Special
Engagement
September 8, 2026
Los Angeles Ballet at the Hollywood Bowl
Special Engagement
Janitzio Revueltas
Who Cares? Balanchine | Gershwin
Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo Copland
Huapango Moncayo
Kauyumari Barak | Ortiz
A night of Mexican and American gems for orchestra and ballet.
Los Angeles Ballet makes its Hollywood Bowl debut with the LA Philharmonic in a night of Mexican and American gems for orchestra and ballet as part of the Classical Tuesdays & Thursdays of the LA Phil’s Hollywood Bowl 2026 summer season.
Artistic Director Melissa Barak will choreograph a new ballet set to Gabriela Ortiz’s Kauyumari, a spiritual and celebratory piece about music’s power to heal, transform, and expose the intangible. Included in the program is George Balanchine’s jazzy choreography, described as “tap dance on pointe,” from the 1970 ballet of Gershwin songs, Who Cares?
Grammy-winning conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto leads the orchestra in rustic, riveting music inspired by the American West and Mexico’s landscapes. Copland’s symphonic story Rodeo pits a local cowgirl against visiting city girls, Moncayo’s Huapango elicits joy through lively Mexican folk rhythms, and Revueltas’ Janitzio kicks off the night with a musical postcard from Lake Pátzcuaro.
Choreography
Kauyumari – Melissa Barak
Who Cares? – George Balanchine
Score
Kauyumari: Gabriela Ortiz
Who Cares?: George Gershwin
Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo: Aaron Copland
Janitzio: Silvestre Revueltas
Huapango: José Moncayo
Perfomance Schedule
Schedule
The Hollywood Bowl
GATE TIME: 6:00 pm
SHOW TIME: 8:00 pm
Click HERE for parking, directions, and general information about visiting the Hollywood Bowl
LAB's ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Melissa Barak Barak is a former leading dancer with Los Angeles Ballet where she performed for five seasons commencing in 2006 and choreographed Lost In Transition in 2008. Her career also includes New York City Ballet (NYCB), where she performed in numerous works by George Balanchine, as well as originating roles in new ballets by Christopher Wheeldon, Elliot Feld and Robert Garland, among others.
LOS ANGELES BALLET
Read the history of the company from the premiere performances of LAB’s original production of The Nutcracker in 2006. Learn about LAB’s Leadership, Mission, Outreach initiatives, commissions of original works and more.
