Love Is Love is presented in two acts with one intermission.

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Narrators: Minna Rogers, Alyssa Miyashiro, Chloe Schwerin
 

L-O-V-E
Choreography: Gregory Amato
Dancers: Léna Alvino, Tianjia Chen, Kelley Hashemi, Shellie Jew, Nicole Khoo, Alyssa-Marie Muña, Raina Sacksteder, Naomi Sailors

 

L-O-V-E is pure unfiltered fun—this lively ensemble radiates a love that spreads like wildfire. It’s friendship, freedom, and joy all rolled into one irresistible dance.

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Amor de Marinera
Marinera Norteña (National Dance of Peru)
Choreography: Monica Mendoza
Dancers: Monica Mendoza, Michael Scavotto (2/13 performance),

Gabrielle Poth (2/14 performance)

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Amor de Marinera celebrates love and courtship. In this dance, partners use elegant footwork, graceful hand movements, and a handkerchief to communicate with each other, creating a playful and romantic dialogue through movement. This piece captures the flirtatious, expressive, and joyful spirit of the Marinera celebrating love.

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When I Was You
Choreography: Zoé Foy
Dancers: Alyssa-Marie Muña, Naomi Sailors

 

A contemporary exploration of how memories can be revisited over and over but never truly re-lived. There is simply a circling of the original experience that can never be completed; an echo of a past self that will never exist again. 

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She & She
Choreography: Feng Ye
Performers:

Angel: Raina Sacksteder
Cello: Eloise Xia
Voice: Elena Sun
Mothers & Daughters:

Ying Mei & Tiana Yu,

Manman Gong & Myra Luo,

Chun Zhang & Celine Hairr,

Zoey Wang & Hailey Zhao,

Jing Zhang & Nicole Chen

 

She & She is an intimate duet that reflects the emotional landscape of a mother-daughter relationship. Through gestures of presence, gaze, and quiet interaction, the work reveals how love is expressed not through grand declarations, but through subtle, tender, and deeply human connections. The choreography invites audiences to witness a dialogue of care, reflection, and mutual recognition between two generations.

 

After the Silence
Choreography: Gregory Amato
Dancers: Léna Alvino, Kelley Hashemi

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In the space between apology and acceptance lies forgiveness. This ballet explores the fragile journey of two people learning to let go of anger, rediscover trust, and find grace in one another once more. 
 

The Winner Takes It All

Choreography: Gregory Amato

Dancers: Alyssa-Marie Muña, Phoenix Wilkins

Singer: Melissa Gialdini

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Every reach is a question. Every lift, a promise not yet spoken. In this tender duet, longing unfolds gently, leaving us to wonder whether courage will turn possibility into reality.

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​Sones de Jalisco
Choreography: Zenón Barrón
Dancers: Ensambles Ballet Folklórico de San Francisco

 

The Sones of Jalisco can be dated back to rural festivals and rituals within the pueblos. The first dance, La Charreada, refers to the excitement of a Mexican-style rodeo, honoring the heritage of el charro, or Mexican cowboy. Specifically, this piece honors las Escaramuzas, Mexican women who participate in a historically male-dominated event, paying homage to the brave women that fought in the Mexican revolution. The second dance, El Séptimo Cantón, performed acapella, highlights the impressive footwork of the Jalisco-style. The women and men battle back-and-forth, showcasing the oftentimes competitive and thrilling nature of folklórico.

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she was not made for any man
Choreography: Vinnie Jones, with help from the dancers 
Dancers: Shellie Jew, Raina Sacksteder

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“Special thank you to these two dancers for their openness and adaptability, as well as to my students for their creative input.” 

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What We Do For Love
Choreography: Issac “Stuck” Sanders
Dancer: Issac “Stuck” Sanders

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This piece is about finding love within one’s self. The most powerful thing in the world is love and although we search far and wide true love starts within. 

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Boda Mestiza Yucateca 
Choreography: Zenón Barrón
Dancers: Ensambles Ballet Folklórico de San Francisco 

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This piece exemplifies a traditional mestizo wedding in the southern coastal region of Mexico. Beginning with a spiritual Mayan ceremony, a ritual is led by a shaman. The bride wears an embroidered Yucatecan terno, while the groom wears a white guayabera and trousers. Next, we witness a large party, as the community celebrates the union of the couple in La Fiesta del Pueblo. In spectacular fashion, the party concludes with an exciting balancing act that will leave you on the edge of your seat!
 

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15-MINUTE INTERMISSION

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I Just Want To Dance With You
Choreography: Gregory Amato
Dancers: Léna Alvino, Jim Ballard, Tianjia Chen, Jacob DalPorto, Kelley Hashemi, Shellie Jew, Evan Johnston, Alyssa-Marie Muña, Bernardo Ramos, Raina Sacksteder, Naomi Sailors

 

Set in a rowdy cowboy bar pulsing with music and mischief, this ballet celebrates the thrill of meeting someone new. With high kicks, quick turns, and a wink of flirtation, it’s a joyful reminder that sometimes the best stories begin with a dance.

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A Lifetime of Waiting
Performers: Yang Yang Lyon, Wenlong Dragon Sun
Choreography: Yang Yang Lyon

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This evocative duet captures the bittersweet essence of two souls bound by an enduring promise, portraying a love that transcends time through fluid, sweeping movements and tender moments of connection. Each gesture mirrors the longing and resilience of a lifetime spent waiting for the one who truly holds their heart.

 

Faun
April 8, 1950 - a hospital room in England.

Dancers: 

Vaslov Nijinski: Graham Lustig
His wife, Romola: Nina Amato 
Sergei Diaghilev: Phoenix Wilkins

His dancing spirit: Pakela Newalu-Gomes
Nurses: Tianjia Chen, Shellie Jew, Nicole Khoo

Choreography & Design: Graham Lustig

 

World famous ballet star Vaslav Nijinsky stepped back from the world at 29 to receive psychiatric care for the rest of his life. 
In this dance work, performed to Afternoon of a Faun by Claude Debussy, we meet the 60-year old Nijinsky - it is April 8th, 1950, his final afternoon. 
For 31 years he was known to be non-verbal however, Nijinsky did respond to music by dancing. From the seclusion of his room in the asylum, he recalls his great dance roles and his great loves. Although there are no films of Nijinsky dancing, his legacy lives through the roles he created, photos and the groundbreaking ballets he choreographed.
 

What Time Didn’t Take
Choreography: Gregory Amato
Dancers: Léna Alvino, Jacob DalPorto, Alyssa-Marie Muña,

Raina Sacksteder, Naomi Sailors

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Time has carried away those she once held closest, yet their presence endures in the rhythm of her days. This piece honors a woman living tenderly between past and present, where memory becomes both companion and comfort.

 

Bistro
Choreography: Gregory Amato
Dancers: Kelley Hashemi, Kyle Ikuma

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Two strangers, an empty bar, and just enough courage to say hello. With quick wit and easy laughter, their connection unfolds in teasing steps and carefree turns—no pressure, just possibility.

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The Peony Pavilion: Dream Lovers
Choreography: Feng Ye
Dancers:

Du Liniang: Nicole Khoo
Liu Mengmei: Jacob DalPorto
Ensemble: Jin Zhang, Ji Fang,

Ying Mei, Zongjie Diao, Manman Gong,

Lunani Yen, Li Li, Zoe Zuo, Ruoxi Jin,

Helen Guan, Annie Deng, Jing Zhang

 

The Peony Pavilion: Dream Lovers draws inspiration from The Peony Pavilion (Mudan Ting), the 1598 masterpiece by Ming dynasty playwright Tang Xianzu, often referred to as the “Romeo and Juliet of China.” The original story tells of a dream-born love that transcends reality, life, and death, celebrating love as a force stronger than convention.
Reimagined through a contemporary choreographic lens, this work brings the classical themes of “dream” and “love” into the language of the modern body, creating a dialogue between traditional Chinese poetic aesthetics and contemporary performance expression.
 

Paloma
Choreography: Gregory Amato
Dancers: Evan Johnston, Raina Sacksteder 
 

Shadowed by habits that once held him captive, he wrestles with an unseen weight. Through resilience and quiet resolve, he begins to reclaim his footing—choosing strength over surrender, and light over the pull of darkness.

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Carnaval en Sinaloa
Choreography: Zenón Barrón
Dancers: Ensambles Ballet Folklórico de San Francisco 

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Every year, the port of Mazatlán, Sinaloa is the scene for Carnaval - a celebration of dancing, singing, colors, and revelry. As the banda music plays, the men and women interweave between each other, catching flirty looks and affection as they dance in a never-ending communal party in the tropical state of Sinaloa.  

 

I Got You, Babe
Choreography: Gregory Amato
Dancers: Jim Ballard, Naomi Sailors

 

Perfectly imperfect and proud of it, this couple dances through life with a wink and a grin. In their shared laughter and carefree abandon, we see a love that is easy, honest, and joyfully unfiltered.

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Let the Sunshine In

Choreography: Gregory Amato

Dancers: Léna Alvino, Jim Ballard, Tianjia Chen, Jacob DalPorto, Kelley Hashemi, Kyle Ikuma, Shellie Jew, Evan Johnston, Nicole Khoo, Alyssa-Marie Muña, Bernardo Ramos, Raina Sacksteder, Naomi Sailors

 

Different rhythms, different stories, same heartbeat. This joyful celebration reminds us that love is happiest when it’s shared freely—no lines, no limits, just open arms.

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Narration written by Nina Amato.

 

Meet the artists of Peninsula Ballet Theatre: Léna Alvino, Jim Ballard, Tianjia Chen, Jacob DalPorto, Kelley Hashemi, Kyle Ikuma, Shellie Jew, Evan Johnston, Nicole Khoo, Alyssa-Marie Muña, Bernardo Ramos, Raina Sacksteder, Naomi Sailors
 

Artists of Ensambles Ballet Folklórico de San Francisco: Aline Martinez Flores, Andrea M. Parber, Audy Elena Jiménez, Carlos Zambrano, Chelsea Ferreira, Cosette Velázquez, Cruz Rivera, David Cadena Jr., Diego Felipe Guzman, Dominique E. Ceballos, Gabriela Hernández, Hugo Flores, Isabel Najely Navarrete, Isabella Davina Jimenez, Isabella Zuñiga Ojeda, Javier Espinoza, Jeannette Quintana, Katie Mizuno, Leonor Alcaraz-Guzmán, Leticia Torres, Lupe Aguilera, Marco Castellanos, María Anaya, Mariana Hernández, Maricela Benavides, Mario López, Mario Sosa, Mateo A. Ceballos, Metztli Rodriguez, Miguel A. Ferreira, Oscar H. Ludwig, Pablo Daniel Jiménez García, Patricia Salvador, Paulette Pacheco, Xanat Rodriguez Holyoake, Zenaida Guerrero

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STAFF & CREW
Peninsula School of the Arts Co-Directors: Léna Alvino & Gregory Amato 
Peninsula Ballet Theatre Ballet Mistress: Nina Amato
Director of Artistic Operations: Chloé Watson
PSA Administrator: Shannon Briesach Schueller
Facilities & Rentals Manager: Daniel Singer
Senior Accountant: Audelia Rendon
Marketing Team: WE INC.
Photographer: Vin Eiamvuthikorn
Social Media Coordinator: Alyssa-Marie Muña
Webmaster: Karl McHugh
Crew: MVCPA Production Crew
Projector Operator: George Ou

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Susan Condon, President
Jan Mendez
Sophia Gao
Jeff Stoll
Angelica Beas
Sneha Patel
Debbie Chinn, Ex Officio

Your support helps make performances like Love Is Love possible. Gifts to Peninsula Lively Arts directly support our artists, new commissions, community outreach, and accessible programming for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. By giving today, you help ensure that dance continues to be a space for connection, storytelling, and shared humanity.

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