Laura Lazear

Thank you very much for your kind reply. We are very excited for LAB's debut! Especially with the amazing dancers that we have, it is going to be a great season! Best wishes, Laura

Guest Artists include Paloma Herrera of American Ballet Theatre; Artem Shpilevsky of Bolshoi Ballet; and Yvonne Borree, Nikolaj Hübbe, Maria Kowroski, Nilas Martins and Benjamin Millepied of New York City Ballet. Performances to Take Place Across Los Angeles, including Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills, Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center and Alex Theatre, Glendale. October 11, 2006 (Los Angeles, CA) Los Angeles Ballet makes its exciting debut as the city’s own professional ballet company led by world-renown artists Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary, as Artistic Directors. With 21 dancers hand-selected from the highest caliber schools and companies around the globe, Los Angeles Ballet will set a new standard for dance in Los Angeles and captivate a large and diverse audience by performing in venues across the city. Los Angeles Ballet’s first season begins with “The Nutcracker” at the Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills December 2-3, moving to Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center December 23-24 and culminating at Alex Theatre, Glendale December 30-31. Benjamin Millepied and Maria Kowroski from New York City Ballet and Paloma Herrera from American Ballet Theatre will be featured guest artists. Nutcracker tickets are on sale immediately by calling 310-998-7782 or by visiting www.losangelesballet.org, with annual subscriptions available from $89.25 to $242.25. “We are thrilled to become part of the cultural landscape that makes up Los Angeles and are enthusiastically preparing for our Nutcracker season,” said Christensen. “With a home-based professional ballet company, Los Angeles audiences and a new generation of dance enthusiasts can regularly experience world class dance and enjoy the company’s exquisite dance productions designed expressly for Los Angeles. “ The creative tour de force behind Los Angeles Ballet is Christensen and Neary, a husband and wife team who have more than 50 years’ combined professional experience in dance. Christensen danced with the Royal Danish Ballet, New York City Ballet, Bejart's Ballet du Xxieme Siecle, and Pacific Northwest Ballet and was appointed artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet and the Royal Danish Ballet School in 1999. Neary performed with the prestigious New York City Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. She was appointed First Ballet Mistress in Charge of Productions for the Royal Danish Ballet in 1999 and is also a “Repetiteur” for The George Balanchine Trust—a special distinction that makes Neary one of the few in the world allowed to stage Balanchine ballets for professional companies. “We have an exciting repertoire ahead of us that reflects our artistic backgrounds and pays homage to some of world’s greatest choreographers,” added Neary. “The Nutcracker will be a special production for Southern California and act as a wonderful showcase for what we can achieve as a company.” Los Angeles Ballet dancers have joined the Company from such esteemed dance institutions as Dance Theatre of Harlem, Staatsballett Berlin, Louisville Ballet, New York City Ballet, Westside School of Ballet (Los Angeles), The Royal Ballet School, School of American Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Each of the 21 dancers brings his or her own artistic sensibility to the Company and will dance both principal and supporting roles throughout the season. The Company, a not-for-profit arts organization affiliated with the Westside School of Ballet, makes its professional home at the Malibu Performing Arts Center. Julie Whittaker is the Company’s executive director. Los Angeles Ballet is a new organization and not affiliated with previous organizations of the same name. The Nutcracker Los Angeles Ballet‘s season debuts with “The Nutcracker” featuring original choreography by Christensen and Neary. Accompanied by a live orchestra, Los Angeles Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker will have a distinct Southern California flair. The production follows the traditional story of Clara and her family welcoming guests to a party on Christmas Eve and the adventure which ensues. Created by Los Angeles designer Catherine Kanner, the setting is 1912 California in a classic Spanish style home with Mexican, Spanish and European influences. Throughout two acts, the audience will be introduced to hints and tastes of Southern California. The sets create the feeling of being inside a children’s book; a real place yet fantastical -- warm and inviting. Audiences will feel at home yet will soon learn to anticipate fresh variations on the traditional themes. Spring and Summer Programs The Company’s spring and summer programs will feature guest artists Artem Shpilevsky of Bolshoi Ballet as well as Yvonne Borree, Nikolaj Hübbe, Maria Kowroski, Nilas Martins from New York City Ballet. The spring program is entitled “New Beginnings” (Concerto Barocco, Duo Concertant, Napoli, Act III) based on the works of George Balanchine and August Bournonville, and in the summer the Company introduces its program with “An Evening with Balanchine” (Serenade, Apollo, Rubies). 2006-2007 INAUGURAL SEASON 2006/2007 SUBSCRIPTION SERIES* Ticket Information: 310-998-7782; http://www.losangelesballet.org VENUE DATE PROGRAM Wilshire Theatre, Beverly Hills 8440 Wilshire Boulevard Beverly Hills, 90210 Dec. 2, 2006 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 3, 2006 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. March 15-16, 2007 [Performance Times TBD] June 9-10, 2007 [Performance Times TBD] “The Nutcracker” “New Beginnings” (Concerto Barocco, Duo Concertant, Napoli, Act III) “An Evening with Balanchine” (Serenade, Apollo, Rubies) Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center 1935 Manhattan Beach Boulevard Redondo Beach, 90023 Dec. 23, 2006 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 24, 2006 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. March 15-16, 2007 [Performance Times TBD] June 1-2, 2007 [Performance Times TBD] “The Nutcracker” “New Beginnings” (Concerto Barocco, Duo Concertant, Napoli, Act III) “An Evening with Balanchine” (Serenade, Apollo, Rubies) The Alex Theatre, Glendale 216 North Brand Boulevard Glendale, 91203 Dec. 30, 2006 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 31, 2006 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. March 31, 2007 [Performance Times TBD] May 26, 2007 [Performance Times TBD] “The Nutcracker” “New Beginnings” (Concerto Barocco, Duo Concertant, Napoli, Act III) “An Evening with Balanchine” (Serenade, Apollo, Rubies) *Repertoire subject to change Media Contacts: Ariel Carpenter/Michelle Thomas mPRm Public Relations 323-933-3399 acarpenter@mprm.com/mthomas@mprm.com