California Contemporary Ballet presents our Youth Company

Spring Dance Concert

The dancers will perform a variety of original choreographed works by Artistic Director, Aerin Holt and California Contemporary Ballet senior dancers, Alexis Ash and Katie McCulla. Excerpts and variations will be performed from the ballet of Paquita, Directed by Lynn Pittenger.

These dancers attend intense daily ballet, dance training, and a rehearsal regime that closely replicates the experiences of a professional dance company.

Certain to leave you thrilled and awestruck!

Please join California Contemporary Youth Ballet for a memorable afternoon or evening. Great for families with children of all ages!

Two Shows Only! (while seats last!)

Saturday, May 18th at 7:00pm

Sunday, May 19th at 2:00pm

Performed at
California DanceArts Dance Street Theater
4490 Cornishon Ave, La Cañada, CA 91011

Tickets: $18 adults / $15 children and seniors (in advance)
(All tickets $20 at the door)

Purchase tickets online at www.CalBallet.com

or by calling
818-583-7406

For information only call
818-790-7924

by Aerin Holt

Most adults have had experience or were at one time heavily involved in a sport, an art or a study that requires dedication, commitment and practice. Maybe it was the tennis team or the drama club, but whatever it was, you were most probably required to attend every day after school.

As a coach, one favorite book that I often refer to is entitled “The Talent Code: Unlocking the Secret of Skill in Maths, Art, Music, Sport, and Just about Everything Else” written by Daniel Coyle. The book describes techniques for learning, what Cole calls, “Deep Practice”. Perhaps you would have stayed on the tennis team had you “known” that there was scientific data to back up and reemphasize the age old mantra: “Practice Makes Perfect.” And through Coyle’s research, that by extensive practicing, the brain’s nerve connections actually remember the “correct” way to do something – whether it’s how to sing, swing a tennis racket or perform a pirouette, etc. And after extensive repetition, our brains react quicker, and most importantly, correctly.

Coyle visited hot beds of talented groups and studied how they worked and what were their most successful actions in training. He studied winning football teams, coaches and schools that produced high numbers of students that became professional, working actors, singers, musicians and dancers.

One important rule is to practice every single day. And if you think about it, anything that you do well, you also do it daily. I know that cooking is something I do better when I am consistently making my families meals. In fact even our work-a-day jobs require daily practice and by spending eight hours a day performing repetitive actions you are improving the functions of your daily work tasks until they become second nature. It is generally thought that children should go to school every day because of the vast amount of material to get through, but really, it is because they can’t get through the material without the daily practice.

A young dancer has to develop the physical memory and also the mental memory and capacity. The mind and body must perform in perfect synchronization. As students reach intermediate training, a lot of new material is introduced which is best studied daily to become proficient. The deep practice for dancers is particularly important for one to achieve any real standard. While younger students may do just fine with twice a week practice, as students mature, the daily practice may be essential. For ballet dancers, it’s possible that going through the daily ritual exercises at the ballet barre may be a more important factor of success then how well each exercise is actually performed (but that leads to another deep practice rule that I will write about next time).

During the school year, students are under stress from school, homework, family obligations and getting to dance classes and rehearsals on time. Summer provides the perfect stress-less opportunity for the deep practice of daily classes and daily use of the many other deep practice techniques. Our camps and intensives provide a depth of understanding and application of the material that lacks appropriate time during the rest of the year. When students learn and improve they get very, very excited! When children get excited toward a directional path that they are perusing, they have an experience of monumental enjoyment. An experience unrelated to one’s directional path can still be fun, but in its somewhat idol nature, it may have comparatively limited value.

We have had many students graduate an entire level over summer. A few students have even graduated two levels in the course of our summer intensive! But most importantly, happiness is the pursuit of one’s dreams! The summer delivers the perfect opportunity for our students to live, breathe and dance the dream for an extended time and provides your child with a priceless sense of purpose and accomplishment.

What could be more exciting or more valuable?

Local Ballet Company, California Contemporary Ballet, Presents “The Legend of Jack Frost”; Original Story with New Choreography, Original Music, Sets and Costumes to Premiere at Glendale Community College Theater, December 20 and 21

LOS ANGELES, CA: There is much excitement at California DanceArts where auditions for roles have been cast and rehearsals are already under way for a new ballet. The school, nestled in the foothills of La Cañada, California, is the residence of California Contemporary Ballet (http://www.CalBallet.com/). The dance company is preparing to launch one of its grandest full-scale ballets kicking off the winter holidays—The Legend of Jack Frost premiering December 20 and 21 at 2:00pm at Glendale Community College Theater.

The company is best known for its successful signature ballet, The Snow Queen, based on the beloved fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen. Until this year, the Snow Queen Ballet has been performed by the company annually for the past 16 years to sold-out audiences in Glendale. Now, the company is giving birth to a new original ballet, The Legend of Jack Frost. A ballet production about Jack Frost is a unique idea for a small company that strives to make its mark by producing original, fully orchestrated and full-scale productions.

