2018 - 2019
SCHOOL CALENDAR
2018 - 2019
SCHOOL CALENDAR
FALL 2018
Monday, August 20th – Fall Session begins
Monday, September 3rd – SCHOOL CLOSED – LABOR DAY
Monday, October 29th through Saturday, November 10th – Parents' Observation classes
Thursday, November 22nd – SCHOOL CLOSED – THANKSGIVING DAY
Friday, November 23rd – SCHOOL CLOSED* –THANKSGIVING FRIDAY (*except classes/performances for performers)
Friday, November 23rd through Sunday, November 25th – “The Nutcracker” @ Lesher Center for the Arts
Monday, December 24th through Sunday, January 6th – SCHOOL CLOSED – WINTER BREAK
SPRING 2019
Monday, January 7th – Spring Session begins
Monday, February 18th – SCHOOL CLOSED – PRESIDENTS’ DAY
Monday, March 4th through Saturday, March 16th – Parents’ Observation classes
Monday, April 1st through Sunday, April 7th – SCHOOL CLOSED – SPRING BREAK
Wednesday, May 1st – Tuition for May & June (June pro-rated) due in one payment
Friday, May 24th and Saturday, May 25th – “Spring Rep'” @ Lesher Center for the Arts
Monday, May 27th – SCHOOL CLOSED – MEMORIAL DAY
Saturday, June 8th and Sunday, June 9th – "Student Showcase" at Diablo Valley College Performing Arts Center
Sunday, June 9th – Spring Session ends
FALL 2018
Monday, August 20th – Fall Session begins
Monday, September 3rd – SCHOOL CLOSED – LABOR DAY
Monday, October 29th through Saturday, November 10th – Parents' Observation classes
Thursday, November 22nd – SCHOOL CLOSED – THANKSGIVING DAY
Friday, November 23rd – SCHOOL CLOSED* –THANKSGIVING FRIDAY (*except classes/performances for performers)
Friday, November 23rd through Sunday, November 25th – “The Nutcracker” @ Lesher Center for the Arts
Monday, December 24th through Sunday, January 6th – SCHOOL CLOSED – WINTER BREAK
SPRING 2019
Monday, January 7th – Spring Session begins
Monday, February 18th – SCHOOL CLOSED – PRESIDENTS’ DAY
Monday, March 4th through Saturday, March 16th – Parents’ Observation classes
Monday, April 1st through Sunday, April 7th – SCHOOL CLOSED – SPRING BREAK
Wednesday, May 1st – Tuition for May & June (June pro-rated) due in one payment
Friday, May 24th and Saturday, May 25th – “Spring Rep'” @ Lesher Center for the Arts
Monday, May 27th – SCHOOL CLOSED – MEMORIAL DAY
Saturday, June 8th and Sunday, June 9th – "Student Showcase" at Diablo Valley College Performing Arts Center
Sunday, June 9th – Spring Session ends
FOUNDATION
FOUNDATION EVENTS
Contra Costa Ballet's Spring Repertory
CANCELLED
Friday, May 29 - Saturday, May 30, 2020
Lesher Center for the Arts
Annual Fundraiser - Bubbles & Ballet 2020
Contra Costa Ballet Foundation’s annual fundraiser - Bubbles & Ballet - will be rescheduled.
Proceeds from ticket sales and silent auction fundraiser benefit Contra Costa Ballet Foundation.
Contra Costa Ballet's The Nutcracker
Friday, November 27 - Sunday, November, 29, 2020
Lesher Center for the Arts
Celebrating 31 years of Contra Costa Ballet's The Nutcracker! This beloved holiday production opened the Lesher Center for the Arts' inaugural season in 1990 and has become a treasured Walnut Creek tradition. Richard Cammack and Zola Dishong, Contra Costa Ballet's artistic directors for over thirty years, created the East Bay's first Nutcracker in an original and innovative, family-friendly, hour-long format that inspired many regional companies to follow.
The History of Contra Costa Ballet's The Nutcracker
Beginning with studio performances and no budget for a complete Nutcracker, Cammack and Dishong adopted the "add a pearl" concept, starting with a much smaller cast than today's and adding variations and costumes yearly.
Cal Anderson, the talented graphic and scenic designer who designed several ballets for San Francisco Ballet, including the iconic "Pop Art" ballet choreographed by Lew Christensen, joined the team to create the first version to be performed at the opening of the Lesher Center for the Arts. Originally narrated, the production evolved to stand on its own with developed choreography, strong dancers and stunning costumes.
Over the past three decades, thousands of students, professional guest artists from the Greater Bay Area and beyond, production staff, instructors, ballet masters, and supportive board members participated in making Contra Costa Ballet's The Nutcracker the beloved tradition that continues today.
If you would like to support the Foundation's efforts, please consider donating: