All Rise is a contemporary ballet, choreographed by Marika Brussel, that looks at how one person can change the tide. The ballet was inspired by Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and all she did to change the country and to better the position of women. Original music composed by Mahlon Berv.

Peninsula Ballet Theatre was founded in 1967 by Dick Ford and Richard Gibson as the non-profit performing vehicle for students in their ballet school, then Peninsula Ballet School. In 1971 the first professional dancers trained outside the school were hired to form a separate permanent company, the Bay Area's second oldest professional ballet company in continuous operations. Gregory Amato took the helm as Artistic Director in early 2017, and since then has cultivated a company of professional dancers that performs a full season of wide-ranging repertory. ​ In 2010 we transformed a former Circuit City big box store into a 30,000 square foot regional arts center. We have five dance studios plus a pilates studio. We offer workshops and dance training in all genres plus a number of dance fitness classes. We host two local fine arts organizations who present a gallery of local artists. Members of the community present a number of activities from poetry reading to soirees with artists from all disciplines.

Asha Sienkiewicz (Dance Artist)
Originally from the Midwest, Asha moved to NYC and then to CA. She has danced for over 25 years and has danced many roles from Nutcracker Sugar Plum to The Chosen One in Rite of Spring. Asha believes in putting her soul into every movement, moment, and feeling in all she dances. Being in CA has brought her so many new changes and challenges she embraces to make her a more experienced artist and especially during these times she finds new inspiration. Asha is honored to work with Marika Brussel and the dancers of Peninsula Ballet Theatre. Truly, this is the most important time to dance and show the true resilience, power, and love. TOGETHER!

Takako Kokubu (Dance Artist)
Takako Kokubu was born in Hiroshima, Japan. At age three, she started dancing and continued her training under Keiko Kurihashi and Koichi Kubo in Tokyo, where she performed many classical roles, including the Street Dancer in Don Quixote, Le Corsaire Pas de Deux, and Adagio from Swan Lake. Takako is very excited for her first season with Peninsula Ballet Theatre.

Alondra Flores (Dancer)
Alondra found her love of dance at the age of 5 when she started her training with Diana Hastings in Texas. She danced with her for 15 years before relocating to California and has now found a new dance family with Peninsula Ballet Theatre.

Yan Zhang (Dance Artist)
Yan Zhang has been an active member of the Bay Area Ballet community since 2000 when she joined Peninsula Ballet Theatre the first time. After taking a break to have two wonderful children, Yan returned to the stage in 2011 with PBT, then went to Bay Pointe Ballet, and is back with PBT for a third time. She is grateful for the incredible opportunity to learn original choreography with a supportive and exciting company. She appreciates her family for their support.

Josh Ugarte (Dancer)
Born and raised in California, Joshua Ugarte attended art school in San Francisco for fashion design. While taking a costume class, his instructor took him to observe a ballet class to understand a dancer’s movement. That was the moment Joshua fell in love with classical ballet. After graduating, he started to take open classes at Alonzo King LINES Ballet, where he met amazing instructors who helped shape him into the dancer he is today.