Jack Frost, that mischievous spirit of winter ice, snow, sleet and frosty weather, who is responsible for “nipping at your nose,” will be the subject of the latest ballet created by Aerin Holt, the company’s artistic director and choreographer. “Our ballet of The Snow Queen was virtually ignored by ballet companies before we started to develop it. No template existed for the story as a ballet. It was created and conceived with new choreography, newly composed music, newly designed costumes, set designs etc. We are attempting to do it again with a character whose time is long overdue.”

Jack Frost has made guest appearances in numerous ballets, stories and movies. With a few exceptions, he is usually seen in cameo or supporting roles. The Frost character was recently featured in the popular children’s animated movie “The Rise of the Guardians”. Holt is attempting to give Frost not only his own moment in the spotlight but also the opportunity to tell his own story. Holt began by researching and examining various folklore stories about Jack Frost. “He is often seen as a spirit or as a mischievous elfish pixie or imp. Some legends and old sketches depict him more as a giant and a hero. Our Jack Frost is a combination of many of these myths and legends”, Holt explained.

The specific storyline of the ballet was further developed with her collaborator, Dwight B. Mikkelsen, who is also the ballet’s composer. Previously, in the spring of 2013, Mikkelsen composed the music for the company’s successful original ballet of Thumbelina, with a reprised performance the following year. The pair seem to have found a successful formula. Holt says, “Dwight and I share a vision for each project which we express through our respective disciplines of music and dance. He creates music that articulates the exact harmonic of my movements.”

The new ballet focuses on Jack Frost as the protagonist who will take center stage of the mythical Frosty underworld and who is invisible to human kind. The role of Jack Frost is performed by Nicholas Zerman from Los Angeles. Jaclyn Stryker, a professional dancer from La Crescenta, performs the role of his human love interest. The ballet is performed by a cast of pre-professional youth supporting a company of professional career dancers who will command the principal roles.

Professional dancer and aerialist, Alyssa Thompson from Canyon Country, will perform as The Phoenix, who will fly and perform on an aerial hoop. A guest appearance by her majesty, the Snow Queen, will be danced by professional ballerina Natalie Grina, from North Hollywood, giving a nice nod to the Company’s previous Snow Queen Ballet while positioning Jack Frost as a prequel in the Company’s Snow Queen saga. Fire Dancers attempt to melt Jack Frost in a scene with professional dancer Daniel Tran, from Los Angeles, who performs the role of The Dragon and who is soundly defeated by Jack in battle. The fight takes place in order to save the village full of good folk.

The ballet is performed with originally designed and handmade costumes. Details such as trim on the skirts and buttons on jackets will be done last minute while the ballet is produced with little time left to spare. “Creating our own version of all the characters with costumes that the dancers feel comfortable in and allow them to move freely, along with getting everything done on time is always our challenge”, say costumers, Christine Morrison and Nancy Scott. The two costume designers have been making costumes for the company for the past 15 years, “We love the company and all of the dancers”.

The Legend of Jack Frost, a frosty wintertime fantasy, will premier in celebration of Winter Solstice which falls directly on the days of the performance, December 20 & 21st at 2:00pm. Fun for the entire family, the ballet will be performed at Glendale Community College Theater. Advanced Reserved Seating Tickets are $20 and $25 at http://www.CalBallet.com. At the door tickets $25 & $30. Tickets are also sold by calling 818-583-7406.

Springtime Ballet by California Contemporary Ballet

Presented at Glendale Community College, June 27th, 28th and 29th

Los Angeles, CA–You would never suspect that the black and chrome Harley-Davidson Softail Deuce parked in front of California Contemporary Ballet (http://www.CalBallet.com) in La Canada, would belong to the composer of a new ballet. When Dwight Bernard Mikkelsen, of Lakeview Terrace, walks into a rehearsal with long hair, tattoos, an earring, jeans, leather boots and a denim vest covered with patches, he looks oddly out of place among the leotard clad, leggy ballerinas.

California Contemporary Ballet and its Artistic Director, Aerin Holt, enlisted Mikkelsen to compose this ballet which debuted in June 2013. The story of Thumbelina by Hans Christian Andersen was one of Holt’s favorite fairy tales. “I have always dreamed of creating a ballet from the story”, says Holt. Since its sold-out premier in 2013, the company has been buzzing about whether the ballet would be seen again. But after the show’s success last spring and constant requests for the ballet to return, Holt was persuaded to present the ballet for a second time this June.

For Mikkelsen, a professional composer for films and many classical artists, creating the musical score for Thumbelina required his creative energies for five months. He composed the music for a fairly traditional orchestra: 9 Woodwinds, 11 Brass, 3 Percussionists, Timpani, 2 Harps and a large String section. Mikkelsen says, “Of all possible venues, ballet is my preference. And working with Aerin makes it even more delightful. Her realizations are always surprising, yet when I look back, they appear inevitable and perfect. Then there are the CCB dancers! My, oh my! They are, one for one, light, lithe, strong and committed, and their characters are always wholly convincing.”

