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L.A. Ballet rounds out Tchaikovsky trilogy with 'The Sleeping Beauty' February 26, 2015 Los Angeles Times by Susan Reiter With the addition of “The Sleeping Beauty” to its repertory, the Los Angeles Ballet rounds out its Tchaikovsky trilogy, having launched the company with “The Nutcracker” in 2006 and staged “Swan Lake in 2011.” Taking on these three touchstones of classical ballet is a considerable achievement for any company but especially one only 9 years old. “We consider ourselves a classical company. We’re trying to shape the repertory so that we include everything that will also make the dancers that much better,” company co-artistic director Colleen Neary said recently by phone with Thordal Christensen, the other artistic director, and her husband. “It really is wonderful to see the growth within the company with this repertoire.” She and Christensen choreographed this premiere “after Petipa,” blending their own choreography with the well-known touchstones of French ballet master and choreographer Marius Petipa that have been passed down through ballet generations since 1890. They both had experience performing in — as well as staging — the work with the Royal Danish Ballet, which Christensen directed, while Neary worked as principal ballet mistress. “It’s the quintessential classical ballet,” Neary said. The duo researched other productions and made choices based on their specific approach and on what worked best for their 37-member company. The expansive ballet calls upon the full roster, with most dancers taking on multiple roles. “We tried to tell the story in an organic, magical way — tried to keep it fairly light,” Christensen said. “‘Sleeping Beauty’ can sometimes have a tendency to be very heavy in its storytelling. I think we tried to lighten it a little bit.” Christensen, a Dane, and Neary, an American whose extensive performing career began with New York City Ballet, recognize the important role that mime plays in the ballet. “You have to be true to the tradition of Petipa, but you’re not telling the mime in an old-fashioned way. It is very real in its storytelling,” said Neary, who performs the crucial character role of Carabosse, the irate fairy whose vengeful spell sets the plot in motion. Their new “Sleeping Beauty,” being presented in four Los Angeles-area venues, features sets and costumes designed by David Walker, originally for a 1977 Royal Ballet production. Neary emphasizes that the Los Angeles Ballet’s intention is “to bring ourselves to the communities of L.A.” “That’s what we have been about for the past nine years,” she adds. “It’s been a recipe that has worked extremely well, and we have really developed our audiences in all these venues. We’re very excited to bring a piece that’s this big and this wonderful to these audiences.” READ ARTICLE AT SOURCE Home / News / New Item

LAB Co-Artistic Directors Receive Lifetime Achievement Award November 1, 2012 McCallum Theatre ​ Los Angeles Ballet Co-Artistic Directors Colleen Neary and Thordal Christensen have been honored with the McCallum Theatre Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. Previous recipients of this award include Julie McDonald, of MSA Agency, Nigel Lythgoe, and Lula Washington. The award will be presented at the 15th Annual Dance Under the Stars Choreography Festival on Saturday, November 10, 2012. To attend the Festival and learn more, visit McCallum Theatre's website. READ ARTICLE AT SOURCE Home / News / New Item

Allynne Noelle Appointed Los Angeles Ballet Principal Dancer December 1, 2011 Company News from the Staff at LAB Co-Artistic Director Thordal Christensen announced the promotion of Ms. Noelle to LAB Principal Dancer at the curtain call of the December 17th 1 pm performance of The Nutcracker at Royce Hall, UCLA. Home / News / New Item

