Community Corner
From Rhythmic Gymnastics to Ballet: Students Embrace New Challenges
Venice and Mar Vista dancers showcased growth and transformation in Westside Ballet's recent Spring Performances
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When 12-year-old Aina Joergensen first walked into Westside Ballet of Santa Monica last year, she brought with her four years of competitive rhythmic gymnastics experience and a top-three regional ranking. What she didn't have was familiarity with ballet's intricate vocabulary and technique.
"Coming from a rhythmic gymnastics background, ballet was once just a small part of my training, and I wasn't familiar with all the vocabulary," says Aina, a Venice resident and New Roads School student. "This season at WSB, I worked hard to build that foundation—and now I not only understand the technique, but also deeply appreciate the art of ballet."
Aina made her Spring Performance debut this past weekend in Jerome Robbins' whimsical "Circus Polka" as part of Westside Ballet's "Masters of Movement 2025" Gala, marking a significant milestone in her artistic journey from competitive gymnastics to classical ballet.
A Senior's Final Bow
While Joergensen represents new beginnings, 18-year-old Ezra Galambos embodies the culmination of years of dedication. The Venice High School senior has been training at Westside Ballet since age 5, making this past weekend's performances her eighth Spring Showcase with the company.
This season, Galambos took on the demanding role of Sally Bowles in the jazz-inspired "Cabaret" arrangement, a departure from her previous classical roles that included fairies in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and corps de ballet work in "Raymonda."
"Ms. Michele (Bachar Mendicelli) really emphasized interacting with the audience through facial expressions and eye contact when possible," Galambos reflects on her "Cabaret" preparation. "This changed the way I have approached dancing as I have had to think about conveying the character and story not only through my dancing but with my face."
Beyond the studio, Galambos serves as social media manager for her school's mental health advocacy club and participates in Model United Nations. This fall, she'll trade her dance shoes for law books as she heads to UC Berkeley to study political science with aspirations of becoming a lawyer.
Community Through Dance
The Mar Vista and Venice corridor has long been well-represented at Westside Ballet, with students from Ocean Charter School, Mark Twain Middle School, and local elementary schools making the journey to the Santa Monica studio. This geographic clustering reflects the strong community bonds that have sustained the 52-year-old institution.
Among the younger performers, 10-year-old Mathilde Guay from Richland Avenue Elementary School represents another path into dance. After six years of training at Westside Ballet, this was Mathilde's second Spring Performance, appearing in both "Circus Polka" and "Barcarolle."
When asked about a moment of pride during rehearsal, Mathilde shared her experience mastering a challenging step: "I had to do a bigger pas de cheval. At first, it felt tricky, but I understood what the teacher meant right away—and she congratulated me! I was so proud of myself. Sometimes it's hard to follow, but I did it!"
Her enthusiasm for violin and drawing complements her dance training, showing how young artists often find creative expression across multiple disciplines. Several students from Ocean Charter School, including Billie White and Freja Kiel, took the stage in various spring pieces.
The diversity of performances in the show —ranged from August Bournonville's 1849 masterpiece "Le Conservatoire" to contemporary works and the Fosse-inspired "Cabaret"—allowed students at different skill levels and artistic interests to find their place within the larger ballet community.
Bridging Disciplines and Dreams
Aina's transition from rhythmic gymnastics to ballet exemplifies the program's ability to welcome students from various movement backgrounds. Her competitive gymnastics foundation provided physical strength and discipline, but ballet demanded a new artistic vocabulary and approach.
"I found in ballet both the discipline and artistry I was longing for," she explains, noting how the transition challenged her to develop new skills while building on her existing athletic foundation.
For both newcomers like Aina and long-time students like Galambos, Westside Ballet's non-audition policy has created opportunities for artistic growth regardless of experience level or background—a philosophy that has remained consistent since the school's founding by New York City Ballet principal Yvonne Mounsey and Royal Ballet's Rosemary Valaire in 1973.
Looking Ahead
As Galambos prepares for her final Spring Performance before heading to college, and Aina continues building her ballet foundation, both represent the ongoing cycle of growth and renewal that characterizes the Westside Ballet community.
The performances, featuring works by master choreographers Jerome Robbins, August Bournonville, and Marius Petipa alongside contemporary pieces, showcased the breadth of training available to local students seeking to explore dance as both athletic discipline and artistic expression.
The other Venice & Mar Vista students performing, grouped in their perspective ballet skill levels:
Level 3: The youngest dancers also include Kaylee Barrow from Venice (Broadway Elementary School).
Level 3+: Alix Weissbecker Kushner from Venice (Broadway Elementary School).
Level 4+: Bridget Cooney from Mar Vista (Mark Twain Middle School), Ella Abramson from Venice (Paul Revere Middle School), and Heath Olvera from Venice (Ocean Charter School).
Level 5: Alexandra Moccia from Venice (Mark Twain Middle School).
Level 5+: Kali Solomon from Venice (Venice High School), Angelina Di Bari from Venice (Brentwood School), and Archer Anderson from Venice (The Archer School for Girls).
Level 6: Antonia Cytrynowicz from Venice (New West Charter).
Level 6+: Charlotte Sachs from Mar Vista (Wildwood School).
Level 7: Gabriella Calderon from Mar Vista (California Online Public 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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