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Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary’s, wonderfully refreshing Los Angeles Ballet opened their 2018/19 season at the Alex Theatre on Saturday, October 6, with the prolific and brilliant Aszure Barton’s Les Chambres des Jacques. Home / News / New Item A Wonderfully Refreshing Los Angeles Ballet Performs at The Alex Theatre October 10, 2018 LA Dance Chronicle by Joanne DiVito Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary’s, wonderfully refreshing Los Angeles Ballet opened their 2018/19 season at the Alex Theatre on Saturday, October 6, with the prolific and brilliant Aszure Barton’s Les Chambres des Jacques . Barton is an eclectic inventive artist and choreographic activist, who in this piece combines Québécois folk rhythms and voice of Gilles Vigneault, and Les Yeux Noire, which were then soothed with the lush beauty of Vivaldi, and the humanity of the Cracow Klezmer Band. The cadences and pulse-like heartbeat, so beautifully executed by the now seasoned dancers of Los Angeles Ballet, was not only splendidly performed but enchanting to experience. The intelligent and courageous leadership of Christensen and Neary, L.A. Ballet’s Artistic Directors, and Julie Whittaker, Executive Director, is insistent that Los Angeles have their own ballet company…and succeed they have, as was revealed on Saturday. Tobin Del Cuore staged Barton’s signature choreography with devotional zeal, making sure, as Barton would, that every part of the body was addressed down to the eyes, face, mouth, and fingers. The breadth of the work was eloquently executed by the dancers Joshua Brown, Laura Chachich, Magnus Christoffersen, Dallas Finley, Madeline Houk, Leah McCall, Costache Mihai, Jasmine Perry; with special mention of Clay Murray’s surprising, wonderfully loose and rhythmic opening that mesmerized the audience with dance which came deeply from inside him. Another highlight was the wonderful pas de quatre, danced by Petra Conti, Tigran Sargsyan, Bianca Bulle, and Kenta Shimizu which delighted us with their unusual playfulness that moved shoulders, hips and bodies rolling together and apart with unanticipated changes. And with that, an amazing, subtle and soulful solo by Sargsyan to the Cracow Klezmer Band which harkened back to the shtetles of Eastern Europe as though it was clear to him the feeling of a heritage long gone. As if this were not dessert enough for us all, we were then treated to Alejandro Cerrudo’s sensual stand out piece, Lickety-split, which examined the dynamics of three couples, their interplay between each other and the group as a whole. Jasmine Perry, so beautifully partnered by Dallas Finley, was exquisite in her seamless interplay, her smooth transitions, and effortless soulful relationship with her partner done to the quiet sometimes raspy tones of Devendra Banhart, Equally langorous, was the smooth movements, as if on ice, drawn by the facile partnership of Tigran Sargsyan, and Bianca Bulle, Joshua Brown and Leah McCall. A kind of Greek chorus on the floor followed the scintillating Dallas Finley’s expressive and impassioned solo. Both the Barton and Cerrudo pieces alone would be a gift of creativity and brilliance, yet the last thank you by the entire company doing Balanchine, the Western Symphony, happily ended our joyous evening. This piece requires strength, endurance, charm, technique and…fun! It appears quaint and classic, yet a gift of another time, when cowboys and dancing girls were an accepted part of the American West in the mind of Mr. B. Restaged by Colleen Neary, who clearly understands the work of George Balanchine, having worked closely with this Master during some of his most prolific years. It is through Neary we get the essence of his work and his legacy. The corps did a fine job of creating superb energy as towns-folk, all the way to the rousing finale. In the first coupling we’re delighted by strong and lyrical Laura Chachich. She shares the stage with the talented, technically marvelous dancer, Eris Nesha, who charmed the audience with his sense of play, his strong presence and engaging charm, which was quite reminiscent of the young Edward Villella. In the second movement, the wonderful Petra Conti, and Tigran Sargsyan, took the lead in their engaging, pas de deux, with Bianca Bulle and Kenta Shimizu’s sparkling and flirtatious third movement. Bianca Bulle leads us through the iconic diagonal in competition with her partner to lead the entire company into the iconic pirouettes from fifth as the curtain goes down on the continuing dance which appears to go on forever. My hope is that it will go on forever with the grand legacy of the growing and thriving Los Angeles Ballet. READ ARTICLE AT SOURCE

Los Angeles Ballet's The Nutcracker was attended by a record estimated 15,700 people over 12 performances in 2013, adding to the holiday traditions of audience members throughout Southern California. Home / News / New Item Record Attendance at The Nutcracker December 1, 2013 Company News from the Staff at LAB Los Angeles Ballet's The Nutcracker was attended by a record estimated 15,700 people over 12 performances in 2013, adding to the holiday traditions of audience members throughout Southern California. The 2013/2014 Season continues in March 2014 with Quartet and May/June 2014 with La Sylphide and Balanchine's Serenade.

