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.

Zooming in the holidays?

Hello beautiful dancers!

As I mentioned in my last newsletter, I will be out of town from Dec 10-31. However, in Connecticut I will have access to a studio where I could teach via Zoom. Students could be in their home studios or they could (as a group?) rent studio time wherever they are.

Here are a few options.

A. Thursday Dec 12 after 6pm (3PM PST)

B. Monday Dec 16th anytime from 4:30-8:45pm (1:30-5:45PM PST)

C. Tuesday Dec 17 starting at 815pm (5:15PM PST)

D. Thursday Dec 19th after 6pm (3PM PST)

I will need at least 5 students to do a class. The level would depend on the makeup of the class. For dancers on the west coast, this is definitely earlier in the day for you but dancers elsewhere might find the times more accommodating.

Please let me know by 11/25 if you would like to do A, B, C, or D.  

 

Even if we did just one class, this would be fun!

Fall back into ballet!

 

November 2024 schedule

Wednesdays

6:45-8:15PM - Beginner ballet
8:15-9:15PM - Beginner jazz (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

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Ready for Thanksgiving class?
Our traditional Thanksgiving morning class will be on Thursday, November 28 at 10AM! It's always fun, always lively - a truly wonderful way to start the holiday and express gratitude for the terrific community we have. Join us! All are welcome! (No evening classes on Thanksgiving, only this special morning class)

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Your feedback is requested!
In December I will be out of town but I would be happy to teach a few classes via Zoom if there are enough students who would participate. If this is something you would do, please email or text me (323-640-6804) with your name and day and time. I would like to rent studio space where I will be staying so I can properly teach. Thank you!

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LPBC News

Get your streaming tickets for "Sweet Sorrow, A Zombie Ballet"!

The company had two fabulous shows at the Lanterman on October 19 and 20. The audiences went wild for the new characters and dances and of course, the zombies!

If you missed the live show, get your streaming ticket now and you will be able to watch anytime you like from October 30th through November 10th. Tickets are on sale now!

Wondering what to expect?

Watch this video from Halloween Every Night from the Saturday night show. You'll see a sneak peek of the show plus an interview with me.


Photo of  Witches by Jazley Faith Photography
From left: Stephanie, Samantha, Kristina, Amanda, Mika







 

 

 

 

Even more from the company!

Here's another fun video treat from remote company member Kavita and two of her friends.They were inspired by the show to create their own hilarious story involving vampires, a special black cat and a magic spell book.
 

Happy Halloween! Ballet & jazz & zombies - oh my!

 Students, please take note I am not teaching on 10/11 and 10/12!

October 2022 schedule - In-studio and online! Sunday (Inspire Dance Studio) 10AM-11:30AM - Intermediate ballet 11:30AM-1PM - Basic Ballet Tuesday (Live Arts LA) *Note below!* 7-8:30PM - Beg/Intermediate ballet Wednesday (Inspire) *Note below!* 6:30-8PM - Beginner ballet 8-9PM - Beginner Jazz Thursday (Inspire) 7:10-8:40PM - Basic ballet Saturday (Inspire) 9:30-11AM - Beginner ballet 11AM-12PM - Pointe/pre-pointe SIGN UP FOR ALL CLASSES HERE Slight changes to the schedule: Sunday 11:30AM-1PM class is now Basic Ballet - the SAME level and class as on Thursday nights so you have 2 opportunities to take this level class and build your confidence, strength and vocabulary. Thursday Basic Ballet begins at 7:10PM now. We will finish at 8:40PM. No classes on October 11 and 12 so I can spend time with my family who are visiting for our show (psst! get your tickets now! Link below!). Get ready for Halloween class! This year we'll celebrate Halloween on Sunday, October 30 in both classes (10AM & 11:30AM)! Plan your costume now - I'll bring the fun music and the treats! This is a GREAT class to bring a friend who has always wanted to try ballet but might feel shy. We have a lot of fun and there's no experience necessary for the 11:30AM Basic class! LPBC News "Sweet Sorrow, A Zombie Ballet" is back for its 5th and last performance before it returns to the crypt until 2024! LAST CHANCE On Stage: October 8 & 9! Tickets on sale NOW for my company's iconic show, the sequel to Romeo & Juliet. This year we have a few surprises in store, including new dances, new music and new characters! Can't make the stage show? No problem! We'll be streaming a cinematic edited version all Halloween weekend! Tickets are available for the stream now too! **If you are interested in a group discount, please contact me or the company and inquire. We love bringing in groups of audience members.** October 8 & 9 Lanterman Auditorium 4491 Cornishon Avenue La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011 Get your tickets here!

