Los Angeles Ballet presents a company of outstanding dancers from local communities and around the world. LAB dance artists master classical as well as contemporary techniques. Sarah-Ashley Chicola Hometown Westfield, NJ Seasons with LAB 4 Seasons with LAB Sarah-Ashley trained at American Ballet Theater’s JKO program, Manhattan Youth Ballet, and was then invited to attend Miami City Ballet School with a full scholarship, where she performed alongside the company. After graduating in 2021, she joined BalletMet 2, where she danced for two seasons. Since joining LAB in 2023, she has performed the featured roles of Cinderella in Liang’s Cinderella , Marie in The Nutcracker , Russian Girl in Balanchine’s Serenade , The Princess in Possokov’s Firebird . She has been featured in neoclassical ballets by Melissa Barak and Justin Peck.

Los Angeles Ballet presents a company of outstanding dancers from local communities and around the world. LAB dance artists master classical as well as contemporary techniques. Lilly Fife Hometown Westfield, IN Seasons with LAB 6 Seasons with LAB Lilly trained in her hometown at the Central Indiana Academy of Dance and later joined the Boston Ballet as a trainee. She then went on to the Charlotte Ballet and spent 2 years as an apprentice before joining LAB.

Los Angeles Ballet presents a company of outstanding dancers from local communities and around the world. LAB dance artists master classical as well as contemporary techniques. Rony Baseman Hometown South Orange, NJ Seasons with LAB 2 Seasons with LAB Rony honed his craft at renowned institutions, including Miami City Ballet School (2009-2013), Kirova Ballet Miami (2013-2015), and ABT JKO School (2015-2022), graduating from the latter in 2022. His dedication earned him full merit scholarships at each school, along with the prestigious Agnes Varis Scholarship at ABT JKO (2018-2019). He further refined his skills through intensive training programs at ABT New York Summer Intensive (2015-2022) and Sarasota Cuban Ballet Summer Intensive (2023). Professionally, he performed with The Washington Ballet Company (2022-2024), taking on roles in Such Sweet Thunder (Billy Strayhorn), Serenade-Elegy Man, Theme and Variations, and as the Cavalier of Valor in Sleeping Beauty. In 2024, he joined OBII and performed in Romeo and Juliet, Peter Pan as a lost boy and Lead of the Hunt in Giselle. He also teaches Boys and Adult classes at Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica, CA.

Los Angeles Ballet presents a company of outstanding dancers from local communities and around the world. LAB dance artists master classical as well as contemporary techniques. Jacob Soltero Hometown Las Cruces, NM Seasons with LAB 5 Seasons with LAB Beginning ballet in Bremerton, WA, Jacob started his training at age thirteen at Peninsula Dance Theatre, where he built his foundation of ballet. During his college years, he began training at Pacific Northwest Ballet as part of the Professional Division Program while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. In his dance career, Jacob has danced ballets of diverse styles, including works by Justin Peck, Melissa Barak, George Balanchine, Edwaard Liang, and Kent Stowell. Jacob has spent his summers training at revered dance institutions, such as the Chautauqua Institution, Jacob’s Pillow, and the Royal Danish Ballet. Jacob dedicates his entire career to his mother, Julie Anne Soltero, who has inspired much of his dance journey. With her guidance and grace, he continues the legacy that she has left for him to lead on stage.

Los Angeles Ballet presents a company of outstanding dancers from local communities and around the world. LAB dance artists master classical as well as contemporary techniques. Felipe Zapiola Hometown Salta, Argentina Seasons with LAB 2 Seasons with LAB Felipe trained at the Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colón and graduated from Miami City Ballet School on a full scholarship. With Miami City Ballet School, he performed leading roles in Balanchine’s Western Symphony and Who Cares?, among other ballets. He also appeared with Miami City Ballet in productions of Balanchine’s Jewels, Prodigal Son, Firebird, and Ratmansky’s Swan Lake. Before joining Los Angeles Ballet, Felipe danced with The Sarasota Ballet and Ballet Pensacola.