Available Shortly Home / Staff / Administrator Donna Wieczorkowski Development Coordinator Available Shortly

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. Akimitsu Yahata Hometown Tokyo, Japan Schools New National Ballet School, School of Tokyo City Ballet, Kiyoko Ishii Ballet Studio Companies National Ballet of Japan Los Angeles Ballet 6th Season

Los Angeles Ballet announces the opening of the Los Angeles Ballet Center, the new home of LAB and the Los Angeles Ballet School. Home / News / New Item Los Angeles Ballet Center Opens June 1, 2008 Company News from the Staff at LAB Los Angeles Ballet announces the opening of the Los Angeles Ballet Center, the new home of LAB and the Los Angeles Ballet School.

Modern Moves 2018 Les Chambres des Jacques – Barton / Vigneault, Vivaldi, Les Yeux Noirs, The Cracow Klezmer Band, Lickety Split – Cerrudo / Banhart, Western Symphony – Balanchine / American Songs Orchestrated by Kay Petra Conti & Clay Murray Petra Conti, Tigran Sargsyan, Leah McCall Petra Conti, Tigran Sargsyan & LAB Ensemble Kenta Shimizu & LAB Petra Conti, Tigran Sargsyan & Kenta Shimizu Clay Murray, Costache Mihai Clay Murray & LAB Ensemble Bianca Bulle & Tigran Sargsyan Bianca Bulle & LAB Ensemble Jasmine Perry & Joshua Brown Leah McCall & Joshua Brown Jasmine Perry Kenta Shimizu & LAB Ensemble Clay Murray, Magnus Christoffersen & Jeongkon Kim LAB Ensemble Eris Nezhao: Reed Hutchinson Laura Chachich, Eris Nezha & LAB Ensemble Petra Conti & Eris Nezha Bianca Bulle & Tigran Sargsyan Petra Conti & Eris Nezha inale, LAB Petra Conti & Clay Murray Petra Conti, Tigran Sargsyan, Leah McCall Petra Conti, Tigran Sargsyan & LAB Ensemble Kenta Shimizu & LAB Petra Conti, Tigran Sargsyan & Kenta Shimizu Clay Murray, Costache Mihai Clay Murray & LAB Ensemble Bianca Bulle & Tigran Sargsyan Bianca Bulle & LAB Ensemble Jasmine Perry & Joshua Brown Leah McCall & Joshua Brown Jasmine Perry Kenta Shimizu & LAB Ensemble Clay Murray, Magnus Christoffersen & Jeongkon Kim LAB Ensemble Eris Nezhao: Reed Hutchinson Laura Chachich, Eris Nezha & LAB Ensemble Petra Conti & Eris Nezha Bianca Bulle & Tigran Sargsyan Petra Conti & Eris Nezha inale, LAB Previous Gallery All photos by Reed Hutchinson Click on image for a fullscreen presentation. Next Gallery

For dance-world insiders, it may not come as a surprise that the company is flourishing. LAB's husband-and-wife artistic directors and cofounders, Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary, are both former principal dancers and veteran balet instructors (and, in Christensen's case, artistic director) with decades of experience at some of the most venerated ballet companies in the world. Home / News / New Item Los Angeles Ballet Presents 'Giselle' May 26, 2011 CultureSpotLA by Penny Orloff For dance-world insiders, it may not come as a surprise that the company is flourishing. LAB's husband-and-wife artistic directors and cofounders, Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary, are both former principal dancers and veteran balet instructors (and, in Christensen's case, artistic director) with decades of experience at some of the most venerated ballet companies in the world. DOWNLOAD PDF

