First Newsletter of 2020 and a Personal Teaching Resolution

Happy New Year, beautiful dancers! I'm excited about so many things coming in 2020 (company intention on 1/12, new Sunday class starting on 2/2, a big fundraiser for the company, and of course, season 4 of Sweet Sorrow, A Zombie Ballet!). I put it all in a newsletter which you can have delivered to your very own inbox if you'd prefer to read it there - just click on the browser link below to subscribe. I only send it once a month and I promise I won't spam you.

Before I post that, however, I'd like to talk about a personal resolution I want to make in my teaching:

I will strive to take gendered pronouns and traditional gender norms out of my class.

This will be, I admit, difficult for me. My natural reflex is to greet people as "ladies and gentlemen," to divide groups or partner dancers based on gender, and to identify steps as gendered. I don't mind the reference when it's used with me but that's me and I'm ancient.

However, I am conscious of gendered roles in my choreography and I do what I can (and what fits the story) to not fall prey to the easy nature of stereotypes. For instance, my Rosaline is no frail princess waiting to be rescued by Benvolio; my pointe partnering includes women partnering women; and every woman's role in Hotel at the End of the Universe is a feminist one. I work very hard to empower women, on the stage and in the studio.

I have already begun excising "ladies and gentlemen" to call out my groups, instead saying "dancers" when I can. Just as I ask permission before touching someone in class to make a correction, I will also ask dancers if they prefer a specific pronoun be used with them when it feels appropriate, and I won't assume the answer.

As with all of ballet, the repetition of certain actions on a regular basis soon becomes muscle memory. We do a million tendus so we don't have think of how to do one; similarly, the more often I can refrain from gender norms in my class and choreography, the less cumbersome it will appear - and I will only have to think about what to do with the dancers, not how to address them.

~HAPPY 2020~

View this email in your browser January 2020 schedule Classes are all on as usual throughout the entire month. Reminder: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday classes are at Inspire Dance Studio; Tuesday classes are at Live Arts LA. View my full schedule here (scroll to bottom of page). Fun photos! Above is one of my favorite pictures from the holiday classes this year: Family! At our Christmas Eve class, Monica brought her daughter Taylore, Laila brought her sister Ashna, Patty brought her son Brandon, and Gwen brought her son Nik. Such a magical time to share our ballet community with family members. Thank you! And below are three more: group shots of the Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve classes and Nicole with Blossom in the studio (just because it's cute!).   Special notes Beginning February 2, I will be teaching a NEW CLASS on Sundays: Advanced Beginner Ballet (which is the same level as my Tuesday/Thursday classes) at Inspire Dance Studio. 11AM-12:30PM. (Note: I'm considering adding a 1/2 hour of pointe after. If this is something you'd be interested in, let me know via email or in person.)   Featured technique tip! In one word: LIFT! Tip of the Year 2019 More fun links: I write book and movie reviews for the amazing website, Dance Advantage. Here is a review about The White Crow which I thought was...well, you'll have to read the review to find out!   LPBC News Company Intention for the 2020 season will be on Sunday, January 12, 12-2PM at Inspire Dance Studio. Everyone is welcome to participate if they would like to be part of the company's 4th season. Please familiarize yourself with our Mission Statement and Membership Requirements. Please also sign up in advance so we have an idea of who is coming. (Note: this is not a technique class per se. While there will be some exercises at the barre and in the center, this is about getting to know everyone and learning what we're all about. Think community rather than class.) Copyright © 2020 Leigh Purtill Ballet, All rights reserved.

Want to Join a Ballet Company?

Come dance with us!

The Leigh Purtill Ballet Company wants YOU!

That's right, we do. LPBC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is an amateur ballet company for adults in the Los Angeles area. We are excited to announced our 2019 season will begin with a Company Intent to Join on Saturday, January 12, 2019.


What the heck is that? you may ask.

Well, let me explain...most dance companies require an audition in order to join their ranks. Often this consists of a ballet class, at which you nervously show up with a head shot and resume and get a spot at the barre. At various points in the class, you may be asked to leave (some companies eliminate people during a barre, sometimes between sides!). Some companies will wait until the class is over and then email you or not.

It's so frightening! Isn't it? I sure think so. And so much competition! Everyone around you is trying to earn a spot - and you know there are very few of them per season. Not exactly the way you want to begin a relationship with other dancers and an artistic director.

At LPBC, we don't believe in competition like that. You should always strive to do your best because, well, don't you want to do your best?

We also don't believe in eliminating people like that. We want to build a community, not divide it. We want dancers who support each other and you can't encourage others if you're only thinking about yourself.

