It's still summer in the studio!

 

September 2024 schedule Wednesdays 6:45-8:15PM - Beginner ballet 8:15-9:15PM - Beginner jazz (just like a super fun Dance Party!) Thursdays 6:30-8PM - Basic ballet 8-9:30PM - Open level ballet Saturdays 9:30-11AM - Beginner ballet 11AM-12PM - Pointe/pre-pointe Sundays 10-11:30AM - Intermediate ballet 11:30AM-1PM - Basic ballet SIGN UP FOR ALL CLASSES HERE Please consider posting a review! If you have posted one already on Yelp, Google or FB, thank you SO MUCH! And if you haven't, I would truly appreciate it. Positive words from current students really encourage new dancers to try a class. Thank you in advance! Review on Yelp Review on Google Review on Facebook     LPBC News Early bird savings until 9/7 for the return of "Sweet Sorrow"! October 19 & 20, 2024 at the Lanterman Auditorium in La Canada, CA! Have you missed our zombies and our tragic star-crossed lovers? Well, mark your calendars for their rise from the crypt this October. And if you can't see it in person, we'll be streaming on Halloween weekend. Even if you've seen this show before, we have NEW characters, NEW music, NEW storytelling. We are never satisfied - we constantly evolve to respond to our audience and give them more reasons to come back to the theater. READY TO BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW? Tickets are on sale now with an EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT!! Get them at Eventbrite! See you at the show! Check out some of our dancers in rehearsals for the stage. Werewolves and Ravens, oh my!

Summer is here! Dance in the cool studio!

 

July 2024 schedule

Wednesdays

6:45-8:15PM - Beginner ballet
8:15-9:15PM - Beginner jazz (Leigh's Dance Party!)
Thursdays (No classes July 4th!)
6:30-8PM - Basic ballet
8-9:30PM - Open level ballet
Saturdays
9:30-11AM - Beginner ballet
11AM-12PM - Pointe/pre-pointe
Sundays

10-11:30AM - Intermediate ballet
11:30AM-1PM - Basic ballet

SIGN UP FOR ALL CLASSES HERE

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LET'S DANCE ALL SUMMER LONG!
Aside from Independence Day, I will be teaching all of July and the rest of the summer. It's a great time to be in the studio, especially when you need a break from the heat.

More fun - Zumba party with LPBC!
Company members MaLisa Martin and Samantha Mahony are holding Zumba classes on Friday nights at Inspire, 6:15-7:15PM. Loads of fun, great Latin music to dance to, and 1/3 of the proceeds will go to the company. It's win-win-win!

 

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LPBC News

Our first East Coast Ballet All Day workshops!

June 1st was a smashing success!
We had so much fun working with the dancers who attended our very first Ballet All Day event in Kingston, MA. Company members Amanda Singrassia (who owns Dreamworks Performing Arts Center & Wellness where we held the workshops) and Asher Taylor-Dawson not only taught Partnering but also performed with their respective dance partners, Cisco Sanchez and Tamar Cohen, which was such a treat for all of us. Company member Tom Misnik joined us too, coming all the way from Philadelphia.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. Can't wait for the next one!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you miss LPBC's video for Pride Month?
Check out the beautiful original duet created by Alexes Togiai Ciardi, Elena Castellanos, Jamie Haley and Jim Luna, performed by Alexes and Elena. Link here.

Let's dance! More videos for your home use !

Hello again, beautiful dancers!

Today I am holding an adult ballet intensive with some of our remote company members who live on the East Coast. We're calling it Ballet All Day! If you can't make it, why not do some dancing at home? As I did before, I'm posting a couple of YouTube videos which were recorded live during the pandemic: one with pointe work and one without.

Have fun!

From June 18, 2020:

Beginner Ballet

From May 23, 2020:

Beginner/Intermediate Ballet with Pointe

See you on June 15!

Ready to get CRACKED? Video on demand NOW!

 

Did you miss the Leigh Purtill Ballet Company's performance of "Cracked," our Nutcracker with a twist? 

Fret no more! It's now available for the low price of $20 - anytime you want! Get your e-ticket now through Eventbrite and you'll receive the link that will give you access to the video until midnight at the end of 2023. 

It's super fun for the whole family! It even has an actual family in it!

It's got all the things you love in a Nutcracker performance plus so much more!

 

Thanksgiving class and more!

November 2023 schedule - In-studio and online!

