Los Angeles Ballet Features Fantasy-Filled Choreography With Newly Enhanced Magical, Musical Score
Los Angeles, CA: For three days at the Glendale Community College Performing Arts Theater, December 17-19, 2010, hundreds of ballet and holiday entertainment seekers are transported to Hans Christian Andersen’s fantasy world where good prevails, personified by a little girl named Gerda who saves her friend Kai from an evil spell. Evil is set right when the spell is ultimately reversed by the Snow Queen.
This year’s The Snow Queen (http://www.snowqueenballet.com) marks the 13th annual presentation of this great wintertime fairy tale, presented by the professional, non-profit company, California Contemporary Ballet (http://www.ctyballet.org). Brought to life by the creative vision of the company's artistic director and choreographer, Erin Holt, The Snow Queen ballet is presented complete with brilliant lighting and set design, custom handmade costumes, and an original, moving musical score by Randall Michael Tobin. The professional principal cast is accompanied by the California Contemporary Youth Ballet. The youth company will appear in supporting roles as forest creatures performing aerial feats, a choreographed raging river, living trees, gypsies, and a garden of flowers.
For Ms. Holt, the 2010 production of The Snow Queen is an evolutionary milestone, marked by changes within the company over the last thirteen years. Beginning primarily as a youth organization, today the company is one of Southern California’s burgeoning professional dance companies featuring the talent of career dancers and Holt’s unique brand of classical ballet and contemporary dance. Says Holt, “We are constantly working to enhance the show and create a new experience for our audience each year. This contributes to our longevity.”
“The company has literally grown up,” Holt says as she observes Kelsey Glidewell of La Canada perform a series of steps and turns. Ms. Glidewell began her tenure with The Snow Queen ballet as a member of the companies youth division. This year, Ms. Glidewell has advanced, by working within the professional division of the company, and will be debuting in the shows starring role as Gerda. A senior at La Canada high school, Ms. Glidewell is currently auditioning and has already been accepted to several University dance programs. For Glidewell, who always dreamed of dancing the role, this season potentially marks her farewell to the show. “I have grown up with the show. I am always challenged by the choreography”. This year is her most challenging. “Gerda is on stage through the entire ballet and I am dancing with a new partner.” Her partner, Rob Westin of North Hollywood will perform the role of Kai.
The Snow Queen Ballet will be performed Friday through Sunday, December 17-19, 2010, at the Glendale Community College Performing Arts Theater, 1500 N. Verdugo Rd., Glendale CA. 91208. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on December 17 and 18 and matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 18 and Sunday, December 19. Advance tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students and $30 for adults and $25 for students at the door. For tickets or information, call Brown Paper Tickets at 800-938-3006 or visit online www.ccballet.net or www.snowqueenballet.com.
California Contemporary Ballet is established as a professional company featuring the talent of 5-7 career dancers performing a unique brand of classical and contemporary dance works. They are a non-profit company, providing its members with the opportunity to perform an exciting repertory of innovative and original dance projects performed in concerts, theatre and festivals throughout Southern California. California Contemporary Ballet is the resident troupe of the California DanceArts Academy located in the foothills of Los Angeles. The school and company share one goal, "to nurture and encourage students professionally and to develop artists performing for audiences with the creativity, imagination and joy of dance. "The company’s annual signature ballet titled, “The Snow Queen”, is a delightful winter production each December starring the career members of California Contemporary Ballet, accompanied by the California Contemporary Youth Ballet, and select dancers from the community, resulting in a cast of 60-70 dancers.
