Ballet: A Fairytale Friendship

Jake Bevens wasn’t very interested in ballet at a young age; he favored his activities in gymnastics instead. But when one of his coaches insisted that he try ballet to gain an edge in his athletic pursuits, Jake decided to give it a try, and to his surprise, unexpectedly found a life-long passion.

When he was 11, Jake joined the Chico Community Ballet. Male ballet dancers are hard to come by, and he was soon in demand for lead roles. His first ballet performance on stage, the same year he joined CCB, was in Laxson Auditorium, where he appeared in “Coppelia,” the annual coproduction between Chico Performances and Chico Community Ballet.

Since then, Jake has danced seven lead parts in CCB productions, becoming one of their best success stories. He now works for Disney, and also dances professionally in Los Angeles and for companies throughout the US. Additionally, he has appeared in ABC’s “The Middle,” and was featured in Sia’s music video “The Greatest.”

Reflecting on what it is like to be a male dancer in what most perceive to be a predominantly female-occupied field, Jake said, “Most people think that only girls do ballet, but as you get to the professional level there’s usually an even amount of guys to girls on jobs or dance companies… I continued to do other sports but as I got older being around all the girls was a plus!”

Jake found that being a lead male in ballet had its perks, and danced with many female performers during his time with CCB. However, one young ballerina – Cameryn Titus – seemed to click especially well with Jake. Cameryn started dancing when she was just four years old, and by eight she had joined CCB’s corps. Her first performance as a pre-dancer was in “The Nutcracker” in 1998, performed on the stage at Laxson Auditorium. 

Since her debut that year, Camryn has danced the lead roles in seven of the annual CCB performances in Laxson. In three of those lead roles, she has been partnered up with Jake as her leading man; twice they were featured as Prince Philip and Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, and the duo danced the lead roles of Clara/Angeline and the Nutcracker Prince in the more recent A Very Chico Nutcracker. Both have danced together in nearly all of the CCB holiday productions since 2001. Between leaving for college, jobs, and starting families, the ballet has continued to bring them back together year after year. Throughout their tenure with Chico Community Ballet, the pair have formed a lifelong friendship that enriches their lives on and off the stage.

This year, the duo will once again be partnered up in lead roles in the upcoming CCB and Chico Performances production of “Cinderella.”

Pledging to bring a fresh twist to the time-honored story that has entertained audiences for years, CCB aims to retain a historic feel, while incorporating new elements like mesmerizing costumes and enchanting scenery. Artistic Director Deborah Jorritsma aims to bring a moral to this season’s production with a take-away of kindness. She notes, “Only true kindness is worthy of a fairy’s gift, for without it we can do nothing, but with it, anything is possible.”

This year marks “Cinderella’s” fifth appearance on the stage of Laxson Auditorium since 1989. Thirty-seven Chico Community Ballet company members, additional guests and community actors will dance to Sergei Prokofiev’s classical score and illuminate the magic of a story that transcends generations.

This wonderful opportunity to immerse the family in the magic of “Cinderella” will take place in Laxson Auditorium on the campus of California State University, Chico on Saturday, November 17 at 2pm and 7:30pm, and the following Saturday and Sunday, November 24 and 25, at 2pm. Each 2pm matinee performance will feature an autograph party after the show, giving everyone a chance to meet and take photos with their favorite dancers in costume.

Tickets for “Cinderella” are available at the University Box Office, located on the first floor of Sierra Hall on the corner of West Third and Chestnut Streets in downtown Chico, or online at http://www.chicoperformances.com. For more information, call the University Box office at (530) 898-6333.