Wednesdays

6:45-8:15PM - Beginner ballet
8:15-9:15PM - Beginner Jazz (aka Leigh's Dance Party!)
Thursdays
6:30-8PM - Basic ballet
8-9:30PM - Open level ballet - TRY IT! YOU'LL LIKE IT!
Saturdays
9:30-11AM - Beginner ballet
11AM-12PM - Pointe/pre-pointe
Sundays

10AM-11:30AM - Intermediate ballet
11:30AM-1PM - Basic Ballet

SIGN UP FOR ALL CLASSES HERE

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DID YOU MISS HALLOWEEN CLASS?
We had a blast dancing to spooky tunes in fabulous costumes and enjoying some homemade treats. Take a look at this amazing group in their awesome costumes! Thank you, everyone, for coming and spreading the Halloween joy.
 

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR: THANKSGIVING MORNING CLASS!
On Thursday 11/23 at 10AM I will be teaching my traditional Thanksgiving Day morning class. It's one of my very favorite classes. I hope you'll join me in celebrating a community I am truly grateful for: YOU. You can sign up here.
Inspire Dance Studio, Thursday, November 23, 10-11:30AM

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LPBC News

Tickets for "Cracked" are on sale now! November 11 & 12, Lanterman Auditorium (on-demand video info to come)

Less than two weeks from today, we will be on stage at the Lanterman in La Canada (right up the street from Inspire on Cornishon off Foothill). There's lots to see in this production and we are excited to share our original take on the classic Nutcracker with you.

Shows on Saturday, November 11 at 7PM and Sunday, November 12 at 4PM. We'll also have some great items you can purchase to kick off your holiday season! Get your tickets here.

Wondering what's new? Take a peek here (thanks to Alexes Togiai Ciardi for the interview and for putting this video together!).
 

Behind the Mind of CRACKED
 

 

First newsletter of 2021! Welcome to the New Year!

 

Blossom is a fun barre mate but I will be happy to return to the studio! January 2021 schedule HAPPY NEW YEAR, BEAUTIFUL DANCERS! All classes in session as scheduled (view here). Please sign up online here. ALSO! Outdoor class at Inspire is now on the regular schedule! Saturdays 12-1PM. Sign-up in advance; limited to 6.   Coming soon: A second Easy Basic Partnering Workshop & Spring Break Online Intensive! Did you miss the first partnering workshop? No worries! We're doing another one in January (either Saturday 1/23 or Sunday 1/24 - email me which date you prefer!). Here's a little tease of what we did last time: Blossom & Mo & Me! ALSO! I'm planning a Spring Break Online Intensive in mid-February! Stay tuned and contact me if you're interested...   Access to YouTube video archives A new Beginner/Intermediate with Pre-pointe playlist is now available! The link will be valid from 1/1/21 through 6/30/21. ALSO! A new Friday playlist is available! It includes November & December 2020 videos and will be valid through 6/30/21. VISIT my website for more information!   Extra fun! On January 2nd at 2:30PM PST/5:30PM EST, I will be hosting an online book launch party for Terez Mertes Rose, a former dancer whose newest novel, BALLET ORPHANS, is now available. Because the story is set in 1989, we'll be doing an 80s theme with costumes, a trivia game, readings from the book and a mini-class with 80s music taught by me! It's FREE and open to ALL! ALSO! Terez will be giving away lots of AMAZING prizes! (Did I mention it's free?) Sign-up in advance here and read more about the book on Terez's blog. Or check out my review of the book for Dance Advantage. A TEASE of a video to come! "A Taste of Nutcracker" is a mini-showcase of my students performing Dance of the Snowflakes PLUS a collaboration with two studios in Vancouver, BC and Peru! Students from Chicago,Nashville and Northern California joined too! Click the photo for a tiny tease of what's to come.   LPBC News One more fun link featuring the dancers of Leigh Purtill Ballet Company! Company Member Spotlight! The newest video in our ongoing series on our YouTube channel, Company Spotlights created by Alexes Ciardi, is an interview with company member Jen Marchain, below.  Be sure to subscribe to our channel to see more in the series! Spotlight on Jen Marchain P.S. Have YOU ever considered joining the company? We'll be posting information on our 2021 season very soon! Follow us on Instagram to learn more!

New class, Valentine's Day, and more in the February newsletter!

