December class news, updates and fun links!

 

Outdoor class at Inspire! December 2020 schedule All classes in session as scheduled (view here) except Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. On Thursday 12/24 &Thursday 12/31, Open Level class will be held at 10AM rather than the evening. Fun music and community to celebrate the holidays! Please sign up for all Zoom classes in advance here.   Mark your calendar: Easy Basic Partnering workshop! Saturday, Dec 5th 5-6PM! A fun and easy workshop for you and your friend or family member. You need only know how to do first arabesque and attitude derriere. We will learn a short combo to wow your friends on Zoom. Sign up here!   Access to YouTube video archives The current Intermediate and Beginner playlists will expire 12/31/20. A new Beginner/Intermediate with Pre-pointe playlist will be offered instead (available from 1/1/21 through 6/30/21). The current Friday playlist will also expire 12/31/20; a new Friday video playlist will be offered that will include November & December 2020 through 6/30/21. Links will be on my website on 12/30/20.   Extra fun! Did someone say Outdoor Class? Julie Paige, the owner of Inspire Dance Studio, has set up two outdoor "studios" in her back parking lot. Weather permitting, I am offering Saturday open level class 12-1PM, limit 6 students. Masks must be worn and distance maintained. No walk-ins; you must sign up online. Because of Julie's Nutcracker performance, the next available time for class is Saturday,December 26. Fingers crossed our beautiful weather holds!   Psst...Are you on Instagram? Every Wednesday around 11:30AM, I do a 5-10 minute "Ballet Break". Join me for some gentle stretches, plies and tendus to get us up and away from our desks. And on Thursdays, I always do a bit of choreography!   LPBC News More fun links featuring the dancers of Leigh Purtill Ballet Company! Company Member Spotlights! Last month I shared a new feature from the company YouTube channel: Company Spotlights created by Alexes Ciardi. The newest one is an interview with company member Rae Aaselund, below.  Be sure to subscribe to our channel to see more in the series! Spotlight on Rae Aaselund And....the big project is a short film! Because we couldn't perform our annual "Sweet Sorrow, A Zombie Ballet," we produced a short version of it! Rehearsed over Zoom, we filmed outdoors in Griffith Park with a cast of 14 dancers in masks and socially-distanced. Filmed and edited by Rawl Paredes, we are so pleased to present this to you. Please click the image below and enjoy!

Holiday ballet! Special "Eve" classes to get you in a celebratory mood!

Are you ready for the holidays? No? Then come to class with me this week and on Christmas Eve morning and New Year's Eve morning to boost your spirit!

All of my classes will happen as usual this week and next weekend. I will be out of town 12/25-12/30. Check out my calendar below for information on each specific class and as always, contact me if you have any questions.


Now for the fun stuff: holiday classes with super fun music and loads of great energy!

pc: State Library of Queensland "Seven Swans"

Monday, Christmas Eve, 12/24 Morning! 

Makes a great gift to yourself!

10-11:30AM

Open level

Inspire Dance Studio, 457 Foothill Blvd, La Canada CA 91011

 

pc: State Library of Queensland "Clowns"

Monday, New Year's Eve, 12/31 Morning! 

A perfect way to end 2018 and start 2019!

10-11:30AM

Open level

Inspire Dance Studio, 457 Foothill Blvd, La Canada CA 91011

 

 

AND DON'T FORGET!

Sunday, January 6, Pirouette Workshop, 1-3PM, Inspire Dance Studio

"Turn" your year around with this workshop to improve your pirouettes (see what I did there?)

Sign up at the link at the top of this blog on the left hand side. Limited to 15.

Saturday, January 12, Company Intent to Join, 9AM and 10AM, Inspire Dance Studio

Make your intentions known if you want to be in the Leigh Purtill Ballet Company this year.

We have lots of wonderful things planned but be sure to know what we do before you commit. Check out the website!

Nutcracker + Holiday classes + New class time!

Welcome to the holidays, beautiful dancers! 

It's that time of year when days and hours and weeks slip by and you wonder if you got anything accomplished at all. Currently my living room is in such a state of disarray that I can barely walk through it (and neither can the dog!) but I know it will eventually pull together and look like a Christmas tree.

