Leap of Faith: Dancer opens studio theater at Ranch Bernardo winery

By JOEL D. AMOS - For the North County Times | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 11:21 AM PDT ∞

For Faith Jensen-Ismay, finding a home away from her home studio for her dance collective has been a lifelong dream. "That is where we've been rehearsing for years," Jensen-Ismay said of the Poway house she shares with husband, Joe Ismay.

Now her Mojalet Dance Collective has The Vine, their performance and studio space at the Rancho Bernardo Winery.

Audiences are familiar with Jensen-Ismay from her years performing across the county. She serves as Mojalet's artistic director and has been teaching dance at the college level for many years (17 years at Palomar and now at San Diego State University).

Jensen-Ismay started Mojalet Dance Collective in 1991. The company earned nonprofit status in 2003. It was at that point when she began thinking about finding a permanent home for the dance group.

She hoped to find a dance space in North County and with the opening of the Rancho Bernardo studio, that dream has become a reality. Classes began at the RB studio early this month and the official grand opening takes place Sunday with a ribbon-cutting at 1 p.m. followed by an open house with live jazz music from 2 to 5 p.m.

"It had to be the right property. We love the outdoors and camping. To find that combination at RB Winery, that has that country feel ... it's perfect," Jensen-Ismay said of the new location.

Jensen-Ismay has wasted no time showcasing her troupe's talents.

Beginning next week, Mojalet will begin presenting weekend dance showcases at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. And on Aug. 3, she'll launch the series "Six Summer Sundays," featuring performances (at noon and 6 p.m. Sundays) by Mojalet with guest artists including Erica Buechner, Betsi Roe and Sadie Weinburg, Heather Zornes-Almanza, La Diego, Bound Contemporary Dance, the Jumpitz, Jamolet and Eclectic Expression and more. The series runs through Sept. 7.

Jensen-Ismay graduated from San Marcos High School and Palomar College's dance program and she has lived for many years in North County, but most of her dance engagements over the past 20 years have taken place outside the North County area, so she was eager to open a dance performance space in the area.

"I met my husband at Palomar in college. We have such a love for North County. We are heavily involved in the community. Yet, I was performing often downtown," Jensen-Ismay said.

Jensen-Ismay said she was invited to bring Mojalet to the NCT Promenade (the arts complex based at the former Naval Training Center in Point Loma). And while that location was attractive and many other dance companies are now headquartered there, she said it didn't meet her company's primary mission.

"I really thought about it," she said. "Our mission and our heart is to be from Poway and north. Yes, we will always present something downtown. I wanted to find a regular home that was purely north."

Jensen-Ismay said she knows that many other North County dance groups have had a hard time finding performance space, so she will open her new studio to other troupes.

"It wasn't even so we could teach classes here and perform. It is so we can have a home for young artists to show their work in an intimate environment that was affordable," Jensen-Ismay said. "That weighed heavily for me. I want other artists to be able to rent the space as well. I know how hard it is to struggle for years to find venues that are convenient, comfortable and that patrons want to visit."

The new theater at The Vine ---- which has been mostly constructed by her husband, Joe ---- seats 50 to 60 people, depending upon how the stage is laid out. "It makes a great studio and theater," she said.

Jensen-Ismay said the winery location has a nice atmosphere for students and patrons and the winery owners have been especially welcoming.

"We have a beautiful courtyard in front of the space. People can come early, have a nice dinner, enjoy some wine and relax and come to the show," she said. "Here, it's such a village. It's not just the winery. Cafe Merlot brought us appetizers for our soft opening, I didn't even know. Someone came out and said. 'where do we put the hot food?' I said, 'what are you talking about?' We have been embraced. This is a new chapter for Mojalet."

Above all, the reward for Jensen-Ismay is the reality that she has taken the first step in securing her dream for North County dance.

"No pun intended, but it was a real leap of faith on my part and our board's part to say, 'if we build it, people will come,' " she said. "We have, and the dream's a reality."

Mojalet Dance Collective Open House

Where: The Vine at Rancho Bernardo Winery, Suite 5, 13330 Paseo Del Verano N, San Diego

When: 1 to 5 p.m. July 27

Admission: Free

Info: (858) 679-0979