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.

May news: Summer break plus June 1 All Day Ballet!

 

May 2024 schedule - In-studio & online! Wednesdays 6:45-8:15PM - Beginner ballet 8:15-9:15PM - Beginner jazz (Leigh's 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 SUMMER BREAK! I will NOT be teaching from May 29 through June 13. My LAST classes before the break will be on Sunday, May 26 and my FIRST classes back after break will be on Saturday, June 15. GENTLE BALLET AT THE EBELL IS BACK! Two more classes left in this chill series at the nonprofit Ebell Club in Los Angeles on Monday May 6 & May 13, 11AM-12PM. Join us! Here is the link to sign up for this community-focused and low-key class. LPBC News Adult Ballet Intensive on June 1! Kick off your summer with an all-day ballet intensive! Do you or someone you know live on the East Coast? Make plans to join me with company members Amanda Singrassia and Asher Taylor-Dawson at Amanda's beautiful studio, Dreamworks Performing Arts Center & Wellness in Kingston, Massachusetts. We'll be teaching: Technique class Partnering class Pirouette workshop Pointe class Plus a reception with a demonstration! Sign up here and have fun with us in lovely Eastern Massachusetts! Saturday, June 1, 10AM-4PM Dreamworks Performing Arts Center & Wellness 187 Summer Street, Kingston, MA 02364

What's happening in July? Newsletter!

 

July 2021 schedule CLASSES AT 3 STUDIOS & ONLINE! Sunday: Open level Technique Hybrid class 10-11:30AM Studio A, Silverlake Sunday: Pointe/pre-pointe Hybrid class 11:40AM-1PM Studio A, Silverlake Tuesday: Open level Technique Hybrid class 7-8:30PM Live Arts LA, Eagle Rock Wednesday: Beginner level Technique In-studio class 6:30-8PM Inspire Dance Studio, La Canada Thursday: Basic level Technique In-studio class (NEW!!) 7-8:30PM Inspire Dance Studio, La Canada Saturday: Open level Technique Online class 9:30-11AM Zoom only Saturday: Open level Technique In-studio class 12-1:30PM Inspire Dance Studio, La Canada SIGN UP FOR ALL CLASSES HERE CONVERT YOUR PAPER CLASS CARD HERE   Policy changes! Please read before you come to the studio! 1. Vaccinated dancers may opt out of masks but unvaccinated dancers MUST wear masks in class. This is the current rule at all 3 studios where I rent. As of 6/28/21, LA County Health Dept also recommends ALL people wear masks in indoor public places, regardless of their vaccination status. If this (or any other guidelines) changes the rules at the studios, I will implement them as well. 2. ALL dancers MUST sign up for classes in advance online ONLY . 3. ALL paper cards will be converted to e-cards.   NEW class & level coming JULY 1! BASIC BALLET Thursdays 7-8:30PM Inspire Dance Studio This class is perfect for dancers who want to get back to class slowly, who are returning from injury/illness, who want an extra class to work en pointe, or who fell in love with ballet during the pandemic and now need in-person guidance and corrections. We'll start with the basics of the barre, some simple center and across-the-floor, and lots of ports de bras, too! If you know someone who wants to start ballet or brush up on where they left off as kids, please tell them. Join us! Tell a friend!   LPBC News The Circus was a success!   Thank you SO much to the 300+ people all over the world who watched our virtual fundraiser. We had people logging in from 31 states and 5 countries! How cool is that? We raised money for our next show(s) which will include a full-length version of Circus of Worldly Wonders. Best of all, we had a chance to connect with new friends and show them a new way to watch ballet. I fully support dance in the virtual space and can't wait to do more of it! If you want to become part of what we're doing, check out the website for more information. We have lots of opportunities for fun and challenging activities!

Halloween in August with LPBC!

 In the summer doldrums and looking for something to do this month?

 Celebrate Halloween with us! 

Saturday, August 29th, at 4PM 

• Watch my short film, The Dead Shoes, a spooky hybrid of ballet and scares!
  
• Show off your Halloween costume in our contest! 
• Enjoy a super fun, very easy, Halloween-themed ballet class with me!