So I know how it is when you have the best of intentions of getting to ballet class but then there's a work event or a friend is having cocktails or you need to get to the store to get those gifts for the in-laws. A week or two go by and you suddenly say, "Hey, I didn't get to ballet class!"

Don't feel bad! It happens to all of us. Remember that ballet class is something you do for yourself. It makes you feel better. It reminds you of what is beautiful. It gives you an hour and a half of peace, if nothing else. So if you can squeeze in a class, it might make the hustle and bustle of the season a little more tolerable.

And what better way to feel good than to take a special holiday-themed class? That's right! This year, you'll have 2 chances to take a fun ballet class with me:

Saturday, December 24, Christmas Eve morning:
9AM - Beginner Ballet
10AM- Intermediate Ballet
11:30AM - Pointe

Saturday, December 31, New Year's Eve morning:
9AM - Beginner Ballet
10AM- Intermediate Ballet
11:30AM - Pointe

All classes with special holiday music! All are at the Inspire Dance Studio in La Canada. If you don't know where that is, see the sidebar for address and directions. I hope you can make it!

New Class Time - starting in January!!

Next month, my Tuesday Advanced Beginner ballet class at Dance Arts Academy will begin at a new time:

7-8:30PM

Mark your calendars! I have heard from lots of students that the 6:30 start time was a real challenge to get to. LA traffic can be a nightmare and unpredictable. I hope this extra 30 minute buffer means you don't need to stress out about getting to class on time and you won't have to leave work early to get there.

Nutcracker Pics!!

This year my dancers performed with Classical Ballet Theater at the Norris Theater in Palos Verdes. It is a beautiful theater with a huge stage and great seating. We loved performing there and CBT's owner, Kotomi, was so kind and generous to invite us as their guest artists. We hope to be dancing with them again in the spring (mark your calendars for May 21!).

Here are a few photos from the show. Maybe you'll dance with us next time!

Upcoming holiday class schedule & The Nutcracker

Local students -  

 

I'll be teaching ALL of my classes as usual at Dance Arts Academy and Inspire from now until the end of the year with the exception of Thanksgiving night. 

 

This *includes* the Saturday after Thanksgiving, 11/26, as well as my classes on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve mornings. If you have any questions, just ask or check the calendar on my blog and website.

 

Also, if you're interested in seeing some of your fellow dancers perform in the Nutcracker, we'll be doing 2 shows with Classical Ballet Theater on Sunday Dec 4th at the Norris Theater in Palos Verdes. More info is below.

 

Happy holidays and happy dancing~

Holiday classes and 2016 Workshops

To my local students, some information about classes over the holidays as well as my new workshop schedule:

In addition to my regular schedule this month, I'll also be teaching 2 holiday-themed classes on the mornings of December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 31 (New Year's Eve). They will be open level that anyone can attend. If you're in town, I hope you'll come dance! They are always lots of fun and a great way to escape the holiday frenzy.

When: 12/24 and 12/31
Time: 10-11:30AM
Location: Vonder Haar Center for Performing Arts, 437 Foothill Blvd, La Canada
Cost: $15 (or you can use your class card)

WORKSHOPS AT DANCE ARTS ACADEMY:

Thursdays, 8-9PM, $17/workshop

Limited to 10 students with a 4 student minimum

 1/7 - traveling turns: chaine and soutenu
1/14 - barre cleanup: plie, releve and port de bras
2/4 - small jumps: brise, assemble battu and brise vole
2/18 - barre cleanup: tendu, degage and rond de jambe
3/3 - turns: pirouette en dehors
3/17 - barre cleanup: grand battement, developpe and grand rond en l'air

WORKSHOPS AT VONDER HAAR CENTER:
Saturdays, 11:30AM-12:30PM, $17/workshop
Limited to 12 students with a 4 student minimum

1/9 - contemporary ballet
1/16 - turns: pirouette en dehors
1/23 - pointe/variation
1/30 - jumps: jete and assemble
2/6 - contemporary ballet
2/13 - turns: pirouette en dedans
2/20 - pointe/variation
2/27 - jumps: saut de chat and grand jete

ALL workshops are suitable for all levels of dancers. The Pointe variation classes may be attended by students in flat slippers if they do not work en pointe.

I encourage students to sign up in advance as most workshops tend to sell out. SIGN UP HERE.

