December 2024 schedule: No classes Dec 11th-31st!

 

Holiday break info! All classes as usual from Dec 1st-8th (we'll even be doing our winter tradition of Tarantella!). I'll be out of town Dec 11th through 31st but I'll be teaching 2 classes via Zoom on Dec 16th and 19th (info and sign-up below). Happy Thanksgiving Day class! Two Zoom classes + 2 workshops during the break! I'm so excited to be teaching at Cheshire Performing Arts Academy in the town where my parents live in Connecticut. The owner, Brittany Barbaro, is partnering with me for a pop-up class and two workshops for her adult and teen students, which means I can Zoom to my students from a real studio instead of a living room! On Monday, Dec 16th, I'll be teaching Ballet from 3-4:30PM PST/6PM EST, PLUS a 30 min Pirouette workshop at 4:30PM/7:30PM, PLUS a 30 minute Pointe/Pre-pointe workshop at 5PM/8PM. Sign-up for 1, 2 or all classes! Dancers who are local to me in Connecticut can take them all IN PERSON!! Sign-up here for Zoom. Sign-up here for in-person. On Thursday, Dec 19th, I'll be teaching Ballet from 3-4:30PM PST/6PM EST. Sign-up here for Zoom. Sign-up at the studio in-person. Important Zoom info! Dancers have found that FaceTime and Messenger calls are far more stable than Zoom when it comes to online classes taught at the studio. If you are new to Zoom class with me, PLEASE provide me with a phone number where I can send you a FaceTime link or friend me on Messenger so I can do a video call to you. When I am in Connecticut, I will test Zoom but if it's not stable, I will use FaceTime or Messenger. If you have a question or concern, just email me. Start 2025 with Dance! Mark your calendars now for January 1st to dance with me at Inspire, both in person and on Zoom. I'll be teaching Ballet in studio 1 from 10-11:30AM and a Jazz class in studio 2 from 11:45AM-12:45PM. LPBC News On Giving Tuesday, please consider LPBC! On December 3, you can help us spread the word about ballet. Your donation supports our mission of Ballet for Everyone and gives us more resources to reach beyond our friends and fans to increase our presence in the dance world and build our dance community. Thank you for considering a tax-deductible donation! ("Sweet Sorrow, A Zombie Ballet" Photo by Jazley Faith)   Copyright © 2024 Leigh Purtill Ballet, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

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!

This is Halloween, Halloween, Halloween!

Hello beautiful dancers!

Time to celebrate my favorite holiday - twice! 

By special request, this year I'll be doing special Halloween-themed classes on Tuesday 10/30 and Wednesday 10/31, with fun music and homemade treats. All other classes will be held as usual.

What: Halloween!

When/Where: 

Tuesday, 10/30 at 7PM, Dance Arts Academy

Wednesday 10/31 at 6:30PM and 8PM, Inspire Dance Studio

Feel free to dress up. Spook you in class!

In case you didn't get to my company's show last weekend, here are some fun photos from Rawl of the Dead and a video teaser from Vic Mendoza:

ALL classes as usual through the holiday weekend!

Hello beautiful local dancers!

I will be laboring for you all weekend and through Monday as well (see what I did there? ha!) so please come on in to class:

Saturday 9/1 at Inspire Dance Studio

9AM Beginner ballet
10AM Intermediate ballet
11:30AM Pointe/pre-pointe


Monday 9/3 at Inspire Dance Studio

6:30PM Intermediate ballet
8PM Beginner ballet

Patricia Ho *not* in labor...yet!

See you in class! Happy dancing~

Leigh's December schedule for classes

Happy holidays to all of you!

A few notes about my classes at Inspire Dance Studio and Dance Arts Academy in December:

NO CLASSES DECEMBER 4TH-9TH

At Inspire, no classes on Monday 12/4, Wednesday 12/6 and Saturday 12/9

At Dance Arts, no classes on Tuesday 12/5 and Thursday 12/7

NO CLASS CHRISTMAS DAY

ALL OTHER CLASSES AS USUAL THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR

 

If people are interested, I WILL teach a late morning class on New Year's Day at Inspire Dance Studio. Please email me or tell me in class if you would like that!

Happy dancing!

--

Leigh Purtill
www.LeighPurtillBallet.com

My teaching schedule

Holiday event & book launch for Nutcracked by Susan Adrian

For my local students and their families!