History Home / History / LAB History Los Angeles Ballet debuted in December 2006 with its original production of The Nutcracker . Choreographed by Founding Co-Artistic Directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary, it featured a fresh take on the classic, complemented by a Southern California-themed set designed by Catherine Kanner. ​ LAB’s repertoire was then focused on Balanchine masterpieces and Bournonville ballets as imparted by Christensen and Neary, Artistic Directors Emeriti. As a répétiteur for The George Balanchine Trust, Ms. Neary, staged and directed LAB’s interpretations of his masterworks. In 2009 LAB presented Bournonville’s La Sylphide , its first full-length classical story ballet after The Nutcracker . Under the artistic direction of Christensen and Neary, LAB also performed classical ballet standards such as Giselle , Swan Lake , Don Quixote , Romeo and Juliet , and The Sleeping Beauty , and commissioned 15 new works, two developed out of LAB’s Choreographic Workshop. In 2022, LAB welcomed Melissa Barak as its first ever solo Artistic Director. Barak’s first full-length ballet for LAB was 2023’s highly acclaimed Memoryhouse , a dramatic and emotional abstract ballet composed of vignettes commemorating the Holocaust and performed at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. The 2023/2024 Season is Barak’s inaugural programmed season and will include another original work and world premiere by her. ​ The Los Angeles Ballet Center is located on L.A.’s Westside. The Center’s 12,000 square feet encompass three dance studios, LAB’s administrative offices, a home box office, physical therapy services, a wardrobe department and costume storage. In September 2009, the Los Angeles Ballet Guild was established to support the mission of Los Angeles Ballet and provide the assistance to organize a volunteer workforce for performances and special events. The Guild has become an indispensable arm of the LAB support structure. Patrons of the Guild was formed in 2013; its mission is to provide vital support and advocacy for Los Angeles Ballet. LAB’s Power of Performance! (POP!) outreach program has provided 50,000+ free tickets to underserved and disadvantaged children, seniors, veterans and their families, through collaboration with community partners. ​ An additional LAB outreach program, A Chance to Dance , offers a monthly Community Day at the Los Angeles Ballet Center, where all ages are invited to take free ballet, jazz, and other dance classes and workshops, and to learn about fitness and nutrition from company dancers, staff, and physical therapists. A Chance to Dance Community Day attracts over 100 participants to each event, and fosters the development of a personal relationship between the artists of Los Angeles Ballet and the greater LA County community. LOS ANGELES BALLET Repertoire Learn about the comprehensive and varied seasons of Los Angeles Ballet since its debut in 2006. Repertoire includes stunning classical ballets, exceptional stagings of Balanchine repertory, and relevant works by many of today’s most innovative dance-makers. VIEW REPERTOIRE ABOUT Los Angeles Ballet Founded in 2004 by Artistic Directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary, and Executive Director Emerita Julie Whittaker, Los Angeles Ballet is known for its superb stagings of the Balanchine repertory, stylistically meticulous classical ballets, and its commitment to new works. LAB has become recognized as a world-class ballet company. LEARN MORE