Los Angeles Ballet presents a company of outstanding dancers from local communities and around the world. LAB dance artists master classical as well as contemporary techniques. Jethro Paine Hometown London, UK Seasons with LAB 1 Season with LAB Jethro began his dance training in Southeastern Europe, where he lived for twelve years, before attending the Royal Ballet School in London from 2013–19. He went on to join Boston Ballet II. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Jethro pursued a freelance career across the UK and US, working with English National Ballet, New English Ballet Theatre, Ballet Cymru and Zikr Dance Ensemble's Spring 2024 season. After completing an MSc in Cultural Anthropology at University College London in 2023, Jethro moved back to the US in 2024 to join Boulder Ballet, where he worked closely with choreographers such as Nicolo Fonte, Jorma Elo, Andi Schermoly, Stephanie Martinez, Amy Seiwert and Ching Ching Wong. Jethro has since relocated to California and is excited to be performing with LA Ballet!

Los Angeles Ballet presents a company of outstanding dancers from local communities and around the world. LAB dance artists master classical as well as contemporary techniques. Matisse Love Hometown Los Angeles, CA Seasons with LAB 1 Season with the LAB Matisse Love, born and raised in Los Angeles, California, left her hometown at age 16 to train at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia. After graduating, she joined the Russian State Ballet Theater under Vyacheslav Gordeev and was named First Soloist within two years, performing principal roles across the classical repertoire. After returning from Russia, she performed internationally as a principal guest artist across Europe, the UK, North America, and India, and appears as LJ acting and dancing in the Amazon Prime series Étoile. This is her first season with Los Angeles Ballet.

Los Angeles Ballet presents a company of outstanding dancers from local communities and around the world. LAB dance artists master classical as well as contemporary techniques. Neah Lim Hometown Portland, OR Seasons with LAB 1 Season with LAB Neah began her training with Oregon Ballet Theatre School in 2010, and attended summer programs at Pacific Northwest Ballet, School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and The Chautauqua Institution. After dancing in corps de ballet roles alongside the company, she joined Oregon Ballet Theatre 2 in 2023 and performed in works by Ben Stevenson and George Balanchine. In 2024, she joined Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Professional Division, and performed with PNB’s company in Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty , and works by George Balanchine and Kent Stowell. Her featured roles include Balanchine’s Waltz Girl in Serenade with OBT2, First Violin in Concerto Barocco with PNB’s Professional Division, and Raymonda Variations principal at The Chautauqua Institution.

Los Angeles Ballet presents a company of outstanding dancers from local communities and around the world. LAB dance artists master classical as well as contemporary techniques. Benjamin Brown Jones Hometown Madison, Wisconsin Seasons with LAB 1 Season with LAB Benjamin is a native of Madison, Wisconsin, where he spent his formative years training locally at Central Midwest Ballet and attending summer intensives at Joffrey Chicago, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and the Nutmeg Ballet. At 17, Benjamin moved to Chicago to be a Joffrey Ballet Trainee under the direction of Oğulcan Borova and Ashley Wheater. He then joined Carolina Ballet as an apprentice, where he performed ballets by Balanchine, Lynne Taylor Corbett, and Zalman Raffael. Benjamin joined LAB in 2026 after a year studying at Boston University and dancing with the Harvard Ballet Company.

Los Angeles Ballet presents a company of outstanding dancers from local communities and around the world. LAB dance artists master classical as well as contemporary techniques. Holly Bratkovich Hometown Sacramento, California Seasons with LAB 1 Season with LAB Holly began dancing at three years old and received her training at Northern California Dance Conservatory. Throughout the years she attended summer programs at Pacific Northwest Ballet and the School of Carolina Ballet on scholarship, the School of American Ballet, and Miami City Ballet. She also received training abroad through exchange programs at Conservatorio Annarella under Annarella Sanchez and Ballet de Barcelona under Chase Johnsey. Holly has performed repertoire by Durante Verzola, Zalman Raffael, Amy Seiwart, Simon Kuban, and Natasha Adorlee. In 2025, Holly joined LAB's Trainee Program and was honored to receive the opportunity to perform in Westside Ballet's Annual Masters of Movement Gala as a Soloist.

