Charles Johnston, a native of California, has called Festival Ballet Theatre his home since 1994. He has since danced all the lead character roles in the company’s classical repertoire. Johnston continues to work as guest artist and has performed character roles with ABT, San Francisco Ballet, and The Royal Ballet. A former teacher of dance and drama, he has studied with Frederic Franklin in New York; Michael Panaieff in Los Angeles; and Lila Zali, founder of the former Ballet Pacifica, in Orange County. Festival Ballet Theatre has been honored to present Mr. Johnston for over two decades.