LAB Nutcracker – Sweet! December 23, 2008 FineArtsLA.com by Penny Orloff The press releases screamed, “Los Angeles Ballet Soars into 3rd Season with World-Class Production of ‘The Nutcracker.’" Soars. World-Class. I forgave the publicist’s hyperbole. Having seen two LAB dance programs during the fledgling company’s 2nd season, I expected a credible, competent, wellrehearsed performance by promising young dancers, enhanced by the presence of a few Guest Artists. Jaded and disappointed by decades of failed attempts at establishing a real ballet company in Los Angeles, nothing had prepared me for the Christmas miracle on the stage of Royce Hall Sunday night. (http://www.losangelesballet.org ) It’s difficult to select outstanding elements from so uniformly excellent a production. First and foremost, however, is this company’s corps de ballet. Guest artists and flashy soloists are available to any company with the shekels to hire them. What makes or breaks a ballet company is the group precision and perfection on display in LAB’s Dance of the Snowflakes. Just as I was getting all teary-eyed with joy, the five-year-old on her mom’s lap behind me whispered, “Mommy, I love this!” Even more extraordinary is the fact that ballet mistress Colleen Neary was rehearsing two new dancers into this very piece fifteen minutes before curtain. Executive Director Julie Whittaker tells me that, after the matinee, one of the corps was taken seriously ill and rushed to the hospital, while a second dancer nursed a badly swollen ankle. Among a plethora of highlights: Prodigy ballerina Lilit Hogtanian, as Clara, whose every gesture is a poem. At sixteen, she exhibits an arresting Star Quality. One can’t begin to guess what she will be in ten years. Melissa Barak performs the role of Marie (Sugarplum Fairy in other productions) with cool elegance and precision, marvelous balance and clarity of line. Her partner, Peter Snow, dazzles with gorgeous jetees, pirouettes, and lifts, after an off-center landing of a difficult aerial turn early in Act 2. Guest artist Sergey Kheylik astonishes with impossible leaps and turns. Kheylik and company dancers Li Chen and Tian Tan elicit startled gasps and prolonged cheering in the Act 2 Russian Dance. The exquisite Corinna Gill, ably partnered by new LAB soloist Drew Grant, offers a molten, sinuous Arabian Dance. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KdqPmQziQw) Her breathtaking extensions and lyrical ports des bras sear every phrase into memory. Soaring and world-class, indeed. Kudos to Jonathan Sharp as Drosselmeyer, Craig Hall and Annia Hildalgo as Harlequin and Columbine Dolls, Andrew Brader as the Mouse King, and to the well-rehearsed children’s corps. The Colleen Neary-Thordal Christensen choreography brings a theatrical freshness to the oft-told story of a little girl who dreams that her Christmas toys come alive. Their Christmas Party scene opening the ballet, for example, is the most engrossing and fun among dozens of ‘Nutcrackers’ I’ve seen during my long life. A show curtain painted in colorful Mexican style with two angels (City of the Angels – get it?) greets the audience, rising to reveal lovely storybook sets by LA designer Catherine Kanner. Opulent costumes by Danish designer Mikael Melbye reinforce the fantasy. My companion of the evening – a classical ballet-hater, whose sole enticement for agreeing to be dragged to this performance was the prospect of ogling exceptionally fit young women cavorting in revealing costumes – turned to me at intermission to say, “I’m beyond impressed - I’m entertained.” LA area residents have three more chances to enjoy this magical production, at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center on Dec. 27 at 2 and 7:30, and Dec. 28 at 2. DOWNLOAD PDF Home / News / New Item

Santiago Paniagua Hometown Boston, Massachusetts Seasons with LAB 2021/2022, 2022/2023, 2023/2024 Santiago started dancing at the age of 8 through Boston Ballet's inner city outreach program 'Citydance.' He joined Boston Ballet School soon after and completed his training at 18. He then joined Philadelphia Ballet 2 and was promoted to Apprentice after two years. Santiago joined Los Angeles Ballet in 2021 and is currently dancing his third season with the company.

Balanchine – Master of the Dance 2017 LAB Ensemble LAB Ensemble Kenta Shimizu Elizabeth Claire Walker Elizabeth Claire Walker & Kenta Shimizu Elizabeth Claire Walker & Kenta Shimizu Kenta Shimuz Julia Cinquemani & Tigran Sargsyan Bianca Bulle & Tigran Sargsyan LAB Ensemble LAB Ensemble LAB Ensemble Kenta Shimizu Elizabeth Claire Walker Elizabeth Claire Walker & Kenta Shimizu Elizabeth Claire Walker & Kenta Shimizu Kenta Shimuz Julia Cinquemani & Tigran Sargsyan Bianca Bulle & Tigran Sargsyan LAB Ensemble LAB Ensemble LAB Ensemble Kenta Shimizu Elizabeth Claire Walker Elizabeth Claire Walker & Kenta Shimizu Elizabeth Claire Walker & Kenta Shimizu Kenta Shimuz Julia Cinquemani & Tigran Sargsyan Bianca Bulle & Tigran Sargsyan LAB Ensemble Divertimento No. 15 – Balanchine / Mozart, Prodigal Son – Balanchine / Prokofiev, Who Cares? – Balanchine / Gershwin Previous Gallery Next Gallery All photos by Reed Hutchinson Click on image for a fullscreen presentation.