Los Angeles Ballet video gallery presents behind-the-scenes rehearsal and promotional videos spanning sixteen years of performances. Home / Video Gallery Video Gallery The Nutcracker 2019 Choreography by Christensen/Neary, Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Los Angeles Ballet gratefully acknowledges the following donors who have provided support during the 2023/2024 Season. OUR SUPPORTERS Home / Our Supporters / Our Supporters Los Angeles Ballet gratefully acknowledges the following donors who have provided support during the 2025/2026 Season. FOUNDERS $250,000 – $499,999 Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation BENEFACTORS $100,000 – $249,999 Governor Gray & Sharon Davis (Ret) Terri & Jerry Kohl Koni & Geoff Rich PATRONS $50,000 – $99,999 Roberta K Dahl Sandra Kanengiser | Jack and Goldie Nomberg Fund Debbie & Jimmy Lustig De Marchena Huyke Foundation Richard Merkin Milken Community School Erica & Sung Min ARTISTS $25,000 – $49,999 Jennifer Bellah Maguire & Stephen Maguire Michael and Patricia Berns Charitable Trust Anne Brilliant Lee & Ann Cooper Kelvin & Hana Davis Monica Garcia Duggal The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Giorgio Armani Corporation Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment, Inc Mary & Peter Gross Anne Hilby & Kevin Lloyd Dr. Ray & Ghada Irani Leonard Green & Partners Karen & Walter Loewenstern Corrine & Lenny Sands The Shubert Foundation Bruce & Jina Veaco CHAMPIONS $10,000 – $24,999 Bari Milken Bernstein & Fred J. Bernstein Terri & Timothy Childs Michael & Hannah An Dreyer ETRO Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP Lori & Rob Goodman Andi & Jim Gordon The Greene Gordon Foundation Lisa Winship Hankin & Rockell Nathan Hankin Hart-Prins Charitable Fund Rahul Jandial | Sacred River Wines The Atwater James Family Fund Johnny Carson Foundation Kabor Family Foundation Anita Mann Kohl & Allen Kohl Los Angeles County Arts Commission McWilliams Family Charitable Fund Lance and Hillary Milken Foundation The Nicole & Allan Mutchnik Charitable Fund Lee Perlman Family Fund John & Jill Peters The Fran & Ray Stark Foundation Matilda & Stephen Sung UCLA Health - Johnese Spisso Benjamin & Rosemarie Weinstein Trust SUPPORTERS $5,000 – $9,999 Katya Bakat & Jean-Marc Chapus Robert M. and Diane S. Ballantyne Charitable Fund Bank of America The Barth Family Foundation Sarah Christian Camelia Davtyan Jenny Danzi Elias Eris&Larry Field Family Foundation Tom Flesh The Greene Family Foundation Frank Hu & Vikki Sung French Heritage Society, Southern California Chapter Monique & Jonathan Kagan Carolyn Langelier Mrs Anne Lukowski Linda May & Jack Suzar Forrest McCartney Gregory And EJ Milken Family Foundation Cheryl Nadjarian Renee Niles Poppy Paulos Elisa Shyu Bolduc Sheryl Sokoloff SUSTAINERS $2,500 – $4,999 Charlene Achki Repko Gerry & Hank Alpert Denise Avchen Veronica Bates Whithorne | Squid & Squash Foundation Jill & Allen Chozen Jeffrey Deaven Jonathan and Susan Dolgen Family Foundation Inc. David Fey Hilary Fey Cynthia & Ralph Finerman Mary Garis Dr. Linda Haack Marian Hall Barbara Herman Gail Hershowitz – Private Escrow Brook Hinchman & Tamara Kagel Barbara & Joel Marcus