Pushing Dance 2018 Second to Last and Pacopepeluto – Cerrudo / Pärt, Martin, Scalissi, This is you – Lou / Scheele, van der Loo, The Four Temperaments – Balanchine / Hindemith Tigran Sargsyan Tigran Sargsyan Petra Conti & Tigran Sargsyan Bianca Bulle & Joshua Brown LAB Ensemble LAB Ensemble LAB Ensemble Bianca Bulle, Joshua Brown & LAB Ensemble Petra Conti & Mangus Christoffersen Tigran Sargsyan & LAB Ensemble Tigran Sargsyan Tigran Sargsyan Petra Conti & Tigran Sargsyan Bianca Bulle & Joshua Brown LAB Ensemble LAB Ensemble LAB Ensemble Bianca Bulle, Joshua Brown & LAB Ensemble Petra Conti & Mangus Christoffersen Tigran Sargsyan & LAB Ensemble Tigran Sargsyan Tigran Sargsyan Petra Conti & Tigran Sargsyan Bianca Bulle & Joshua Brown LAB Ensemble LAB Ensemble LAB Ensemble Bianca Bulle, Joshua Brown & LAB Ensemble Petra Conti & Mangus Christoffersen Tigran Sargsyan & LAB Ensemble Previous Gallery All photos by Reed Hutchinson Click on image for a fullscreen presentation. Next Gallery

Season 2009-2010 George Balanchine Lucy Van Cleef in George Balachine's 'Serenade'; Photo: Reed Hutchinson George Balachine's 'Serenade'; Photo: Reed Hutchinson Andrew Brader in George Balachine's 'Serenade' Monica Pelfrey & Melissa Barak in George Balanchine's 'Serenade' Monica Pelfrey & Zheng Hua Li in George Balnchine's 'Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2' Grace McLoughlin & Zheng Hua Lo, and Endsemble in George Balnchine's 'Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2' George Balnchine's 'Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2' Grace McLoughlin, Melissa Barak, and Ensemble in George Balnchine's 'Kammermusik Piano Concerto No. 2' George Balnchine Drew Grant & Grace McLoughlin in George Balnchine's 'Kammermusik Piano Concerto No. 2' Chelsea Paige Johnston & Chehon Wespi-Tschopp in 'Wink' by Mandy Moore Mandy Moore Chelsea Paige Johnston & Chehon Wespi-Tschopp in 'Wink' by Mandy Moore Monica Pelfrey & Zheng Hua Li in "Reflect. Affect. Carry on...' by Travis Wall Alexander Forck, Chelsea Paige Johnston & Craig Hall in "Reflect. Affect. Carry on...' by Travis Wall Josie Walsh Josie Walsh Andrew Brader in 'Transmutation' by Josie Walsh Josie Walsh Grace McLoughlin in 'The Back and Forth' by Sonya Tayeh Kate Highstrete & Andrew Brader in 'The Back and Forth' by Sonya Tayeh Christensen/Neary Helena Thordal-Christensen in 'The Nutcracker' by Christensen/Neary Harrison Coll and Helena Thordal-Christensen in 'The Nutcracker' by Christensen/Neary Previous Gallery All photos by Reed Hutchinson Click on image for a fullscreen presentation. Next Gallery

Season 2012-2013 Christensen/Neary Mia Katz & Nicolas de la Vega in 'The Nutcracker' by Christensen/Neary Bianca Bulle in 'The Nutcracker' by Christensen/Neary Zheng Hua Li in 'The Nutcracker' by Christensen/Neary Snowflakes Ensemble in 'The Nutcracker' by Christensen/Neary Helena Thordal-Christensen, David Block & Nicholas de la Vega in 'The Nutcracker' by Christensen/Neary Julia Cinquemani & Alexander Castillo in 'The Nutcracker' by Christensen/Neary Allynne Noelle & Ulrik Birkkjaer in 'The Nutcracker' by Christensen/Neary Allynne Noelle & Zheng Hua Li and Ensemble in George Balanchine's 'La Sonnambula' Allynne Noelle & Zheng Hua Li in George Balanchine's 'La Sonnambula' Chelsea Paige Johnstin & Zheng Hua Li in George Balanchine's 'La Sonnambula' Chelsea Paige Johnstin & Zheng Hua Li in George Balanchine's 'La Sonnambula' Julia Cinquemani & Alyssa Bross and Ensemble in George Balanchine's 'Concerto Barocco' Julia Cinquemani & Alexander Castillo and Ensemble in George Balanchine's 'Concerto Barocco' Allynne Noelle & Kenta Shimizu in George Balanchine's 'Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux' Allyssa Bross & Ulrik Birkkjaer in George Balanchine's 'Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux' Ulrik Birkkjaer in George Balanchine's 'Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux' Kenta Shimizu & Ensemble in George Balanchine's 'The Four Temperaments' Allyssa Bross & Christopher Revels in George Balanchine's 'The Four Temperaments' Kenta Shimizu & Ensemble in George Balanchine's 'The Four Temperaments' Kate Highstrete & Christopher Revels in George Balanchine's 'The Four Temperaments' Chelsea Paige Johnston & Alexander Castillo and Ensemble in 'La Valse' Allyssa Bross & Zheng Hua Li in 'La Valse' Allyssa Bross & Zheng Hua Li in 'La Valse' Allyssa Bross & Zheng Hua Li in 'La Valse' Previous Gallery All photos by Reed Hutchinson Click on image for a fullscreen presentation. Next Gallery

