Community Corner
Young Calabasas Ballerina To Dance In Westside Showcase May 26-27
Sofia Strauser will perform in four pieces during "Masters of Movement: Ballet Through the Centuries" in Santa Monica.
This is a paid post contributed by a Patch Community Partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own, and the information presented has not been verified by Patch.
A cast of over 80 student dancers — including Sofia Strauser from Calabasas — are preparing to perform this weekend in Westside Ballet of Santa Monica's “Masters of Movement: Ballet through the Centuries,” returning for the ninth year at The Eli & Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center.
On Friday, May 26, the five-decades-strong nonprofit performance company will host its annual Soirée special event, including cocktails, appetizers, awards, and one-night-only guest artist performances. Andrea Laššáková and alumnus Adrian Blake Mitchell will dance Westside’s Premiere of “After the Rain” by acclaimed choreographer Christopher Wheeldon; and Maté Szentes and alumna Lyrica Woodruff will perform George Balanchine’s dazzling “Stars & Stripes”. Repertoire also includes a suite from Marius Petipa’s “Raymonda” and a newly commissioned contemporary work, “Color of Spring” by Vanessa Van Wormer. Both contemporary works feature live music.
On Saturday, May 27, the festivities continue with repertoire featuring the Westside Premiere of George Balanchine’s “Emeralds Pas de Trois”; excerpts from “Sleeping Beauty”; “Handel Dances” by resident choreographer Sophie Monat; and concluding with audience favorite “A Chorus Line”. Saturday’s pre-professional showcase includes divertissements from Marius Petipa’s “Raymonda”, as well as Ms. Wormer’s piece, again with live music.
Sofia Strauser (14), a 9th grader at Harvard Westlake, will be dancing in “Handel Dances” and “Raymonda”, as well as “Color of Spring” and excerpts from “A Chorus Line”.
“Dance provides me with a sense of freedom and escape from the stress of school and everyday life,” says Sofia. “When I walk into the studio, I let go of the problems from my day and give myself the opportunity to be immersed in pure happiness, whether that be learning new choreography, improving, or even just spending time with the most amazing people I have ever met, my friends.”
Contemporary Ballet & Jazz Pieces
For the second consecutive year, Westside's advanced pre-professional dancers will perform Van Wormer's original work to live music. Ms. Van Wormer has choreographed her piece to music by Manuel de Falla, “El Paño Moruno, Canción Asturiana,” performed by two sopranos (Brenda Osorio and Angela Rhodes) with guitar by Ken Rosser.
Concluding the Saturday performance is Jazz Director Ms. Bachar Mendicelli’s staging of the Michael Bennett classic A Chorus Line, a sensational audience favorite.
“I grew up dancing in the 1970’s and 80’s, so it was really fun bringing back some of those classical jazz steps from that era,” shares Mendicelli. “That choreography always looks best when using dancers with a solid foundation in classical ballet, which we pride ourselves on giving to our students.”
Sofia will be attending the School of American Ballet’s Summer 2023 Intensive Program. Her goal is to make it to medical school while also pursuing her dreams of continuing ballet and using it in her future.
Performance and Ticket Information
Friday, May 26, 2023, 6 pm Soirée reception and awards, followed by the 8 pm “Masters of Movement” with special performances; -and- Saturday, May 27, 2024, 1pm and 5 pm shows of the “Masters of Movement” pre-professional Spring Showcases. Both at The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center, 1310 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Saturday Showcase tickets are $45. The Soirée Friday reception and special performance are $100-300. Tickets for this must-see dance event of the season may be purchased online at westsideballet.com/springtix or by phone (additional fees apply) at (800) 595-4849 (4TIX).
About Westside Ballet of Santa Monica
One of the nation's premier pre-professional ballet training companies, the nonprofit organization’s mission is to give promising young dancers the performance opportunities crucial to their development and make dance more accessible to local children and families. Westside Ballet of Santa Monica was created by Yvonne Mounsey (New York City Ballet) and Rosemary Valaire (Royal Ballet) in 1973. Westside Alumna Martine Harley (Houston Ballet) took over as Artistic Director in 2013. Based in Santa Monica, California, the company comprises approximately 80 dancers, ages 8 to 18.
The sister entity, Westside School of Ballet, distinguishes itself as a non-audition dance academy where all are welcome to study ballet and train to the most refined pre-professional level. Nearly all the artistic staff are graduates of the school, bringing a consistent approach to the school’s classical ballet training. Ms. Mounsey and Ms. Valaire opened the school in 1967, six years before founding the performance company, and have produced many of classical ballet's luminary performers known worldwide.
For more information, visit www.westsideballet.com
This post is an advertorial piece contributed by a Patch Community Partner, a local brand partner. To learn more, click here.