On Sunday, November 12th, Jennifer Ward, the owner of my favorite dance shop, Priscilla's Dancewear in Montrose, will host a delightful holiday party for kids and their parents which will include an appearance by Susan Adrian, the author of NUTCRACKED, a charming book for kids. She'll be on hand to talk about her life as a dancer, to offer some advice to young dancers and to sign copies of her book (makes a great gift!).

The Montrose area is a lovely little town with coffee shops and bookstores and lots of locally-owned businesses. It's a great place to do a pre-holiday shopping trip, before or after the fun event at Priscilla's. 

To give you a taste of what's to come at the party, I asked Susan Adrian to share a bit about herself and what her book is all about. Thanks so much, Susan!

Nutcracker Life

By Susan Adrian

I first saw The Nutcracker when I was 7 years old. I watched the big tree grow and grow on stage, lit by Clara's single candle, to Tchaikovsky's haunting score, and I was absolutely entranced. I wanted to be part of that magic so badly. I told my mother after the show that I wanted to be Clara.

I got ballet lessons for Christmas that year.

I worked hard at the small local studio. When I was 10 I auditioned for The Nutcracker with the Sacramento Ballet, the same company I'd seen. I got the part of a second-cast Marshmallow Child. That Christmas I got lessons at the Sacramento Ballet Company, 45 minutes each way.

The next year I got Party Child, second cast. The third year I got Party Child first cast, and a lamb in the Shepherdess dance. The next year, when I was 13, I got to be Clara, in the same theater I'd watched it.

I have a vivid memory of being in a performance, in my nightgown with my single candle, with mice lurking behind me around the stage. A little kid in the audience called out clearly, "Watch out, Clara!" That was the dream come true. I was making the magic real for others now.

Years later, I don't dance anymore, but I found another way to make Nutcracker magic real for kids. I wrote a book about being Clara in The Nutcracker, being 12 or 13, and having to balance that with the rest of your life, your family and friendships…but now there's real, more tangible magic too. This Clara—Georgie—gets drawn into the Nutcracker's world every time she dances with her company's antique Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is in real danger, and now it's trickling through to her real life too. Georgie has to save everyone while still keeping up with rehearsals.

NUTCRACKED has magic, ballet, family, and friendship struggles and successes. For me, it's a full circle. I'm just living my Nutcracker dream in a different way now.  

Update for Summer Schedule

Hello beautiful dancers!

A couple of notes for summer...

1. Memorial Day weekend - ALL classes as usual throughout the long weekend.

2. Summer subbing - on Thursday mornings, June 1-July 20, I will be subbing for Carol Guidry at Studio A in Silverlake, 10:15-11:45AM. The class will be similar in level to my Tues/Thurs evening classes. Fee is $15, cash only. (No credit card/check/class cards for these classes.)

AND Congrats to all my students who performed on Sunday!

Would you like to perform with a lovely group of dancers? Save the Date for Nutcracker: 11/19!

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!

Holiday weekend classes as usual!

Hello local friends and dancers!

Have no fear! My classes will be held as usual all weekend long at Inspire Dance Studio (formerly Vonder Haar Center for the Performing Arts):

Saturday 7/2:
Beginner ballet 9AM
Intermediate ballet 10AM
Workshop - Contemporary Ballet 11:30AM

Monday 7/4:
Intermediate ballet 6:30PM
Beginner ballet 8PM

Come take class with me and celebrate your own independence!

(Image by Delores Knowles - Visit her fine art page here)

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.

Labor Day long weekend schedule

Los Angeles and Pasadena friends and dancers!

My classes will be held as usual this weekend, including Monday, Labor Day. If you have some time off from laboring, come take class:

Friday, August 29, Le Studio:
6:30-8PM Intermediate Ballet

Saturday, August 30, Le Studio:
9-10AM Beginner Ballet
10-11:30AM Intermediate Ballet
11:30AM-12:30PM Pointe 1

Monday, September 1, Le Studio:
6-6:30PM Basic Pointe
6:30-7:45PM Intermediate Ballet
7:45-9PM Beginner Ballet

Hope to see you but if not, I hope you enjoy the long weekend! Happy dancing~

FYI - Classes are in session on President's Day!

Beautiful dancers of Los Angeles and Pasadena: I will be teaching my classes as usual on Monday, February 17th. They are at Le Studio in Pasadena:

6PM Basic Pointe
6:30PM Beg/Intermediate Ballet
7:45PM Basic Ballet

So if you are looking for class on that day, be sure to come take it with me!

