Dishong’s ballet journey takes her from Fresno to the stage

CONCORD, CA (Nov. 21, 2024) — Zola Dishong’s introduction to ballet wasn’t love at first sight.

Growing up in Fresno, she was more interested in the fun and lively forms of the dance rather than the refined precision of ballet. Yet, destiny had other plans.

At just 14, Dishong won one of the earliest Ford Foundation scholarships for dancers, an achievement that would forever change the course of her life.

This scholarship took her to the San Francisco Ballet School, marking her entry into a world she had never fully embraced. However, as soon as Dishong stepped into the school, her perspective shifted. The moment she saw the grace and sophistication of the dancers around her, she was mesmerized.

Ballet, once just another form of dance, quickly became a passion. Surrounded by accomplished and elegant dancers, she became captivated by the artform she had previously overlooked.

Opening doors

Harold Christensen, one of the founding figures of San Francisco Ballet, awarded the scholarship that opened these doors for Dishong. Taking a particular interest in Dishong’s development, he mentoring her closely and offering her guidance during her early career.

“He really liked me,” she recalls. “He mentored me, protected me and pushed me on.”

Though her ballet training at the time was limited, Dishong found herself on a two-month, one-night-stand tour across the United States with the San Francisco Ballet company at age 16. Reflecting on this experience, she admits it was a daunting, yet transformative time for someone so young and inexperienced.

“It was a very interesting experience for a 16-year-old that was pretty green,” she notes, describing how this exposure to the fast-paced lifestyle of professional ballet changed her.

Lifestyle of the dancers

While she was certainly falling in love with the art of ballet itself, it was the lifestyle of the dancers that truly captivated her.

Dishong was entranced by the intelligence, artistry and purpose of the people she met in the ballet world. The contrast between her hometown and this glamorous, cultured environment had a profound impact on her.

“It was a very glamorous situation compared to what I had come from,” says Dishong, now a Concord resident. “I knew that was my lifestyle.”

The year 1962 brought another extraordinary experience for Dishong. She had joined the San Francisco Ballet School in 1960, and just two years later, the legendary Rudolf Nureyev defected from the Soviet Union. His first company performance in the United States was with San Francisco Ballet, and Dishong had the chance to tour with him and renowned ballerina Margot Fonteyn of the Royal Ballet.

“Well, that was pretty darn glamorous,” she says of the experience, remembering the energy and excitement of touring with two of the greatest figures in ballet. This unique opportunity solidified her passion for the world of dance, cementing her place in its storied history.

Tough times

After spending her early career at San Francisco Ballet, Dishong took a challenging turn when she and her husband, along with their 2-year-old son Charlie, moved to New York. Her husband had an unfortunate injury that left their family facing tough financial times.

In order to support her family, Dishong signed a contract with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. Balancing the demands of raising a child and working proved difficult and, eventually, she decided to return to San Francisco, where her passion for ballet had begun.

Hired as a teacher at San Francisco Ballet, she held that role for 13 years. During this time, Dishong connected with her love for teaching and mentoring young dancers. When her husband at that time left San Francisco Ballet, the two embarked on a new chapter together and bought the Contra Costa Ballet Centre in Walnut Creek.

For 37 years, Contra Costa Ballet has been a pillar of the community, nurturing talent and producing memorable performances, including the first hour-long production of “The Nutcracker,” which they have performed annually in November and December for 34 years at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.

Zola and Richard continue to run the academy, though thoughts of retiring approach the horizon. While they have yet to make any final decisions, their contributions to the ballet world, especially in Walnut Creek, remain a lasting legacy.

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