February 2020 schedule Classes are all on as usual throughout the entire month. Reminder: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday classes are at Inspire Dance Studio; Tuesday classes are at Live Arts LA. View my full schedule here (scroll to bottom of page). SPECIAL CLASS! This year, Valentine's Day falls on a Friday but I will be holding a "Bring-Your-Special-Friend/Partner/Significant Other" class on WEDNESDAY, FEB 12th! This class was SO much fun last year! Non-traditional music with a simple barre and floor work that anyone can do. If you have a friend who has always wanted to try ballet but was nervous, bring them to this one!   Special notes Starting tomorrow, February 2, (Groundhog Day AND Super Bowl Sunday!) 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. ALSO: please contact me if you would like to see a 30 minute pointe class following. I will need to have a fairly consistent group in order to put it on the schedule.   Featured technique tip! Get your back engaged for better turns, stronger jumps and more! A Powerful Back More fun links: Many of you have already seen this article in Slate magazine but if you haven't, it's worth a read with your morning coffee. A woman writes about how much starting ballet at age 62 has affected her life. If you know anything about me and my personal philosophy about dance, you know how much I believe in ballet for our mental and physical health and our connection to others as we age.   LPBC News Did you feel all g-r-o-o-v-y when you saw that photo at the top of the newsletter? That's LPBC company members April McLeod, Omaira Galarza and Annett Bone in a piece I choreographed that they will be performing at NACHMO on Sunday, February 9 at the Broadwater Main Stage in Hollywood. Show tickets are just $12 in advance here. Annett will be performing in a second piece on Sunday and Jackie Nii, another returning company member, will perform in the Saturday show. Come see them and all the wonderful local dancers. Halloween in February? That's right! HauntX is a DIY Haunters convention at the Pomona Fairplex on February 22-23. Our company will have a booth to promote our shows in October and our fundraiser on April 18th. BONUS! Our zombies will be doing some flash mob performances throughout the weekend. Below...Introducing our 2020 Company Members! This year we have 47 talented dancers in the company and I could not be more thrilled to be working with them all. We've got shows, a fundraiser, and lots of cool community outreach planned for the season. (This photo is missing a few members: Rae Aaselund, Marla Bleavins, Patricia Ho, Stephanie Kuga, Linda Le Verne, Corey McCullough, Jackie Nii, Elizabeth Risha)

Holiday weekend classes & Fun teaser video!

Beautiful dancers in the LA area!

YES, there are classes AS USUAL over this Memorial Day weekend! Come take ballet with me!

Inspire Dance Studio

457 Foothill Blvd

La Canada CA 91011

Saturday, May 25: 

Beginner - 9AM

Intermediate - 10:10AM

Pointe - 11:35AM

Monday, May 27:

Intermediate - 6:30PM

Beginner - 8PM

Just for fun, here is a teaser video for my new ballet, Hotel at the End of the Universe, which will premiere on Saturday, June 29 at the Colony Theatre Company in Burbank, CA. If you're in the area (or plan to be!) I hope you'll see the show. Right now we have a discount on tickets! Until June 1, you can get 2 for $42 - a great savings over the regular price of $30/ticket. Visit Eventbrite to order yours!

Special thanks to Raul Paredes (@rawlofthedead) who shot and edited this awesome teaser!

LPBC's 2nd annual Silent Auction! April 13th~

Mark your calendars for my nonprofit ballet company's second annual silent auction fundraiser:

Saturday, April 13th!

Those of you who attended last year know that we had an amazing collection of items for bid and this year will be just as great, if not even more awesome:

-Massage gift certificates

-Fancy pocketbooks

-Ballgowns and handcrafted tiaras

-Autographed books

-Acupuncture gift certificates

-Yoga lessons

-Wines

-Original artwork

And so much more, including yummy baked goods and treats, merchandise and other swag! Each of our dancers brings to the company vast and varied resources that we are proud to promote. 

I'll also be showing a sneak peek of the original ballet, Hotel at the End of the Universe, a brand new show we're presenting on June 29th at the Colony Theater in Burbank. Limited seating is available for that event so you definitely want to grab your tickets soon which will be conveniently purchasable at the silent auction.

We're collecting items for donation so please do contact me if you'd like to give something. All donations, whether something you're giving or something you're bidding on, are tax-deductible and ALL proceeds go directly to the company for upcoming shows and outreach events. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

What: LPBC Silent Auction

When: Saturday, April 13, 6-8PM

Where: 1054 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015

RSVP (not required but will remind you): Eventbrite listing

Thank you all! Hope to see you there!

