Our Mission
At Light of the World Productions, we strive to bring love and light to our community, as we embrace diversity, promote positive body image and a deep appreciation for the performing arts.
All students are deserving of a safe, positive environment to learn and grow and to achieve their own personal best!
We take pride in our faith, love and light!
“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” - Matthew 5:16
Artistic Director, Co-Owner
Joanna Weiland
“Bay Area Native Joanna Weiland began dancing and acting at what is considered ‘late’, age 13. She immediately jumped into the performing arts world, training five days a week in various styles of dance such as ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, contemporary, praise and tap, at Ray of Light Performing Arts. Under the tutelage of her mentor, Reagan Griffith Aragones, she took every opportunity to grow and learn.
Joanna, also having a love and passion for musical theater, has thoroughly enjoyed performing in many musicals with Ray of Light throughout the years. She has played leading roles such as Ariel in LITTLE MERMAID, Little Red Ridinghood in INTO THE WOODS, and Sharpay in HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL!
Joanna is known for her bubbly, kind personality and her gift with children. Her love for teaching children has always been evident, as she assisted in church, children’s choir, and summer camps throughout her teen years. She grew to teach all ages of children and adults 5 days week, and co-directed Mary Poppins soon after highschool. Over the years, Joanna has graduated from student, TA, Teacher, to now.. Artistic Director of her own studio, Light of the World Productions!
Joanna is a working actress performing as princesses and popular characters at birthday parties and other local events. Children are always engaged and enchanted by our lovely Joanna. Birthday parties are just a bit more magical when the princesses arrive!
Ms. Joanna loves dancing and teaching in the community and, most recently, has enjoyed her time teaching memory care patients at senior centers in Alameda, and Oakland.
Currently, Joanna is an apprentice company dancer with Anastasis Ballet Company, a faith based professional ballet company based in Dublin, CA. As well as a company dancer with Open City Dance, a faith based contemporary company based in San Leandro CA.”
Co-Owner, Master Teacher
Originally from Denver Co, Reagan began dancing at 7 years old, training in the Vaganova method at Colorado Ballet.
Under the tutelage of Artistic Director Martin Friedman, Reagan was awarded a full merit scholarship and began to dance “en pointe” at the very young age of 8 years. Her rigorous training over the course of a decade was pointing her in the direction of becoming a prima ballerina. She has danced in numerous classical ballets over the years, such as The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, Les Sylphide, And many more.
Reagan also attended both Middle and High Schools for the Performing Arts in Denver CO. and was already stepping into the role of choreographer as she was asked to choreograph for all of her school’s musicals.
Her very first being “The Wiz.” Reagan has been blessed to train with some of the best at Colorado Ballet, City Ballet San Francisco, Boston Ballet, and with the world-renown Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble in Denver, CO adding modern, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, and West African to her dance repertoire. Reagan, also trying her hand in the competition world, competed in The Denver Ballet Guild, Young Dancers Competition several times and took 1st place. Well on her way into her professional career, a devastating ankle injury pointed her on a new journey as a young adult. After doctors told her she’d never dance “en pointe” again, a broken hearted Reagan began soul searching and found creating, choreographing and praise dance would soon become part of her healing process. Soon after stepping into that position, Reagan was being sought after by local performing artists and directors all over Colorado and California. She had found her creative niche. Once Reagan discovered her love and passion for teaching, it was an easy switch from center stage to an instructor. A new dream had just been unlocked! Reagan has been teaching and choreographing all styles of dance and directing musical theater in the Bay Area for over 15 + years. Reagan is known for her unique ability to bring the very best out of all her students and her students can attest to that. One of Reagan’s greatest achievements in her career is owning her own performing arts studio, Ray of Light Performing Arts for the last 7 years.
Reagan is over the moon to be locking elbows with Light of World Productions to continue to bring love, light, and the performing arts to the community!