 

Best of all...it's all online so you can do it in the safety of your home (or office or backyard or porch...)

Just make a small donation to the company which is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) so your support is tax-deductible.

Click HERE to be taken to the Eventbrite listing where you can sign up and get your Zoom link.

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!

Vacation plans and Earthquake proofing!

First of all, if you are a student of mine who is not on my email list, you might not realize I'm on vacation from August 22-27. That means there are no classes during that week.

My first class back is at Inspire Dance Studio on Monday, August 29, 6:30PM Intermediate ballet.

Classes at Dance Arts Academy begin Tuesday, August 30, 6:30PM Advanced beginner ballet.

Now on to my technique advice: Earthquake proofing your body!

People who live Southern California are always aware there could be an earthquake at some point. If you own your own home, you might even do what is called "bolting" which means your house is literally bolted into its foundation so it can withstand the shakes of an earthquake.

Not like this!

San Francisco after Lomo Prieta quake (Wikipedia)

 I like to imagine I do the same thing with my hips. I think of the femur fitting into the acetabulum of the pelvis and "bolting" it in place. I can do this with the very small, deep external rotators under the meaty glutes.

These external rotators will stabilize my pelvis so my extensions are more solid, my retire is flatter, and I can balance longer.

Many dancers, when they feel the earthquake, try to stabilize themselves with their hip flexors or thighs and then they end up gripping and turning in. This is the exact opposite effect you want and works against your technique. It also contributes to lower back problems, weak battu in allegro work, and shaky promenades.

Here is an image from Wikipedia that shows the deep external (lateral) rotator muscles of the hip. If you can access these, strengthen them, and bolt yourself in place, you will find stability and confidence whenever you step away from the barre.

A trip and a tip!

Wish you were here? So do I!

Ah beautiful dancers, it's the summer time which means fun and sun and vacations. I wish I could say I was a world traveler, a globe-trotting gadabout who loved to see the sights but alas, I am a homebody and a studio-body. I like nothing better than to watch Netflix with my husband and dog and to teach class.

But it's nice to get away too so this summer that's exactly what I'm doing. From Monday, July 20-Saturday, July 25, my classes at both Dance Arts Academy and Vonder Haar Center for the Performing Arts will be canceled.

On Monday, July 27, I will be back in the studio at VHC to teach as usual and on Thursday, July 30 I will hold my Small Jumps #2 workshop from 8-9PM at DAA. Each workshop has sold out so be sure to get your spot while you can.

I leave you with a tip! This is expanding on the "Open Your Eyes" post of last week.

Imagine you have eyes on your chest. 

I'm not being rude! I mean the top of your torso at your collarbones, directly under chin. Right where my hands are in this photo:

Picture eyes where my hands are and that will help lift you

Often when we dance in class, we close ourselves off from the rest of the room by subtly dipping our chin to our chests and making ourselves smaller. Even when doing a series of traveling turns across the floor, we pull back.

If you can imagine eyes on your chest, "seeing" where you are going, you will lift up and out instead of collapsing. This will help you stay upright during pirouettes and help you avoid sinking during slow movement like adagio.  Try it!

Happy dancing~

Hot versus Warm

Yes, it's Labor Day which, for most people, means the summer is over.  Kids are back at school, vacations have been taken, shorts and tank tops have been put away.  But the heat will continue!  Especially if you live, like I do, in Los Angeles or any other southern-ish area.

It's important to recognize when you're actually warm (i.e. when your muscles have gradually heated to the point of pliability) and merely hot (i.e. your body temperature has risen because of the external temperature). No matter the level of warmth you may feel, always continue with a full warm-up. Go through all of your normal stretches before class and then be sure to work carefully in your plies and tendus at the barre.  You may be hot and think you can throw your leg higher than your shoulder - but your muscles are not ready to do that!

Once you're warm, heat makes muscles more flexible -which is great, of course, but it's also deceptive.  Be careful you don't overstretch.

And one final point: take the time to cool down before you head out to your car. Let your internal temperature lower enough so you don't become overheated when you get back outside.

Happy dancing~