Instead of an audition, we are holding an Intent to Join on January 12, 2019. You choose which class is suitable for your level, either the 9AM Beginner or 10AM Intermediate (be on time please! or early so you can sign in!) and then you...take the class. That's it.

Well, not exactly it. We want to see you be part of the community, friendly with others, supportive and encouraging. We want to see you love ballet and that you are ready to do the kind of outreach the company does. We want to see that you believe, like we do, that Ballet is for Everyone. It's not about body type, size, shape, color, etc. It's not about perfect technique (although we work toward the best technique we each have). It's about what YOU bring to US.

So come to class on January 12, 2019 at Inspire Dance Studio and show us your Intention! 

It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with what the company's mission is, what our plans are for the season, and what our schedule for performances is. Know before you commit. And then do it. You know you've always wanted to join a ballet company and LPBC is a great community of ballet souls to join. We love ballet.

Octavia Cup Dance Theater

Hello everyone!

My friend Laura Ward has been choreographing and performing contemporary ballet for her NYC company, Octavia Cup Dance Theater, for over ten years and I'm so thrilled every time I see a new video of her work. I'd like to share a video she sent me recently. Her dancers have beautiful strong lines and terrific musicality in their movement. I love how Laura partners the women - they lift each other effortlessly!

Enjoy~

Le Studio Student Ballet Company

Come dance with us! Look how excited we are!!

It's easy to audition for the brand new student ballet company at Le Studio in Pasadena. Just take a class with Melissa or me and we'll happily consider you for placement in the company!

Rehearsals start Thursday, October 1st at 5:30PM. We will be learning repertory that we will showcase at schools and venues all over LA.

We've got a great year ahead and we'd love to have you join us!

Fall Schedule Changes

Hello everyone! The new season at Le Studio officially began on Tuesday, September 1st so we'll see some changes to the schedule being implemented over the next few weeks. For starters...

1. I've added a new Basic Ballet class on Monday nights, from 7:30-8:30PM. This will be a companion class to the Wednesday night class which also runs from 7:30-8:30PM. Both classes will be just one hour now so we don't go too late.

2. The teen Level 4 Ballet on Monday and Wednesday will run from 5-6PM with a half-hour of pointe from 6-6:30PM. The entire class on Friday from 4-5:30 will be done en pointe.

3. The pointe class on Fridays is gone, replaced by an hour of Company Rehearsal.

4. Company Rehearsals will be held on Thursday and Friday from 5:30-6:30PM.

5. The commitment for the new Le Studio Student Ballet Company will be a minimum of 3 technique classes per week plus the 2 Company Rehearsals.

I'm a little behind on my videos but I should be getting a new one up very soon. I'm also taking requests for videos so if you have any ideas, questions, suggestions, let me know!

Summer dance intensive a success!

For the past two weeks, Melissa Waters and I have been working with some terrific students as part of a ballet intensive we put together at Le Studio - and it was a blast! We even choreographed a 2.5 minute piece on all fifteen girls, finishing it in a record 9 days. Huge kudos to Melissa who did the majority of the choreography while I stood on the sidelines and cheered her on!

My ninja webmaster, Mo (who films and cuts all of my technique videos) taped the last class and the piece itself and will hopefully get that up soon - here and on the studio's website. So look for that to come.

Melissa and I envisioned the intensive as the launching pad for the student company we're starting at Le Studio this fall (which is next week - whoa!). We've got some great students already and are hoping to entice a few more into the ranks. We've got an ambitious goal: to create a repertory of pieces that will ultimately result in a full-length "Alice in Wonderland." And in the meantime, we anticipate having a lot of opportunities to perform selections of it, including the marvelous "Tea Party" we did during the intensive.

I'll be posting a new video soon...not sure what the ninja has planned but I'm sure it will be awesome. And look for more info on the company!

Happy dancing~

Summer update

With summer comes vacation but luckily for my students, I'm not going anywhere! LOL!

From August 17-28, while Le Studio is officially closed, Melissa Waters and I will be teaching a ballet intensive for students ages 8-19, Monday through Friday, from 4 to 6:30 PM:

4 - 5:30PM - technique class with Melissa or Leigh
5:30 - 6:30 PM - repertory

During repertory, we will be learning a piece that we will showcase for the studio in September and will be the basis of our new ballet company! Yes, we are bringing back Le Studio's student company this fall and every student who takes the intensive will not have to audition for it. Cost for the entire 2 weeks is $175.

Also, my adult class schedule will remain the same, with the exception of Tuesday nights which will begin at 6:30 for both weeks (this is only a temporary change).

To sign up for the intensive, please contact Le Studio at 626-792-4616.

Happy summer~