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Colleen Neary will never forget the day when George Balanchine articulated the blueprint for her life’s work. She was in her early 20s, then a respected New York City Ballet dancer. L.A. Ballet's Balanchine Festival follows in master's steps March 8, 2013 Los Angeles Times by Susan Josephs March 8, 2013 | By Susan Josephs Colleen Neary will never forget the day when George Balanchine articulated the blueprint for her life’s work. She was in her early 20s, then a respected New York City Ballet dancer. “He put me in to teach company class,” she says. “He said to me, ‘This is what you will do in the future.’ I said I wanted to dance, but he said, ‘You won’t dance forever. You will teach dancers my ballets.” Fast forward to 2013, to a rehearsal of Balanchine’s 1941 “Concerto Barocco” at the Westside headquarters of Los Angeles Ballet. Neary, now 60 and the company’s co-founder, surveys her dancers with microscopic scrutiny as they attempt to master the rigorously precise footwork, high-energy unison phrases and tricky group formations of the 18-minute dance. Both critical and encouraging, she invokes the words of her mentor during the section where three female dancers must weave around the sole male dancer in the work, interlocking hands and arms to create sculptural yet quickly dissolving tableaux. “Balanchine always used to say, ‘You should be walking around like Grecian goddesses,’ “ she tells the female dancers. “You’re missing this thing. In all his ballets, there’s this thing that’s more than the steps. It’s about feeling beautiful within yourself, and I can’t teach you that.” Neary, however, can remember how the famous choreographer known as Mr. B made his dancers feel beautiful, and it’s this firsthand experience that serves as the guiding force behind her company’s Balanchine Festival 2013. “Colleen has this great gift for challenging dancers to embody the Balanchine aesthetic,” says Ellen Sorrin, director of the George Balanchine Trust, which authorizes the staging of Balanchine’s ballets worldwide. “It’s an enormous responsibility to do what she’s doing, to disseminate Balanchine’s works as fully and wonderfully as possible.” DOWNLOAD PDF Home / News / New Item

While Los Angeles has become a world-class cultural capital with top-notch museums, galleries, opera, symphony orchestra and theaters, it has lagged in one important area - ballet. 'Don Quixote’ at the Los Angeles Ballet March 29, 2016 Huffington Post by Hoyt Hilsman While Los Angeles has become a world-class cultural capital with top-notch museums, galleries, opera, symphony orchestra and theaters, it has lagged in one important area - ballet. Despite herculean efforts over the years, ballet companies have struggled and ultimately failed to gain a foothold in Southern California. But all that has changed with the emergence over the past decade of the Los Angeles Ballet company, under the leadership of Artistic Directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary, and Executive Director Julie Whittaker. Operating on a shoestring budget and performing without a permanent home, LA Ballet has managed through dedication and careful planning to establish itself as a vibrant, energetic and professional company on the national ballet scene. By carefully building a talented company over the past ten years, and relying on a core of supporters, LAB has emerged as a bright light of the performing arts in Los Angeles. Its most recent production of Don Quixote, originally choreographed by Marius Pepita for the Bolshoi in 1869 and repurposed by Alexander Gorsky in 1900, was performed for sold-out audiences in various venues around Southern California. As with its other ballet productions, Don Quixote showcased the talented ensemble company at its best, along with several promising soloists who highlighted this engaging ballet. Julia Cinquemani, playing the role of Kitri, is dazzling and charismatic, and her partner Kenta Shimizu is strong and solid in the role of Basilio. Other standout performances included Allyssa Bross, Bianca Bulle, Kate Highstrete and Erik Thordal-Christensen. Directors Neary and Christensen choreograph the piece with precision and grace, lifting both soloists and the corps to a high level of achievement. While Los Angeles Ballet still has work to do in attracting both money and talent to its company, it has wisely stuck to the basics of building a company from the ground up, carefully grooming its performers and engaging an audience for the future. It is already well on its way to fulfilling the mission of creating a world-class ballet company. READ ARTICLE AT SOURCE Home / News / New Item

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. 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

Los Angeles Ballet Artistic Directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary are pleased to present the company’s fifth full-length production, Swan Lake, to an expanded line-up of venues. Los Angeles Ballet to Debut Swan Lake February 1, 2012 LAB Public Relations (Los Angeles, CA) – Los Angeles Ballet [LAB] Artistic Directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary are pleased to present the company’s fifth full-length production, Swan Lake, to an expanded line-up of venues. New venues include Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach and Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge in addition to Royce Hall at UCLA, Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center and Alex Theatre in Glendale. Choreographed by Artistic Directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary after the traditional revival credited to Petipa and Ivanov, LAB’s Swan Lake will feature Principal dancers Allynne Noelle and Allyssa Bross in the dual role of Odette/Odile at alternate performances. LAB Principal dancers Christopher Revels and Kenta Shimizu will dance the role of Prince Siegfried, also at alternate performances. Guest dancer Akimitsu Yahata, principal dancer with the New National Ballet of Japan, will dance the role of the Jester at select performances. Additionally, the ballet will feature the full company, as well as students from Los Angeles Ballet School. “With its magnificent Tchaikovsky score, Swan Lake enjoys a rich history and is considered one of the quintessential full length ballets.” says Christensen. “Swan Lake provides a wonderful showcase for our entire company, particularly our Principal Dancers Allynne Noelle and Allyssa Bross,” adds Neary. We are bringing this masterpiece a poetic quality that will tell this love story with tenderness and passion, through the music and our choreography,” says Neary, adding, “[Thordal and I] have a deep relationship with this ballet, from our experience of dancing the leading roles together, which was an important part in our performing careers.” The story of Odette, a princess transformed into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse, Swan Lake was not well received when it originally premiered. It was not until the Petipa/Ivanov revival which has served as the basis for most subsequent interpretations that it became so popular, most recently serving as the basis for the film Black Swan. LAB is currently in its sixth season. This May, LAB will be back with its much-anticipated and innovative Next WaveLA, featuring four World Premieres by distinguished California based choreographers Kitty McNamee, Sonya Tayeh, Stacey Tookey and Josie Walsh. LAB continues to build a repertoire that underscores the creative leadership of its artistic directors, presenting timeless classics as well as innovative choreography from today’s contemporary artists. DOWNLOAD PDF Home / News / New Item