Kristin Payne Tiffany Phan Janet Rosenblatt Richard and Ellen Sandler Family Foundation Ava Shamban Sue Tsao Alan Wilson ADVOCATES $1,000 – $2,499 Laura Adler The Armillei Family Arian Foundation Sue Baumgarten Tiffany Beck Nicole Behesnilian Sonia Behrman Afshin & Maryam Beyzaee Les & Lynn Bider Family Foundation Roxy Bijan Marla Bleavins Rocio Bonsall Christina & Thomas Cadwell Stephanie Chami Mary Cleary & Turk O'Connor Brooke Cohen Connor Cohen Kristin Cooper Victoria Danhakl Sandy Ellison Effie Epstein Lewis R. Fisher Joan & Larry Flax Noriko Fujinama Connie Gavin Vlad Ghenciu Howard Gleitner Letizia & David Goldenberg Carol Goldsmith Mark Held Dayna Hester Devin Homsey Heather Horn Tim Hughes Jane Jelenko Laurel Clark Kathleen Kane (Eberhardt) Michael & Hillary Kanigher Family Charitable Fund Elizabeth Kathrein Erin Kim & Boyoung Yoon Joo Kim Pat & Mike Klowden Vicki Kulukjian Shireen Lee Hollis Leech Jia Li Bridget & Ty London Jenny Lones Maltzman Family Fund Marc Mandel Pamela Mischel Stacy Morris Lauren Nilsson Kim Noltemy Laura Nova Julie Okun Tatiana Pavlova-Coleman Amy Perrette Emilia Pirro Mandel Alle Popkes David Pullman | Structured Asset Sales Jack Rayner Judith Reichman Irene & Eytan Ribner Laura & Jamie Rosenwald Sara Rutenberg Ana Sofia Sada Zambrano Pamela Schaff Susan Shapiro Kathryn Shemanek & Cape Studios LLC Kristin Sigala Donna Slavik Carrie Soppe Robert Strauss Amy Tamayo Kevin Tagucci Steve Taub Siena Toll Tiffany Vojdani Dawn Wazzan Annie Weisman Frederick R Weisman Philanthropic Foundation Mary Ann Weisberg and Bryce Perry Foundation Sheila Weisman Karla Williams Austin & Nicol Wilson Paula Winner Barnett Kelly Young Scott Zolke FRIENDS $500 – $999 Halina Alter Danielle Ames Priscilla Angelich Stan Bartosiak Alyssa Beck Metuka Benjamin Dr. Susan Berman Amanda Birkhofer Leslie Birnbaum Grace Boland Natalie Boren Chris and Jasmine Bryant Family Fund Michael Burke Stephanie Burton Collyn Condon Mary Connolly Alicia Corby Amanda Donahoe Rajan Dosaj Katie Drake Ellen Dusch Walt Fidler Kristan Griffith Ronita Hay Christine Hessler Melody Hildebrandt Nancy Hoyt Heidi Jackson Hillary Janneck Sel Kardan Christopher Koelsh Christopher Kokonian Joanne Corday Kozberg Annette LaBarca Andrea Laks Rachel Lifschitz Michelle Linovitz Linda P. Maggard, L.P. Maggard Foundation Anna Major Ariana Mateen Kristin Mayes Rachael McCracken Paul Miller Sandy Oard Violet Ouyang | Amanpuri Charitable Trust SF & RL Pepper Family Foundation Virginia Pereira Nan Rae Ashley Ribeiro Jaremy Rich Christina Ritter Hannah Rodriguez Olga Sajkowski Nisha Scapa Natasha Schalcher Kevin Schmidt Kathryn Sher Silvern-Meister Family Fund Pam Smith Smith Giving Fund Joanne Takahashi Shannon Totino Corbett Tuck Mark Walberg Maia Wapnick Kate Wessels Jan Zimelis COMMUNITY $250 – $499 Jerry Chang Vicki Chou Julie David Lynne & Irwin Deutch Debra Felgen Langer Teri Fellman Judith Gonda Matthew Kohorst Patricia Kourt Mr. James Kronman Cindy Kui | The Wonderful Company Hanna McKean Margarita Mendez Ms. Roni Mueller Weston Olson Helen Reale Ms. Cathleen Sibley Elisa Smith Christine Soussa Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Weitman Dr. Tracey Wilen Chris Wilkey