Happy holidays, beautiful dancers! And happy dancing into 2016!

Upcoming events!

Hello beautiful dancers and happy holidays to you all! A few things of interest for those of you who are local and those who are not.

Coming up in 1 week! I'll be hosting a LIVE online discussion of Misty Copeland's new memoir, "Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina" on Friday, December 19th at 12:30PM PST/3:30PM Eastern. It will happen at Dance Advantage where my review of the memoir will be posted along with some possible topics for discussion.  Here are a few to think about:

Racial diversity in ballet
Economic discrimination in ballet
Teachers: external challenges we face with students
Students: dealing with and overcoming family obstacles
Parents: How far should parents go to encourage their children?
Curves and growth; how do we handle body changes in young dancers?

If you've got more, let me know so we can be sure to include them. I loved Misty's story and can't wait to talk about it with other readers. Book Troupe: put it in your calendar!

Next up: 2 Holiday classes with me!

On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve mornings, I will be teaching at Vonder Haar Center for the Performing Arts in La Canada, from 10-11:30AM. It will be suitable for beginners through intermediate level dancers and you know I'll have fun music to celebrate the holidays!

So come all ye ballet faithful and dance with me! And for more class schedule info, be sure to check the calendar below or email me about specific classes, if you want to know more.

Coming in January: Elementary Ballet Workshop

For all of you (or 12 of you actually, since this is a limited number workshop) who have wanted to take class with me but have no experience at all, this workshop is for you. For 3 Fridays in January, I will offer a workshop that covers just the basics of ballet barre and center. 

What: Elementary Ballet workshop
Where: Dance Arts Academy, 731 South La Brea, Los Angeles, CA 90036
When: January 9, 16 & 23, 2015, 6-7PM

Attire: Ballet slippers (thin socks if you don't have them) and leotard and tights (or leggings/shorts and tank top if you are more comfortable)

Cost: $60 for the entire workshop
You will need to sign up in advance through PayPal. I will post the link this weekend when signup officially opens. I am limiting the class to 12, with a minimum of 6.

(Foot)notes

This tidbit in Pointe magazine caught my eye, so I thought I'd share:

Wish your pointe shoes were slightly less painful? Get more sleep! A recent study found that when people stayed in bed for at least 10 hours a night, by the fourth day they experienced a 25 percent decrease in pain sensitivity. Researchers think this happens because we have more pain receptors in our blood system when we're exhausted. How's that for an excuse to sleep in? (Pointe Magazine 12/18/12)

So get your rest and save your feet.

FYI...for all of my local dancers in Pasadena and Los Angeles...the following classes are canceled for the holidays:

--Christmas Eve classes at Le Studio
--Christmas Day classes at Dance Arts
--12/26 classes at Dance Arts (evening classes at Le Studio WILL be in session!)
--New Year's Eve classes at Le Studio (except for my 10AM $10 special class!!)
--New Year's Day classes at Dance Arts

ALL other classes ARE in session. If you have any questions, please check the calendar at the bottom of this page or send me an email.  Happy and healthy dancing to all!

For all of my local students, please note my holiday schedule plus special price breaks through the end of the year at both Le Studio in Pasadena and at Dance Arts Academy in LA.

At Le Studio:
--ALL of my classes continue through the holidays
--**Special price: morning classes on Saturday, Dec 24th and Saturday, Dec 31st are only $10 each!
--New Stretch class for strengthening and flexibility on Thursdays, 5:30-6:30PM

At DAA:
--Class continues through the holidays
--**Special price: if you buy a 5-class card before the end of 2011, you will get one class free! Can be used thru 2/2012.
--**Special price: if you bring a friend in during the month of January (a new student), you each pay only $11!

I want you all to stay fit and stay sane through the holidays! 

Be well and happy dancing~

Leigh's $10 Ballet class is back!

To celebrate the end of '10, my 9AM classes on Friday, December 24 and Friday, December 31 are just $10 each!

What: Leigh's Adult Beg/Int ballet class
When: Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve mornings, 9AM-10:30AM
Where: Le Studio, 57 Palmetto Dr, Pasadena, CA 91105

(To see my full schedule during the holiday break, check the calendar below)

Hope to see you! Happy holidays and happy dancing~