June: tips, technique & travel!

Hello beautiful dancers!

Happy June to you all! It's made me so happy to see people coming back to class. Former students, new students! Old friends and new! It's not exactly pre-pandemic normal yet, but it's getting there.

This month I'm so excited to be bringing you a new tip for your pirouettes (we can all use more of those!), a new technique class (come on in!), and a reminder that I'm traveling this month (take a breather!)

First the tip!

Connect the shoulder to the knee that is pulled up in passe.  

Whether you are doing a pirouette en dehors or en dedans, you want to feel like there is a string attached from your shoulder to your knee so it doesn't move. This will help keep the shape of the passe as you rotate.

How to prepare for this:

1. Find your passe standing flat with a comfortable hip placement and arms in first position. 

2. Take note in your peripheral vision of where your shoulder is in relation to your knee. It should not be in front of or behind the position of the knee. If it is either of those things, adjust and then do #1 again.

When you turn:

1. Square yourself off, shoulders and hips, in your fourth position demi-plie, so no part of you is twisted.

2. As you start your turn, use your peripheral vision again to make sure the knee doesn't get ahead of the shoulder which means you are a) losing your turnout at the top of your leg b) collapsing your core or c) pinching your shoulder blades.

To finish the turn:

1. See yourself in the passe if you are turning in front of a mirror, with squared-off shoulders.

2. Roll down on the support leg as you simultaneously release the passe leg to the floor. 

Next the technique!

Beginning Thursday, July 1, I will be teaching a brand new class called Basic Ballet at Inspire Dance Studio from 7-8:30PM. This will be a class exploring the fundamentals of ballet and is suitable for dancers with no experience at all, as well as students who might have tried it as kids, more experienced dancers who took some time off during the pandemic or who had children or an injury, or anyone who wants to brush up on the things they never learned correctly!

There are so many reasons to take a basic class, even if you have lots of experience.

1. With time to focus on technique rather than choreography, you can build muscle memory that will later help you pick up choreography faster.

2. If you've been doing class online or via YouTube videos you haven't been getting corrections or personal guidance. This class can help you break newly-acquired bad habits.

3. Faster-paced classes rarely take the time for questions or to break down things we often take for granted like body positions, port de bras and epaulement, and movement quality.

Interested? Sign up here! Want to send info to a friend? Use this!

Finally some travel!

From June 15th through June 29th, I will be out of town and not teaching my classes, except for my final two YouTube Fridays, June 18th and 25th. When I return in July, hopefully I will see you in my new class! Looking for my complete schedule? Here you go!

 

Happy dancing! And relaxing!

Vacation reminder, studio location change and GALA!

Local dancers, friends of dancers, company members, friends of company members and patrons of ballet/dance/the arts, a few housekeeping items before summer is fully upon us:

1. Vacation!
After my company's Gala on June 29th (do you have your tickets yet? Get them at Eventbrite!), I will be taking a week off to visit with my parents and to recharge my batteries for new classes and new choreography for the October show.

Last classes BEFORE vacation:
Saturday, June 29th, Inspire Dance Studio
9AM Beginner
10:15AM Intermediate
11:35AM Pointe

First classes AFTER vacation:
Monday, July 8th, Inspire Dance Studio
6:30PM Intermediate
8PM Beginner

2. New classes/new locations!
With the closing of Dance Arts Academy at the end of June, I will be moving my Tuesday and Thursday Advanced Beginner classes to new studios.