Balanchine Black & White 2019 Agon – Balanchine/Stravinsky, Concerto – Barocco Balanchine/Bach, Apollo – Balanchine/Stravinsky Jeongkon Kim, Eris Nezha, Tigran Sargsyan & Magnus Christoffersen LAB Ensemble Julianne Kinasiewicz with Jeongkon Kim & Magnus Christoffersen Petra Conti & Eris Nezha Petra Conti & Eris Nezha Tigran Sargsyan with Hannah Keene & McKenzie Byrne Petra Conti, Jasmine Perry, Laura Chachich with Tigran Sargsyan Petra Conti & Jasmine Perry with Tigran Sargsyan Petra Conti Petra Conti & Tigran Sargsyan Petra Conti, Jasmine Perry, Laura Chachich with Tigran Sargsyan Petra Conti, Jasmine Perry, Laura Chachich with Tigran Sargsyan Petra Conti, Jasmine Perry & LAB Ensemble Petra Conti & Jasmine Perry Petra Conti, Jasmine Perry & LAB Ensemble Petra Conti, Magnus Christoffersen & LAB Ensemble Jeongkon Kim, Eris Nezha, Tigran Sargsyan & Magnus Christoffersen LAB Ensemble Julianne Kinasiewicz with Jeongkon Kim & Magnus Christoffersen Petra Conti & Eris Nezha Petra Conti & Eris Nezha Tigran Sargsyan with Hannah Keene & McKenzie Byrne Petra Conti, Jasmine Perry, Laura Chachich with Tigran Sargsyan Petra Conti & Jasmine Perry with Tigran Sargsyan Petra Conti Petra Conti & Tigran Sargsyan Petra Conti, Jasmine Perry, Laura Chachich with Tigran Sargsyan Petra Conti, Jasmine Perry, Laura Chachich with Tigran Sargsyan Petra Conti, Jasmine Perry & LAB Ensemble Petra Conti & Jasmine Perry Petra Conti, Jasmine Perry & LAB Ensemble Petra Conti, Magnus Christoffersen & LAB Ensemble Previous Gallery All photos by Reed Hutchinson Click on image for a fullscreen presentation. Next Gallery

Kirsten Turkle began as a Stage Manager with Los Angeles Ballet in 2019 for The Nutcracker. In summer 2022, she was promoted to Production Manager and took up her new responsibilities with enthusiasm. Kirsten started life as a performer, taking ballet lessons from age 2 to 13. She was singing and dancing in community productions through elementary and middle school, as well as taking piano and voice lessons. In high school she began Stage Managing and learning the technical arts, including lighting, costuming, and scenic carpentry. At UC San Diego she founded a Shakespearian theater group and helped produce 8 plays during her college career, most notably Cymbeline and Hamlet. She moved to Los Angeles in 2013 and worked with many different companies and venues for the next decade, including The Wallis Annenberg Performing Arts Center, AGBU Vatche & Tamar Manoukian Performing Arts Center, Moving Arts, Jaxx Theatricals, and Royce Hall at UCLA. She looks forward to growing with Los Angeles Ballet, producing new works and classics, and touring this beautiful artform to even wider audiences. Home / Staff / Administrator Kirsten Turkle Production Manager Kirsten Turkle began as a Stage Manager with Los Angeles Ballet in 2019 for The Nutcracker. In summer 2022, she was promoted to Production Manager and took up her new responsibilities with enthusiasm. Kirsten started life as a performer, taking ballet lessons from age 2 to 13. She was singing and dancing in community productions through elementary and middle school, as well as taking piano and voice lessons. In high school she began Stage Managing and learning the technical arts, including lighting, costuming, and scenic carpentry. At UC San Diego she founded a Shakespearian theater group and helped produce 8 plays during her college career, most notably Cymbeline and Hamlet. She moved to Los Angeles in 2013 and worked with many different companies and venues for the next decade, including The Wallis Annenberg Performing Arts Center, AGBU Vatche & Tamar Manoukian Performing Arts Center, Moving Arts, Jaxx Theatricals, and Royce Hall at UCLA. She looks forward to growing with Los Angeles Ballet, producing new works and classics, and touring this beautiful artform to even wider audiences.