Choose-2 Subscriptions Select Venue Series A SELECT The Nutcracker Dec. 1, 2023 – 8:00 PM Pasadena Civic Auditorium Next Steps Mar. 22, 2024 – 7:30 PM The Broad Stage Firebird & Serenade May 11, 2024 – 7:30 PM Pasadena Civic Auditorium Start Now Series B SELECT The Nutcracker Dec. 2, 2023 – 6:00 PM Pasadena Civic Auditorium Next Steps Mar. 23, 2024 – 7:30 PM The Broad Stage Firebird & Serenade May 11, 2024 – 7:30 PM Pasadena Civic Auditorium Start Now Series C SELECT The Nutcracker Dec. 9, 2023 – 5 PM Royce Hall Next Steps Mar. 23, 2024 – 7:30 PM The Broad Stage Firebird & Serenade June 1, 2024 – 7:30 PM Royce Hall Start Now Series D SELECT The Nutcracker Dec 16, 2023 – 5:00 PM Redondo Beach PAC Next Steps Mar 23, 2024 – 7:30 PM The Broad Stage Firebird & Serenade May 25, 2024 – 7:30 PM Redondo Beach PAC Start Now Series E INQUIRE with Box Office The Nutcracker Dec. 23, 2023 – 7:30 PM Dolby Theatre * Next Steps Mar. 23, 2024 – 7:30 PM The Broad Stage Firebird & Serenade May 11, 2024 – 7:30 PM Pasadena Civic Auditorium Start Now Series F SELECT The Nutcracker Dec 3, 2023 – 2 PM Pasadena Civic Auditorium Next Steps Mar 24, 2024 – 2 PM The Broad Stage Firebird & Serenade May, 12 2024 – 2 PM Pasadena Civic Auditorium Start Now Series G SELECT The Nutcracker Dec 9, 2023 – 12 PM Royce Hall Next Steps Mar 23, 2024 – 2 PM The Broad Stage Firebird & Serenade Jun 1, 2024 – 2 PM Royce Hall Start Now Series H SELECT The Nutcracker Dec 16, 2023 – 12 PM Redondo Beach PAC Next Steps Mar 23, 2024 – 2 PM The Broad Stage Firebird & Serenade May 25, 2024 – 2 PM Redondo Beach PAC Start Now Series I INQUIRE with Box Office The Nutcracker Dec 23, 2023 – 2 PM Dolby Theatre * Next Steps Mar 23, 2024 – 2 PM The Broad Stage Firebird & Serenade May 11, 2024 – 2 PM Pasadena Civic Auditorium Start Now Series J INQUIRE with Box Office The Nutcracker Dec 24, 2023 – 2 PM Dolby Theatre * Next Steps Mar 24, 2024 – 2 PM The Broad Stage Firebird & Serenade May 12, 2024 – 2 PM Pasadena Civic Auditorium Start Now 2024/2025 Season / Subscribe / Choose-2 Subscriptions /

A Chance To Dance Home / A Chance to Dance / Los Angeles Ballet’s A Chance to Dance Laura Chachich, Director of Education Programs Founded by Allynne Noelle, A Chance to Dance (ACTD) Community Day is a monthly community outreach initiative for all ages incorporating a theme around which the day’s events are centered. Each month during LAB’s season, the dancers of Los Angeles Ballet offer FREE ballet classes, alternative dance/fitness classes, and lectures/demonstrations for a range of experience level and age groups. Join us on A Chance to Dance’s Instagram page: @chancetodancela Upcoming Events Sun, Oct 13 ACTD Sunday, October 13 / Los Angeles Ballet Center RSVP Oct 13, 2024, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Los Angeles Ballet Center, 11755 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA A Chance to Dance offers free ballet, dance and fitness classes to dancers of all ages and skill levels. Join the dancers of Los Angeles Ballet for a day of dance! Share Sun, Nov 10 ACTD Sunday, November 10 / Los Angeles Ballet Center RSVP Nov 10, 2024, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Los Angeles Ballet Center, 11755 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA A Chance to Dance offers free ballet, dance and fitness classes to dancers of all ages and skill levels. Join the dancers of Los Angeles Ballet for a day of dance! Share Adult Beginner Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Intermediate/Advanced Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Youth Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Children’s Creative Movement, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Pilates Mat, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Adult Beginner Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Intermediate/Advanced Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Youth Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Children’s Creative Movement, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Pilates Mat, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Adult Beginner Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Intermediate/Advanced Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Youth Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Children’s Creative Movement, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Pilates Mat, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Adult Beginner Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Intermediate/Advanced Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Youth Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Children’s Creative Movement, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Pilates Mat, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Adult Beginner Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Intermediate/Advanced Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Youth Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Children’s Creative Movement, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Pilates Mat, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Adult Beginner Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Intermediate/Advanced Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Youth Ballet, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Children’s Creative Movement, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Pilates Mat, Photo by Mary Katherine Leslie Please bring completed Registration Form on arrival (Form may be filled out in person before class) ​ Class size is not limited ​ Classes take place at Los Angeles Ballet Center 11755 Exposition Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90064 ​ Additional Questions Laura Chachich , Director of Education Programs REGISTER TODAY Information LOS ANGELES BALLET Repertoire Learn about the comprehensive and varied seasons of Los Angeles Ballet since its debut in 2006. Repertoire includes Balanchine masterworks, stylistically meticulous classical ballets, commissioned and contemporary works by renowned local and international choreographers. VIEW REPERTOIRE LAB OUTREACH PROGRAM Power of Performance (POP!) Since its debut in 2006, Los Angeles Ballet’s Power of Performance! (POP!) program has provided a minimum of 10% of tickets to all performances—free of charge—to organizations that support underserved communities all across Los Angeles County. MORE ABOUT POP!

