Community Corner
Prodigy to Palisades Recovery: West LA Students Showcase Resilience
Young dancers overcome challenges while pursuing excellence, from international competition victories to fire displacement
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In a season marked by both triumph and adversity, West Los Angeles area students at Westside Ballet of Santa Monica took the stage this past weekend with stories that exemplify the resilience and dedication that define serious young artists.
At the center of these stories is 12-year-old Spencer Collins from Century City, whose recent achievement has put both him and Westside Ballet in the international spotlight. Spencer was awarded the prestigious Hope Award at the 2025 Youth America Grand Prix Finals—the highest honor of the entire competition—ranking him as the top dancer in his age group worldwide across both boys and girls.
"It's amazing to be on stage and hear the audience cheer after I've finished my dance," Collins reflects on performing. "That gets me excited and ready to go out there and do it again!"
International Recognition Meets Local Training
Spencer's achievement represents a historic milestone for Westside Ballet, marking the first time a student from the Santa Monica studio has received YAGP's top honor. The young dancer, who trains under Associate Executive Director Adrian Blake Mitchell, performed a solo in August Bournonville's "Le Conservatoire" during this past weekend's "Masters of Movement 2025" performances.
His rapid ascent in the competitive ballet world—having previously won first place at the 2024 YAGP Finals—demonstrates the caliber of training available at the 52-year-old institution. Spencer has also been invited to perform in the London premiere of Gala de Danza in June 2025, joining an elite roster that includes principals from the Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet, and Paris Opera Ballet.
"I love training with Mr. [Adrian Blake] Mitchell," Spencer says. "He gives me great corrections and pushes me to do more and get better."
Recovery and Resilience in Palisades
While Collins' story represents triumph, 15-year-old Zola Maksimovic from the Palisades area embodies the community's recovery spirit. Though her family's home wasn't directly impacted by the January fires, the Palisades Charter High School freshman experienced significant disruption when her school was badly damaged.
"Our house was not in the fire zone, though we had a couple days on evacuation watch," explains Zola's mother. "Pali High was badly damaged. So Zola had school on Zoom for a few months, then recently started back in person at the old Sears building."
Despite these challenges, Zola has maintained her rigorous training schedule at Westside Ballet, where she's been dancing since age 4. This season presented a particularly exciting challenge as she performed across multiple dance styles.
"This year is especially exciting because I am performing in three different techniques: classical ballet, contemporary and jazz," Zola says of her roles in "Le Conservatoire," "Coppélia's Waltz of the Hours," "Cabaret,” and the contemporary piece. Dancing in different styles challenges you to change your mentality as you approach each piece. To perform your best, you have to embrace and enjoy each style fully."
Building Foundations Through Challenge
For 12-year-old Addison Russell, whose family lost their home in the Palisades Fires and is now displaced to Bel Air, this spring season has presented both personal and artistic challenges. Despite the upheaval of losing their home, Addison has continued her training at Westside Ballet, where she's danced since age 6.
This season brings an additional challenge as she performed en pointe for the first time in a demanding role within "Le Conservatoire."
"Before this season, I had never done a more challenging dance en pointe, so learning the dance and doing it en pointe was difficult, but I worked on it a lot and now I am better," Addison explains, demonstrating the persistence that characterizes serious young dancers who continue pursuing their art despite personal adversity.
The John Thomas Dye School sixth-grader, who also plays volleyball and loves reading, represents the resilience of many Westside Ballet students who balance academic excellence with intensive dance training while navigating life's unexpected challenges.
Community Through Art
Among the younger performers, 11-year-old Carlin Rose McCaffrey from Westwood brings her own perspective on how ballet builds community. Training at Westside Ballet since age 3, Carlin performed in Jerome Robbins' "Circus Polka" and the newly choreographed "Barcarolle."
"Ballet has shown me the true meaning of friendship with dance," Carlin shares. "It has given me a chance to make new friends and welcome them in my daily life."
Her interests in fashion design, sewing, and moviemaking complement her dance training, showing how creative pursuits often intersect for young artists.
A Decade of Dedication
Sixteen-year-old Zoe White from West Los Angeles represents the long-term commitment that defines many Westside Ballet students. Training at the studio since age 6, this was Zoe's sixth Spring Performance, where she performed in "Waltz of the Hours" as part of the Level 6 corps.
As an honors student who has earned Math and Science Achievement Awards and been accepted into UCLA's pre-med summer program, Zoe exemplifies the academic excellence many dancers maintain alongside their training. Her interests extend beyond the studio and classroom to include traveling, skiing, hiking, yoga, and gyrotonics.
"When I think back on my years at Westside, I realize how much my teachers have shaped who I am—not just as a dancer, but as a person," Zoe reflects. "Their constant push for grace and grit taught me how to keep showing up, even on the hard days. I've learned that being a strong dancer—and a strong student—means giving your full effort no matter what."
Her future plans uniquely combine her passions: Zoe hopes to dance professionally before attending medical school, with dreams of continuing dance throughout her life while practicing medicine as an internist focusing on families' health.
A Weekend of Excellence
This past weekend's performances represented more than individual achievements—they showcased a community that has supported each other through challenges while maintaining the highest artistic standards. The "Masters of Movement 2025" program featured works spanning centuries of dance, from Bournonville's 1849 masterpiece to contemporary choreography.
Saturday evening's gala featured New York City Ballet principals Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia performing Jerome Robbins' "Other Dances," while the showcase performances on Saturday and Sunday afternoons highlighted the depth of talent among Westside Ballet's student dancers.
For students like Spencer, whose international recognition brings global attention to the local studio, and Zola, whose determination to continue training despite school disruption exemplifies community resilience, these performances represented both culmination and continuation of their artistic journeys.
The other West LA students performing, grouped in their respective ballet skill levels, are:- Level 3: Chloé Maurin from Century City (Le Lycée Français), Sophie Kuo from Century City (Broadway Elementary School), Lucille Hyams from Westwood (Ocean Charter School), and Vivien O'Hara from West Los Angeles (Daniel Webster Middle School).
- Level 4: Juliette Mungcal from Bel Air (Curtis School).
- Level 5: Delilah Ahmadi from Westwood (Marymount High School).
- Level 6: Zola Maksimo from Westwood (Palisades Charter High School) and Ilyssa Freedland from West Los Angeles (Wildwood School).
- Level 7: Eema Kaye from Bel Air (Brentwood School) and Bella Shriver from Century City (New Roads School).
The performances launch Westside's summer programs, which include advanced workshops with special guests Sofiane Sylve and Patricia Neary, as well as children's themed camps for ages 4-7. These camps are focused on unlocking children’s imagination and artistry. These educational offerings continue the legacy of Westside Ballet, which has been a cultural cornerstone in Santa Monica since its founding in 1973.
More info & summer programs:
https://westsideballet.com/sum...
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