Want to join a ballet company? Join LPBC!

Hello beautiful dancers! 

Whether you're local to Los Angeles or live outside the area, we'd like to invite you to apply to be a member of the nonprofit amateur adult ballet company, Leigh Purtill Ballet Company. 

In 2021, we believe we will be doing rehearsals and performances over Zoom, perhaps some outdoors and in person, maybe a hybrid show where dancers perform both in-person and outdoors as well as over Zoom. We require that dancers who want to perform attend regular classes and keep up their technique and to attend quarterly company meetings virtually. They will also be asked to assist in promotion and outreach. For remote members, this might mean helping with social media, involving their local dance community, encouraging local fans and dancers to attend a virtual event/donate; outreach might look like contacting certain communities in their local areas to invite them to participate in a virtual workshop of some kind.

We are excited about the wonderful opportunities we have in reaching out to audiences and dancers in other parts of our country and globally! Our company thrives on the innovations and ideas members bring to us.

 

We believe we can create a community of dancers 

that extends beyond physical location.

If this is something you'd like to be part of, please click through, fill out the form and provide a video by January 31, 2021.

Happy dancing, everyone~

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.

Come join our dance community!

Season 4!

We’re a diverse and inclusive community of adult ballet dancers.

Leigh Purtill Ballet Company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a focus on bringing ballet to audiences who never thought ballet would be for them. 

We perform in various venues and for a wide range of audiences. 

We do community outreach and workshops for kids and teens too. 

We’d love to see YOU at our company intention on January 12, 2020.

 🩰❤️😊

When: Sunday, January 12, 2020
Time: 12-2PM
Where: Inspire Dance Studio, 457 Foothill Blvd, La Canada CA 91011

PLEASE take a moment to read our company membership requirements!

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!

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.