Staff

Oakland Ballet School Staff

Joral SchmalleJoral Schmalle, Artistic Director
Born and raised in Northern California, Joral began his early training in Ukiah with his mother and Nuria Lovett-King. At age eight he received a full scholarship to the San Francisco Ballet School. He also studied at the School of American Ballet, Ballet Celeste International, and American Conservatory Theatre.

Joral joined the Oakland Ballet Company in 1983, was named Associate Director in 1997, and served as Acting Artistic Director 1999-2000. He has appeared in numerous lead and title roles with the Company, including Billy the Kid (Billy), The Secret Garden (Archibald Craven), Romeo and Juliet (Romeo and Tybalt), Giselle (Albrecht), The Green Table (Death), Scheherazade (The Golden Slave), L’apres-midi d’un faune (the Faun), Le Tren bleu (Beau Gosse) Carmina Burana (principal male), and Coppelia (Franz). In 1993 he was a finalist in the prestigious New York International Ballet Competition. During his career he appeared extensively as a guest artist and was also a member of Smuin Ballet, the Lawrence Pech Dance Company & the San Francisco production of Phantom of the Opera.

Denise SchmalleDenise Schmalle, Associate Artistic Director
Born in San Francisco, CA, Denise received her ballet training at the Oakland Ballet Academy, under Ronn Guidi. At the age of 16 she was asked to join the Oakland Ballet Company as an apprentice. The following year she joined OBC as a company member.

Denise had the opportunity to perform in the company’s historically significant repertoire, including Billy The Kid, Les Biches, Tenderland, and Bolero, and in Ronn Guidi’s Romeo and Juliet, Secret Garden, and the Nutcracker (Marie, Snow Queen, Sugar Plum Fairy). While dancing with the Company, Denise earned a B.A. from UC Berkeley in International Development Studies. She’s also proud to be an American Ballet Theater NTC Certified Teacher. Miss Denise is the primary teacher of the Oakland Ballet School and enjoys teaching all levels, from Pre-Ballet to the Adult Program!

Fiona Hutchens
Fiona was born in New York City. She began her classical ballet training at Southold Dance Theater in South Bend, Indiana under the direction of Erica Fischbach. Fiona relocated to Denver in 2016 and joined Colorado Ballet Academy under the direction of Erica Fischbach. 

After 3 years in Colorado Ballet Academy, Fiona was promoted to Trainee in and joined Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company in 2020. While in Studio Company she had the opportunity to perform Corps de Ballet roles with the company including George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, Clark Tippet’s Bruch Violin Concerto, and Nanine in Lady of the Camillias.

In 2023 Fiona relocated to California and joined Diablo Ballet for their 30th anniversary season as an Apprentice.

Fiona has a passion for teaching and choreographing. While on the faculty for Colorado Ballet Academy, she had many opportunities to choreograph and create new works on the students. She had the privilege of creating Ivory Suite and Short Dances for Colorado Ballet’s Fancy Footwork series, and has also choreographed contemporary solos and duets for YAGP. Fiona is an ABT NTC certified teacher.

Vinnie Jones
Originally from Maine, Vinnie began their training at Ballet Theater Workshop in Portsmouth, NH and attended the University of Utah on scholarship earning a BFA in dance.

Professionally she has danced with San Diego Ballet, LaMov Compania de Danza of Spain, Ballet Tucson, as well as bay area companies including Menlowe Ballet, Oakland Ballet, Oceanica Ballet, Peninsula Ballet Theater, and  em(body) dance project. With these companies she performed soloist and principal roles in classical ballets including Serenade, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Carmina Burana, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and Firebird. With LaMov she danced the principal female role in contemporary/neoclassical versions of Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and El Trovador (Il Trovatore) as well as works by Victor Jimenez, Francisco Lorenzo, and Itzak Galili. In 2019 they cofounded em(body) dance project where she works as dancer and choreographer. 

Her choreographic works have been presented in Utah, Arizona, California, Chicago, St Louis, as well as Mexico and Spain. Her works have been performed at dance competitions including Youth America Grand Prix as well as the California Dance Classics, earning the top score for their in age division, as well as judges choices awards for choreography. Currently she dances with Oakland Ballet, teaches around the bay area and continues to choreograph for em(body) dance project.
 
 

Recent Posts