Also, a housekeeping note: I am always thrilled when I get emails from students who want to begin ballet as adults. To them I say, "Awesome!" However, at this time, the only location where I am teaching Basic Ballet (which is suitable for anyone at any level) is at Le Studio in Pasadena on Monday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. I do not teach this class at Dance Arts Academy so please please do not purchase a class card through my blog because it is only valid for my classes at DAA, not at Le Studio.

If you ever have questions about a class, about the level, about what to wear, about my schedule...please send me an email first. I do issue refunds to people who make card purchases in error but it costs me to do so, plus it's disappointing for you as well.

Thanks and happy dancing!

Holiday Schedule Reminder: July 4th

A short reminder to my Los Angeles and Pasadena students:

No class on July 4th! Happy Independence Day!

BUT! All of my other other classes at both Dance Arts Academy and Le Studio WILL be held as usual all week and weekend.  

AND! There is air-conditioning at both studios.  While I don't like too much cold air on warm muscles, I appreciate a bit of cooling off between classes or if it's terribly humid. Marley floors and pointe shoes respond to heat and humidity, if you didn't already know that.

Hope to see you in class! Enjoy your holiday~ 

Easter weekend class schedule

For my students in Los Angeles and Pasadena, please know that ALL of my classes will be happening as usual at Le Studio in Pasadena over this holiday weekend.

Also, on Sunday, I will be teaching the Intermediate/Advanced Ballet class for Caltech Ballet Club, from 11AM-12:30PM.  More information about that class and its location and cost can be found at their website.

Happy Easter to all who celebrate!

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~

Dancing through the 4th and the summer!

Hello everyone and happy summer!

A couple of things to tell you about~

1. On Monday, July 4th, I *will* be holding my 9:30AM class at Dance Arts Academy as usual. The fabulous Leon Logvinsky will be playing for me and traffic will be oh-so-minimal! And parking is free! Come enjoy class before you fire up the grill...

(For my Le Studio students in Pasadena, I am probably holding my evening classes there at 6:30 and 7:30 as well...I'll know more soon.)

2. Beginning July 6th, and for July and August only, I will be taking over Preston Li's time slot at Dance Arts Academy on Wednesdays from 11:30AM - 1PM. Same level, same space, possibly even the same combinations (lol!), etc. as my Monday morning class.

Dance Arts Academy
731 South La Brea Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Le Studio Dance
57 Palmetto Dr
Pasadena, CA 91109

Back in session!

Please forgive another boring schedule-related post...just want everyone to know my classes are all back for the new year. I will be teaching my classes as normal on Monday, January 17, which is Martin Luther King Day so if you have the holiday off, come take class with me and start your day with ballet.

[That would make a great bumper sticker: Start Your Day With Ballet! Maybe I'll have to make some of those...]

On the video front, I will soon be posting the trailer for my studio's Nutcracker DVD to give people an idea of what the show looked like. Hint: it was adorable!

Another video note...my webmaster/editor promises me he will get the next instructional video up as soon as he is finished editing the Nutcracker DVD.

Next blog, I promise will be actually interesting! 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~

Ballet Intensive over - on to the classic Nut!

Melissa and I would like to thank everyone who attended the intensive over the past two weeks. We had a terrific time working with everyone - it's especially satisfying to watch people improve and make changes to their technique and their bodies in such a short period. It just goes to show you that consistency is one of the most important parts of training!

[For anyone who was involved in the partnering days and would like to see pictures of themselves being partnered by Jackson or Robson, please let me know your Facebook account or send me your email address so I can send you the link. The on-line photos are set to private view. Thank you!]

And on to the Nut! Nutcracker, that is. This year, Le Studio will be presenting a classical version of The Nutcracker which will be choreographed by Melissa, me and another ballet instructor at the studio, Susie Fioretti. Together we will be putting together a condensed show - with all the boring parts cut out! Ha! Seriously, though, it's going to be a fun show.

We'd like to give everyone at the studio a chance to perform with the ballet company. So if you are an adult student or the parent of a child at the studio and you'd like to be on stage, please consider our Nutcracker. We would love to have all ages and experience levels involved so we can make the show a true Le Studio endeavor. We are considering the afternoon of Sunday, December 12th as a possible date, so take a look at your calendars and let us know if you're interested. For my students, when we have a final date as well as a rehearsal schedule, I will remind you all at the start of the Fall season, which is next week!

And one final note: I will be teaching ALL of my regular classes on Labor Day, this Monday, September 6th, so if you have the day off, come take class with me in the morning or evening. Isabella is our accompanist in the morning and she is wonderful.

Happy dancing~