Video Gallery Choreography by Christensen/Neary, Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker 2019 Home / Video Gallery

News Browse by Year Review: The Los Angeles Ballet Steps Out With Barak’s MemoryHouse July 5, 2023 Memoryhouse, Melissa Barak's first full evening length ballet, choreographed to the 2002 Max Richter album of the same name, was performed at Broadstage in Santa Monica for three nights, June 15-17, 2023, as the concluding pieces of Barak's first season as Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Ballet. READ ARTICLE Los Angeles Ballet Enchants with Nutcracker Tradition December 28, 2022 After seeing Los Angeles Ballet’s The Nutcracker this past Thursday during a 2pm matinee at The Dolby Theatre, I am convinced it’s the only time of day to see the ballet. READ ARTICLE LAB's Open Children's Audition for The Nutcracker September 19, 2022 KTLA filmed children attending The Nutcracker audition at Dolby Theatre, hoping to obtain a role in children's scenes of this holiday tradition in LA. READ ARTICLE For the first time, Los Angeles Ballet will have one artistic director: Melissa Barak August 24, 2022 On Wednesday the Los Angeles Ballet announced that its Board of Directors has appointed dancer and choreographer Melissa Barak as the company’s artistic director. READ ARTICLE Review: Los Angeles Ballet Blooms Exquisite April 27, 2022 The opening season of the Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary’s Los Angeles Ballet (LAB) 2021-2022 on The Broad Stage was a major growth spurt for the company. It showed the strength of the fe/male dancers, and an excellent inclusion of new blood into the company. READ ARTICLE Jennifer Bellah Maguire Elected Chair of Los Angeles Ballet Board of Directors December 2, 2021 Attorney Jennifer Bellah Maguire was elected Chair of LAB Board of Directors on November 18, 2021. She joined the Los Angeles Ballet Board as a founding member in 2005, and has been a passionate advocate for building and sustaining the company. READ ARTICLE Behind the Scenes of Los Angeles Ballet November 21, 2021 Los Angeles Ballet has grown to become a world-class ballet company known for its classical ballets, innovative performances and a repertory inspired by George Balanchine. Here, Colleen Neary takes us behind the scenes. READ ARTICLE A Wonderfully Refreshing Los Angeles Ballet Performs at The Alex Theatre October 10, 2018 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. READ ARTICLE Review: LA Ballet season opens with adventurous and flirtatious ‘Modern Moves’ October 7, 2018 Like adventurous pioneers, Los Angeles Ballet stepped into uncharted territory Saturday for its season opener, “Modern Moves,” which introduced Aszure Barton’s “Les Chambres des Jacques” and Alejandro Cerrudo’s “Lickety-Split” into the company’s repertory at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. READ ARTICLE Point Magazine features LAB Dancer Jasmine Perry February 27, 2018 Los Angeles Ballet’s Jasmine Perry on her effortlessly cool looks in an out of the studio. READ ARTICLE Los Angeles Times Covers LAB Gala 2018 February 1, 2018 At the Los Angeles Ballet’s annual gala, the classical dance company honored three multi-talented, multi-hyphenates — Jenna Dewan Tatum, Derek Hough and Adam Shankman — all of them dancers among other accomplishments and passionate on the subject of dance. READ ARTICLE Balanchine Casts a Spell March 13, 2017 Dancers who were new to every role gave the challenging three-part program by Los Angeles Ballet on Saturday the thrills of a high-wire act without a net. Would anyone fall? READ ARTICLE LA Observed End-of-Year 2016 Review December 27, 2016 Call them a team. Some team. They are, arguably, the greatest living theater artist and the greatest living dancing actor, in magical cahoots with each other. Namely, Robert Wilson and Mikhail Baryshnikov. READ ARTICLE Los Angeles Ballet At the Top of its Form October 20, 2016 Los Angeles Ballet ended its benchmark 10th season in June as the first American company to dance Frederick Ashton’s distinctively intimate and poetic “Romeo and Juliet.” Unfortunately, that season left the company fiscally overextended, so the 11th season, which opened Saturday, has cutbacks in the roster and the repertory. READ ARTICLE 11th Season Opening September 1, 2016 Los Angeles Ballet Co-Artistic Directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary present classical and contemporary productions and honor the legacies of August Bournonville and George Balanchine for LAB’s eleventh season. READ ARTICLE LAB Dancer Elizabeth Claire Walker featured in Harvard Magazine June 1, 2016 "...A native of New York City, [Elisabeth Claire Walker] studied at American Ballet Theatre’s elite Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School as a teenager. READ ARTICLE LOAD MORE Home / News

