What’s more satisfying in life than a good full-circle moment? For the Vacaville Ballet Company’s Chloe Thornbrugh, that moment will come this weekend in “Mary Poppins.”

Thornbrugh danced at Vacaville Ballet Company from the age of 6 until she graduated high school in 2020. There she learned to plié and jeté, at the same time learning valuable life lessons.

“I remember when I was a kid and all of the things my teachers taught me that spoke to me I’ve carried with me throughout my life, not just related to ballet but related to holding myself and how to treat myself and how to treat others,” she says.

Now, she is choreographing and staging her first full-length production, “Mary Poppins,” for students at VBC.

“It’s been so wonderful to be able to give that back to students in the same way and try to improve on what I learned as a kid,” said Thornbrugh, who feels extremely blessed to be able to work with the company’s current students.

Throughout the rehearsal process, Thornbrugh has learned a lot about what it takes to put a full-length ballet together and the passion her students have.

“There was a specific group of 5-to-6-year olds that I thought would take two weeks to teach this dance to, but it only took them one day,” she says. “I was like, ‘wow, they’re just so excited to learn this that they just retained everything I gave them instantly.”

The main lesson she’s learned is to have patience for her students as well as herself, she says. Overall, the production has come together well, in part due to her attachment to the show.

When considering what ballet she wanted to choreograph and stage, “Mary Poppins” was an immediate first choice for Thornbrugh who says: “The music was just so moving and impactful and gave me so many ideas.”

Thornbrugh is working with a total of 60 dancers and adult volunteers to play all the roles. Some roles change over the course of the performances, allowing more older dancers to be highlighted in featured roles and to not tire out the very young students.

For Thornbrugh, “Mary Poppins” is further evidence of the positive presence VBC has had in her life since the age of 6, and the company culture plays a large part in that.

“I started as a kid, and I grew up around everybody here, and even though it’s not the same people here, there’s still the same sense of community and love for all of the students,” she says.

“Mary Poppins” opens this Friday with a student matinee, with student tickets priced at $1. Learn more and purchase tickets at vacavilleballetcompany.org

If you go …

WHAT: Vacaville Ballet Company’s “Mary Poppins”

WHEN: May 2, 3 at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. and May 4 at 1 p.m.

WHERE: Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, 1010 Ulatis Dr., Vacaville.