Tuesday 7PM Advanced Beginner moves to Live Arts LA:
Starting July 9th
4210 Panamint St
Los Angeles, CA 90065

Thursday 7PM Advanced Beginner moves to Inspire Dance Studio:
Starting July 11th
457 Foothill Blvd
La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

Sad that Dance Arts is closing

Happy that I've found a new studio!

3. Gala!
Come see my company perform its brand new original ballet, Hotel at the End of the Universe, about a time-traveling hotel that visits the Roaring 20s, the Far Future, the Jazz Age and more! Also, our fabulous invited guests will be performing in the second half of the show: Esencia Flamenca, Gulistan Dance Theater, Free2BeMe dancers, Terpischore Now, and Christina Carlisi as Martha Graham. Our hosts for the evening will be Matt Marr and Jake Anthony from CabarGAY. 

It's one-night ONLY for a Galactic good time!

Saturday, June 29th, 7PM at the Colony Theatre:
555 N 3rd St
Burbank, CA 91502

Get your tickets at Eventbrite! 

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!

Vacation dates, recital tickets, and new t-shirt!

Hello beautiful dancers, friends and students!

For those of you I haven't seen in class and whose email I might not have, please note I will be on vacation from Tuesday, May 22-Monday, May 28. There will be no classes while I'm gone:

--at Dance Arts Academy on Tuesday 5/22 & Thursday 5/24
--at Inspire Dance Studio on Wednesday 5/23, Saturday 5/26 & Monday 5/28

I WILL be teaching as usual at Inspire on Monday 5/21 and will be back to teach at Dance Arts on Tuesday 5/29. If you have questions, just ask. :) And if the question is why am I going out of town, the answer is: college reunion! Yes, it's a big one and I couldn't not attend. It's also a good chance to see my family on the east coast.

I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you. After this absence, I promise I will be in town for the rest of the year!

As soon as I get back, we will be doing our spring recital on June 3rd at the Norris Theatre in Palos Verdes. Shows are at 1PM and 4PM. My dancers will be doing three excerpts from Cinderella that I choreographed with costumes by Nana Chin and Wilma Woo. You can get tickets here.

And one last item: new t-shirts! The always-amazing, multi-talented, super-gifted Bill Reiss has designed a brand new shirt for the recital but honestly, I would wear it all year round. It looks beautiful on black; the colors are vibrant and the movement is so joyful. Each is $20. Below is the design and you can purchase them here.

That's it for a week or so. If I don't see you before my mini-vacay, have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and I will see you right after the holiday. Cheers and happy dancing!

No classes 4/19 and 4/21

Hello beautiful local dancers!

Just a reminder that there are NO CLASSES on Thursday, April 19 and Saturday, April 21.

There are classes tonight, Wednesday (intermediate at 6:30P and beginner at 8P) and I will be teaching as usual on Monday, April 23.

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

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~

Leigh's vacation - August 8-13 - class schedule

Beautiful dancers in Los Angeles and Pasadena! Please note my upcoming vacation information!

 

I will be out of town from August 8-13. The following classes will be canceled:

 

At Le Studio:

Fri 8/8 6:30PM Intermediate

Sat 8/9 All classes

Mon 8/11 6PM Pointe

 

At Dance Arts Academy:

Tues 8/10 Both classes

Wed 8/11 11AM Intermediate

 

**Susie Fioretti will be subbing for me on Mon 8/11 & Wed 8/13, both my 6:30PM and 7:45PM classes.

**My last class before vacation will be at Dance Arts Academy, Thurs 8/7 6:30PM Beginner/Intermediate.

**My first class back will at Dance Arts Academy, Thurs 8/14 6:30PM Beginner/Intermediate.

 

If you have any questions, just ask! Happy dancing~