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.

SAVE the date for Coffee with the Company!

On August 18th, from 6-9PM, the Leigh Purtill Ballet Company will be hosting a FREE event to benefit the company - and you as well! There will be yummy food, special coffee drinks, performances by company members, and a SUPER COOL silent auction!

~MARK YOUR CALENDARS~

What's new on the blog?

My company, Leigh Purtill Ballet Company, recently started rehearsals for our upcoming show, SWEET SORROW, A ZOMBIE BALLET, which will be performed on October 20 and 21 this year, at the Lanterman Auditorium in La Canada.

So far we've gotten a great head start on the Funeral entrance and opening dance, the Witches, Romeo & Juliet's pas de deux, and a brand new piece, the Spiders! They are elegant and frightening. I'm so excited to be doing new material for this show!

Here are a couple of shots of Holly (Juliet) and Bill (Romeo) working on the pas yesterday. I'll post more pics/stills from rehearsals as I get them.

I've posted a separate calendar below my teaching schedule at the bottom of this page which will include all the rehearsals for the company. (If I could figure it out, I would integrate all of my calendars but I am not that tech-savvy!) As rehearsals are added or changed, this calendar will also be updated so if you are a member of the company or someone who is excited about the show, you can check the calendar for updates.

What else is new? 

I'll be subbing for Carol Guidry on a couple of upcoming Thursdays, June 21st and July 5th, at Studio A on Hyperion Avenue in Silverlake, at 10:15AM. The class level is comparable to my Advanced Beginner class, maybe a little more Intermediate than usual. Cost is $15, cash only, please, no class cards, since I have to do my bookkeeping with the studio directly. Hope you can make it if you have those mornings available!

Happy dancing~

Catching up!

Happy Autumn!

My favorite time of year: Halloween and dried leaves on the sidewalk and 90 degree weather.

Oh that's just us in Southern California!

I wanted to catch you all up on some fun things that have been going on.

First of all, my ballet company's debut performance was on October 8 at the Lanterman Auditorium. It was the world premiere of my original full-length ballet, Sweet Sorrow, A Zombie Ballet and it was amazing! I am so incredibly proud of all of my dancers and I am thrilled with how the show turned out, from costumes to lighting to set design to program design. Everything was so professional!

For those of you who wanted to make it but couldn't, here is a promo reel to tide you over until next year:

Doesn't that make you want to see the whole thing?

Next I have a couple of fun article links, both about my company and interviews with me:

The Advocate article about Sweet Sorrow A Zombie Ballet

And

Footloose Mission Health and Wellness Blog

I am so honored to be profiled and to have my company featured on both of these sites.

So now that all of that is over for another year, we can take a break, yes? No!

Bring on Nutcracker! 

That's right, I'm preparing my brain for a Waltz of the Flowers invasion (I use a short version but it just sticks in my brain no matter how long it is!). We perform with Classical Ballet Theater at the Norris Theater in Palos Verdes, CA. It's a gorgeous stage and there is balcony seating, so classic and classy. We have a great time with Kotomi's students and we enjoy the camaraderie with her young students. We will be performing two matinees on Sunday, November 19, at 1PM and 4PM. Tickets will go on sale soon and I'll post the link.

Whew! Happy dancing, everyone~

6 weeks til showtime!!

Hello beautiful dancers and friends of dancers and zombie lovers and friends of zombie lovers!

Did you know...

--"Zombie Ballet" won the second episode of the Gong Show this summer?

--We were invited to perform for the second year in a row at the ScareLA horror convention in Los Angeles?

--An hour long production is coming in 6 weeks?

On October 8, at the Lanterman Auditorium in La Canada Flintridge, the Leigh Purtill Ballet Company - the nonprofit company I formed in January - will present the premiere of "Sweet Sorrow, A Zombie Ballet." Shows are at 4PM and 7PM. Tickets are on sale now through Eventbrite; $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

Don't wait! Get your tickets now!

Thank you very kindly for your support!

Yes, you may have this dance!

Some of my awesome beginner students

Recently I was reviewing the progress of a student who is fairly new to ballet (and honestly, if you haven't been dancing for a decade, you're still new in the eyes of ballet!) and I noticed that he was only now - after a few years with me - starting to make his presence known on-stage and in class.

In other words, he was giving himself permission to dance.