Download this article The Curtain Rises for L.A. Ballet November 22, 2006 Palisadian-Post by Libby Motika Download this article DOWNLOAD PDF Home / News / New Item

Choose 2 Subscription and enjoy all the benefits of being a Los Angeles Ballet Subscriber. 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 /

Read the full article. Los Angeles Times Includes LAB in it’s Best of 2007 Listings December 1, 2007 Los Angeles Times The corps, including the children, danced strongly. Melissa Barak, the First Sylph, gave notice of incipient major Sylph duties. The ballet, staged by co-artistic director Thordal Christensen, a former principal with the Royal Danish Ballet, was danced to pre-recorded music. READ ARTICLE AT SOURCE Home / News / New Item

Nearly 9,000 Angelenos applauded LAB's The Nutcracker last month at 9 performances at UCLA's Royce Hall, Glendale's historic Alex Theatre, and Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. Los Angeles embraces Los Angeles Ballet's The Nutcracker January 1, 2008 Company News from the Staff at LAB Home / News / New Item

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. Taylor Hugens Hometown Pasadena, CA Seasons with LAB 2024/2025 Taylor began her dance training at the age of three with Pasadena Civic Ballet, where she studied until her graduation in 2023. Throughout her formative years, she had the privilege of training under accomplished instructors and performing lead roles in various productions there. In addition to her foundational training, Taylor further honed her skills at programs, including the School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre, New York. For the 2023/24 season, she joined Los Angeles Ballet as a trainee, where she performed in notable works such as The Nutcracker , George Balanchine’s Serenade , and Yuri Possokhov’s Firebird . She also had the honor of guesting at Westside Ballet's gala, performing as First Violin in Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco , staged by Patricia Neary. Taylor will continue her journey with Los Angeles Ballet as an apprentice for the 2024/25 season.

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. Paige Wilkey Hometown Los Angeles, CA Seasons with LAB 2023/2024, 2024/2025 Paige Wilkey began her training at J. Swider Dance Studios in Los Angeles. She attended summer intensive programs at American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, and Boston Ballet. At the age of 16, Paige was invited to enroll in Boston Ballet School’s pre-professional program. After two years of training in Boston, Paige was hired by Oregon Ballet Theatre in Portland, where she spent 5 seasons. She has also danced with the American Contemporary Ballet before joining Los Angeles Ballet. Some of Paige’s featured roles with OBT and ACB include Dark Angel in Serenade , Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker , 2nd Violin in Balanchine's c Concerto Barocco , and the principal pas de deux in Balanchine’s Agon . Paige also performed with Barak Ballet in the summer of 2021. She was so inspired by her experience working with Melissa Barak, that it was a dream for her to be dancing with Los Angeles Ballet under her artistic direction.

The Nutcracker 2013 Mia Katz & Nicholas de la Vega Bianca Bulle Zheng Hua Li Snowflakes Ensemble Helena Thordal-Christensen, David Block & Nicholas de la Vega Julia Cinquemani & Alexander Castillo Allynne Noelle & Ulrik Birkkjaer Mia Katz & Nicholas de la Vega Bianca Bulle Zheng Hua Li Snowflakes Ensemble Helena Thordal-Christensen, David Block & Nicholas de la Vega Julia Cinquemani & Alexander Castillo Allynne Noelle & Ulrik Birkkjaer Mia Katz & Nicholas de la Vega Bianca Bulle Zheng Hua Li Snowflakes Ensemble Helena Thordal-Christensen, David Block & Nicholas de la Vega Julia Cinquemani & Alexander Castillo Allynne Noelle & Ulrik Birkkjaer Mia Katz & Nicholas de la Vega Bianca Bulle Zheng Hua Li Snowflakes Ensemble Helena Thordal-Christensen, David Block & Nicholas de la Vega Julia Cinquemani & Alexander Castillo Allynne Noelle & Ulrik Birkkjaer Christensen and Neary / Tchaikovsky Previous Gallery Next Gallery All photos by Reed Hutchinson Click on image for a fullscreen presentation.

L.A. Ballet's Balanchine Festival follows in master's steps. LA Times Previews the Balanchine Festival March 8, 2013 Los Angeles Times L.A. Ballet's Balanchine Festival follows in master's steps "Company co-founder Colleen Neary brings a first-person familiarity with George Balanchine's exacting methods as a former dancer with New York City Ballet." Read Susan Joseph's full story on Los Angeles Ballet's Balanchine Festival. DOWNLOAD PDF Home / News / New Item