Los Angeles Ballet Makes Southern California Debut Led by Artistic Directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary.World-Class Production of "The Nutcracker" Opens Inaugural Season Followed by Exciting Spring and Summer Repertoires Guest Artists Include Paloma Herrera Paloma Herrera (born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 21, 1975), is a principal ballet dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. Ms. Herrera was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and began studying ballet there at the age of seven with teacher Olga Ferri. of American Ballet Theatre American Ballet Theatre, one of the foremost international dance companies of the 20th cent. It was founded in 1937 as the Mordkin Ballet and reorganized as the Ballet Theatre in 1940 under the direction of Lucia Chase and Rich Pleasant. ; Artem Shpilevsky of Bolshoi Ballet Bolshoi Ballet (bōl`shoi, bôl`–), one of the principal ballet companies of Russia; part of the Bolshoi Theater, which also includes Russia's premier opera company. ; and Yvonne Borree, Nikolaj HE-bbe, Maria Kowroski, Nilas Martins and Benjamin Millepied of New York City Ballet New York City Ballet, one of the foremost American dance companies of the 20th cent. It was founded by Lincoln Kirstein and George Balanchine as the Ballet Society in 1946. Performances to Take Place Across Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , Including Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. , Redondo Beach Redondo Beach (rĭdŏn`dō), city (1990 pop. 60,167), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1892. Once a commercial port for Los Angeles, it is a residential and resort city with a protected harbor and an excellent marina. Performing Arts Center A performing arts center, often abbreviated PAC, is a multi-use performance space that can be adapted for use by various types of the performing arts, including dance, music and theatre. and Alex Theatre, Glendale LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Ballet makes its exciting debut as the city's own professional ballet company led by world-renown artists Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary, as Artistic Directors. With 21 dancers hand-selected from the highest caliber schools and companies around the globe, Los Angeles Ballet will set a new standard for dance in Los Angeles and captivate a large and diverse audience by performing in venues across the city. Los Angeles Ballet's first season begins with "The Nutcracker" at the Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills December 2-3, moving to Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center December 23-24 and culminating at Alex Theatre, Glendale, December 30-31. Benjamin Millepied and Maria Kowroski from New York City Ballet and Paloma Herrera from American Ballet Theatre will be featured guest artists. Nutcracker tickets are on sale immediately by calling 310-998-7782 or by visiting www.losangelesballet.org, with annual subscriptions available from $89.25 to $242.25. "We are thrilled to become part of the cultural landscape that makes up Los Angeles and are enthusiastically preparing for our Nutcracker season," said Christensen. "With a home-based professional ballet company, Los Angeles audiences and a new generation of dance enthusiasts can regularly experience world class dance and enjoy the company's exquisite dance productions designed expressly for Los Angeles." The creative tour de force behind Los Angeles Ballet is Christensen and Neary, a husband-and-wife team who have more than 50 years' combined professional experience in dance. Christensen danced with the Royal Danish Ballet Royal Danish Ballet, one of the oldest major ballet companies, established at the opening of Denmark's Royal Theater in Copenhagen in 1748. The company was developed over the centuries by three great masters. , New York City Ballet, Bejart's Ballet du Xxieme Siecle, and Pacific Northwest Ballet The Pacific Northwest Ballet is a ballet company and based in Seattle, Washington in the United States. Founded in 1972 as part of the Seattle Opera and named the Pacific Northwest Dance Association, it broke away from the Opera in 1977 and took its current name in 1978. and was appointed artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet and the Royal Danish Ballet School in 1999. Neary performed with the prestigious New York City Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. She was appointed First Ballet Mistress in Charge of Productions for the Royal Danish Ballet in 1999 and is also a "Repetiteur" for The George Balanchine TrustCoa special distinction that makes Neary one of the few in the world allowed to stage Balanchine ballets for professional companies. "We have an exciting repertoire ahead of us that reflects our artistic backgrounds and pays homage to some of world's greatest choreographers," added Neary. "The Nutcracker will be a special production for Southern California and act as a wonderful showcase for what we can achieve as a company." Los Angeles Ballet dancers have joined the Company from such esteemed dance institutions as Dance Theatre of Harlem Dance Theatre of Harlem, the first black classical ballet company. The group was founded in Harlem, New York City, by Arthur Mitchell, then of the New York City Ballet, the first black principal dancer of a classical company of international standing. , Staatsballett Berlin, Louisville Ballet, New York City Ballet, Westside School of Ballet (Los Angeles), The Royal Ballet School The Royal Ballet School is a specialist, co-educational school located in premises at White Lodge, Richmond Park, in the London Borough of Richmond; and an upper school at premises in Covent Garden. It combines a mainstream academic education with an intensive dance training. , School of American Ballet The School of American Ballet is located in New York City, in Lincoln Center. It is considered one of the most prestigious and notable ballet schools in the United States and teaches some of the most talented young dancers in the country. , and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Each of the 21 dancers brings his or her own artistic sensibility to the Company and will dance both principal and supporting roles throughout the season. The Company, a not-for-profit arts organization affiliated with the Westside School of Ballet, makes its professional home at the Malibu Performing Arts Center. Julie Whittaker is the Company's executive director. Los Angeles Ballet is a new organization and not affiliated with previous organizations of the same name. The Nutcracker Los Angeles Ballet's season debuts with "The Nutcracker" featuring original choreography by Christensen and Neary. Accompanied by a live orchestra, Los Angeles Ballet's production of The Nutcracker will have a distinct Southern California flair. The production follows the traditional story of Clara and her family welcoming guests to a party on Christmas Eve and the adventure which ensues. Created by Los Angeles designer Catherine Kanner, the setting is 1912 California in a classic Spanish style home with Mexican, Spanish and European influences. Throughout two acts the audience will be introduced to hints and tastes of Southern California. The sets create the feeling of being inside a children's book: a real place yet fantastical -- warm and inviting. Audiences will feel at home yet will soon learn to anticipate fresh variations on the traditional themes. Spring and Summer Programs The Company's spring and summer programs will feature guest artists Artem Shpilevsky of Bolshoi Ballet as well as Yvonne Borree, Nikolaj HE-bbe, Maria Kowroski, Nilas Martins from New York City Ballet. The spring program is entitled "New Beginnings" (Concerto Barocco, Duo Concertant, Napoli, Act III) based on the works of George Balanchine and August Bournonville, and in the summer the Company introduces its program with "An Evening with Balanchine" (Serenade serenade [Ital. sera=evening], term used to designate several types of musical composition. Opera and song literature yield numerous examples of the serenade sung or played by a lover at night beneath his beloved's window; outstanding is , Apollo, Rubies). 2006-2007 INAUGURAL SEASON 2006/2007 SUBSCRIPTION SERIES(a) Ticket Information: 310-998-7782; http://www.losangelesballet.org [TABLE OMITTED] (a) Repertoire subject to change |
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