Press Releases Home / Press Releases Press Releases Los Angeles Ballet Announces 2024-2025 Season August 21, 2024 The season includes a return of Artistic Director Melissa Barak's critically acclaimed Memoryhouse , Edwaard Liang's fairytale Cinderella , and Holiday favorite The Nutcracker . Plus the debut of the new program Off Balance in collaboration with artist Shantell Martin. DOWNLOAD PDF Los Angeles Ballet Announces the 2023/2024 Season, Artistic Director Melissa Barak's Inaugural Programmed Season September 20, 2023 The new season includes works by choreographers Justin Peck, Hans Van Manen, Yuri Po ssokhov, George Balanchine, and Melissa Barak DOWNLOAD Los Angeles Ballet Launches New Brand Identity Ahead of the 2023/2024 Season August 1, 2023 Los Angeles Ballet has released a preview of its reimagined brand identity under the new leadership of Artistic Director Melissa Barak. DOWNLOAD Los Angeles Ballet Announces Details of the 2023 Gala May 5, 2023 Los Angeles Ballet to honor philanthropists Jeff Polak and Alia Tutor at the 2023 Gala on Thursday, May 18 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. DOWNLOAD Los Angeles Ballet Announces 2022/2023 Season September 15, 2022 Los Angeles Ballet offers breathtaking contemporary masterworks, Los Angeles and LAB Premiers, a World Premier from Melissa Barak – LAB's new Artist Director, and LA's holiday tradition, The Nutcracker . DOWNLOAD Open Children's Audition for The Nutcracker Announced September 12, 2022 Los Angeles Ballet to hold an open audition on September 18, 2022 at Dolby Theater for classically trained child ballet dancers for a chance to perform in this season’s production of The Nutcracker . DOWNLOAD Melissa Barak Named New Artistic Director of LAB August 24, 2022 Los Angeles Ballet announced that its Board of Directors has appointed dancer and choreographer Melissa Barak as the company's artist director. DOWNLOAD LAB's NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Melissa Barak 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. LEARN MORE LOS ANGELES BALLET History 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. LAB HISTORY