!
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Meet our Evening Showcase MC

Miss Alynette from All Things 805

After receiving her bachelor’s in acting and directing from Cal State Long Beach, Miss Alynette's love for dance and music culture set her on a path toward opportunities in the radio broadcasting business.

Her passions for community organizing and the strength and resilience of women led her to found FemdUStry, an organization bringing awareness, resources and opportunity to marginalized communities with a focus on women's empowerment.

With more than 20 years in the radio broadcasting industry, Miss Alynette has expanded her experience into content media marketing under the brand the Alynettework offering podcasting, graphic design, social media promotion, music curation, and hosting services. She continues to use her voice to uplift the masses of Ventura County and beyond with her community affairs show, All Things 805. She is also the weekday host from noon-5:00 pm on Southern California music radio station Old School 104-7. 

www.instagram.com/Alynettework

www.instagram.com/All.Things.805

Thank you to our valued sponsors! 

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ABOUT THE TROUPES

Ritual Azteca de la Santísima Virgen de los Remedios is a collective based out of North East Los Angeles focused on the practice and conservation of cultural dance and spiritual traditions of Mexico. Ritual Azteca has strong ties to families in Mexico City, Queretaro, and Jalisco. Their community practice is dedicated to passing down their teachings to the youth, as well as those of any age called to learn and or share with love and respect.

¡Flamenco! Santa Barbara is dedicated to supporting - and elevating - the art of flamenco in Santa Barbara and beyond. They provide need-based scholarships to local students and believe that dance provides growth, creativity, expression and instills confidence, a sense of community, and respect for history. The dance company is led by artistic director Maria "La Chacha" Bermudez, and they perform year-round in the community.

 

Dance Ojai - Bollywood Troupe - Dance Ojai troupes, under the direction of Isha Ferraz, have been performing in Ventura County since 2015. Dance Ojai is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to sharing and promoting multi-cultural dance arts that serves the local community with classes, events, and performances. Our goal is to bring people together through the power of dance, and to provide a safe and inclusive space for people of all ages and backgrounds to experience the joy of movement and expression.

Grupo Folklórico Fusión Mexicana is a Ventura County wide Folklorico group founded by Carlos Mendez, and Adrian Castellon. The Grupo is now under the Direction of Dafne Aves and Adrian Castellon. Our group aims to continue teaching and showcasing traditional and a fusion of Mexican folkorico dance styles. They welcome dancers of all forms ages 12+.

 

Alias Dance Company was founded in 2003 by director Byron Bucao in Oxnard, California and has since offered thousands of local youth an opportunity to express their passion through the performing arts. The Alias Family consists of over a dozen teams ranging from ages 4 to adult across varying experience. With the help of the thousands of youth throughout the last 15 years, our teams have achieved over 100 awards and titles including features with top recording artists and in television.

Ojai Aerial offers a safe and non-competitive environment for aerial students of all ages to develop strength, confidence, and poise in the air. Founded in 2021 by director Serra Benson, Ojai Aerial honors the past and embraces the future by fostering a culture of respect and understanding for each apparatus and its core movement vocabulary while nurturing creativity and freedom to invent and discover new pathways in the air.

Santa Barbara High Donettes are a co-ed hip-hop dance team from Santa Barbara High School! The Donettes were established over twenty years ago by Santa Barbara High School's Dance Director, Beth Goldman. As varsity student-athletes, the Donettes perform for football games, basketball games, state-wide competitions, local dance showcases, and more! Although they are primarily hip-hop dancers, the Donettes also train in contemporary, jazz, and POM styles to expand their knowledge and perfect their craft.

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ABOUT THE TROUPES (cont.)

SUNS Performing Arts was established in 2021 in Santa Barbara, our team is actively engaged throughout California with the mission of promoting and celebrating Chinese culture through the art of traditional Chinese dance. We strive to share this unique and treasured cultural heritage with audiences around the world.​

Hula Anyone is a performing dance school in Santa Barbara. The art of hula and Polynesian Dances are taught to all ages . With several 3rd generations in the course of 50 yrs., every student is encouraged to share their skills in a myriad of opportunities. Hula Anyone enjoys the essence of team work to promote cultural experiences.

 

Phoenix Family Performing Art Collaborative (PFPA) is a non-profit organization founded by a group of passionate Chinese-American women, dedicated to Chinese ethnic dance. We actively participate in various community events in Ventura county, Santa Barbara county and Los Angeles county, promoting Chinese culture and heritage.

 

Souly Dance Arts. Wilfried Souly is a choreographer, dancer, drummer and Taekwondo expert, originally from Burkina Faso in West Africa. He is a highly accomplished World artist with many of his pieces being showcased in the states and abroad. He is joined by Souly Dance Arts master drummer Aboubacar Kouyate who has also traveled and performed extensively throughout Africa and Europe.

FIREDANCE - Irish Dance 805 under the direction of world champion Alanna Callaghan, brings the vibrant energy of Irish dance with a focus on both traditional technique and innovative choreography. FIREDANCE offers a dynamic, non-competitive learning environment open to all ages.

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Thank you to our Festival Friend & Supporter Sponsors, Donors & Community Partners!

City of Ojai - Carey Construction - All Things 805 - Sespe Creek - The Dutchess -  Coffee Connection - Willow Consignment Shop - Lovina Designs - Joyce Robinson - Ojai Noodle House - Bonito Coffee - Ojai Valley Imports - Donna Vis - Montecito Dental - Ojai Rotie - Himalaya Restaurant - Selfie Booth 805 -  Breath Ojai - Amigo Rentals - Zeb Stewart & Erin Gerkin - Scott & Anna Oster - Rachael Barkley - Sarah Otterstrom - Jon Riddell - Alejandra Torres - Teresa Rooney - Heritage Financial - American Hay & Feed

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