What does that mean - permission? We are all adults. Can't we do whatever the heck we want?

Yes and no.

We absolutely can do what we want but often there is an internal voice telling us not to. It's telling us:

You're the wrong body type.
You're too slow.
You're not smart enough.
People will think there's something wrong with you.
People will laugh at you.
Only privileged people are allowed to do that.

And for "privileged" you are welcome to insert "white, rich, thin, and female" because if we are all adults here, we need to be honest about how ballet has always been represented.

Nutcracker Party scene 2016

You all know my philosophy about ballet being for everyone and you all know I try to be as inclusive as I can with my classes and my performances and now with my company, Leigh Purtill Ballet Company. I don't need to talk more about that.

Look, you're an adult. You've decided to come to class. You bought a class card and some new slippers and tights and you've made some friends.

Now tell yourself it's okay for you to dance. In fact, it's more than okay: it's a must. You must dance. You must make your presence known in class and on stage. You must dance as big as you can be, as tall as you can stand, and as expressive as you can feel.

copyright 2016 Bill Reiss

You deserve a spot at the barre so take it and stand there and dance, damn it. Work your turnout and lift your arms and your chin and open your eyes and see that everyone in your class wants to be there too. That's the beauty of adult ballet: you all are choosing to be there. No one is forcing you. Your mom isn't dropping you off while she goes to the grocery store.

Each of you has your own story to tell - now tell it through your body. We want to hear that story.

Happy dancing~

Trailers!

Hello beautiful dancers and friends!

Many of you following me on Facebook know the Leigh Purtill Ballet Company's first production of SWEET SORROW, A ZOMBIE BALLET is October 8, at 4PM and 7PM at the Lanterman Auditorium in La Canada. If you're in town, I hope you'll come see us! And if you're not in town, then why not get a cool t-shirt instead?

But you don't have to live around here to enjoy the trailers that Rachel Swetnam (our Juliet!) put together. Check them out! The first one is a bit of a teaser:

While the second one is a behind-the-scenes peek! (Hey, that's me!)

Enjoy! And please share! We want everyone to know about our new company and our first big show.

Happy dancing~

Introducing LPBC and Sweet Sorrow!

Hello everyone!

Some of you may know that I recently formed a nonprofit ballet company called Leigh Purtill Ballet Company. I did this because I wanted to create an opportunity for adult ballet dancers of all skill levels, backgrounds, and ages to perform; to present ballet to a diverse audience which might not normally seek out ballet performances; and to do what I can to foster ballet as an inclusive art form.

It is my belief that ballet is for everyone.

For eight years I have been developing an original ballet called SWEET SORROW which is loosely based on my novel of the same name. It's a sequel of sorts to Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare - which is why A ZOMBIE BALLET is its subtitle. Because Romeo and Juliet are dead.

Structurally, the ballet follows a similar trajectory to the classic Nutcracker, a winter holiday favorite and one that audiences are familiar with. But the story itself is a unique one: at the funeral for Romeo and Juliet, a strange woman raises the lovers from the dead with a potion. While others cringe and run away, only Juliet's cousin Rosaline is intrigued. In the cemetery, Rosaline meets the woman again who reveals herself to be Queen of the Zombies. She uses her horde of beautiful dead ballerinas to entice Rosaline to consume a potion and follow her to the Underworld, where she meets Vampires, Witches - and Romeo and Juliet.

We've performed small sections of this with various dancers, both modern and classical, and in various venues. Invariably the question from the audience is always the same: when is there going to be MORE?

The answer is: October 8, 2017 at 4PM and 7PM at the Lanterman Auditorium, a theater in La Canada not far from where I teach and rehearse. We are over-the-moon excited! Every single dancer involved has been magnanimous with his or her time, energy and resources. I am so proud to be presenting this passion project of mine with these wonderful people.

While SWEET SORROW is the first original production for LPBC, it will not be the only one. We have much more in store for our future!

Two weeks ago we launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds for theater rental, costumes, rehearsal space, and so on. We are a 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax-deductible. On our campaign page, you will see a trailer (created by Rachel Swetnam, our Juliet) and some stunning artwork (designed by Bill Reiss, our Romeo). We need to get the company up and running!

The campaign continues for another week. If you can donate, wonderful! If you can share the link and info, terrific! And if you're in town on October 8, I hope you'll make plans to see the show.

Thank you for your support. Happy dancing~