Holt says, “I think it is a very fortunate situation when a choreographer and composer work so well together. He has a knack for composing music that breathes movement.”

Ms. Jaclyn Stryker, a resident of La Crescenta, is returning to the starring role as the tiny fairy, Thumbelina. Ms. Stryker, a professional dancer who has enjoyed roles with companies locally and in San Francisco, honed her technical skills as Holt’s remarkably gifted dance student. Jaclyn is now one of California Contemporary Ballet’s leading performers. Ms. Stryker will be on stage throughout the entire ballet, as she encounters both friend and foe, based on the story’s characters.

Ms. Stryker will face a toad who steals her away to a swamp, and a swarm of nasty beetles. She meets a match-making mouse performed by Julia Houser, a La Canada resident and graduating senior at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. She also meets a spider that performs high in the air on an aerial net, performed by professional dancer Alyssa Thompson from Canyon Country. Finally, she will dance with a Swallow, performed by Kelinda White of Los Angeles, who whisks her through the air to a handsome Prince, performed by Nicholas Zerman of Altadena.

The ballet begins with a witch, performed by dancer Tina Yedgarian of Glendale, and ends with the Vale of the Fairies created by collaborating choreographer, Lynn Bryson Pittenger of North Hollywood. As a young dancer, Pittenger was personally selected by George Balanchine to join the ranks of New York City Ballet where her professional career began. Pittenger clearly helps to deliver the final message of the ballet where soloist ballerinas, dubbed the “Fairies of Good Character,” represent the qualities which Thumbelina calls upon from within, as she is forced to confront and ward off adversity. And by doing so, Thumbelina earns her acceptance into the fairy kingdom.

Throughout the ballet, Mikkelsen’s music creates themes for each character. “He is brilliant at expressing the emotion required for ballet characters. What I attempt to do with movement, he does with music to help the dancers create their roles”, says Holt.

In addition to the music, choreography and characters, the ballet features large sets created to maintain a tiny fairy-like perspective. This includes 12-foot-high flowers, 5-foot-high toadstools, and the large tulip from which Thumbelina is born. The tulip operates by means of a hydraulic system, enabling its petals to open at the appropriate moment. To boot, these large sets were offered as a donation, giving Holt the impetus needed to go forward with her production and demonstrating that a tiny fairy can make a big show!

With a melding of contemporary dance, classical ballet and aerial arts, this ballet is a sure springtime bet for the entire family. Thumbelina by California Contemporary Ballet premieres at Glendale Community College (1500 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, California) on June 27th at 7:30pm, June 28th at 2pm and June 29th at 2pm. Tickets are $20-$30 at www.CalBallet.com Group ticket prices are also available. Call 818-583-7406.

Springtime Ballet by California Contemporary Ballet
Presented at Glendale Community College, June 27th, 28th and 29th

Los Angeles, CA–You would never suspect that the black and chrome Harley-Davidson Softail Deuce parked in front of California Contemporary Ballet (http://www.CalBallet.com) in La Canada, would belong to the composer of a new ballet. When Dwight Bernard Mikkelsen, of Lakeview Terrace, walks into a rehearsal with long hair, tattoos, an earring, jeans, leather boots and a denim vest covered with patches, he looks oddly out of place among the leotard clad, leggy ballerinas.

California Contemporary Ballet and its Artistic Director, Aerin Holt, enlisted Mikkelsen to compose this ballet which debuted in June 2013. The story of Thumbelina by Hans Christian Andersen was one of Holt’s favorite fairy tales. “I have always dreamed of creating a ballet from the story”, says Holt. Since its sold-out premier in 2013, the company has been buzzing about whether the ballet would be seen again. But after the show’s success last spring and constant requests for the ballet to return, Holt was persuaded to present the ballet for a second time this June.

For Mikkelsen, a professional composer for films and many classical artists, creating the musical score for Thumbelina required his creative energies for five months. He composed the music for a fairly traditional orchestra: 9 Woodwinds, 11 Brass, 3 Percussionists, Timpani, 2 Harps and a large String section. Mikkelsen says, “Of all possible venues, ballet is my preference. And working with Aerin makes it even more delightful. Her realizations are always surprising, yet when I look back, they appear inevitable and perfect. Then there are the CCB dancers! My, oh my! They are, one for one, light, lithe, strong and committed, and their characters are always wholly convincing."

Holt says, “I think it is a very fortunate situation when a choreographer and composer work so well together. He has a knack for composing music that breathes movement.”

Ms. Jaclyn Stryker, a resident of La Crescenta, is returning to the starring role as the tiny fairy, Thumbelina. Ms. Stryker, a professional dancer who has enjoyed roles with companies locally and in San Francisco, honed her technical skills as Holt’s remarkably gifted dance student. Jaclyn is now one of California Contemporary Ballet’s leading performers. Ms. Stryker will be on stage throughout the entire ballet, as she encounters both friend and foe, based on the story’s characters.

Ms. Stryker will face a toad who steals her away to a swamp, and a swarm of nasty beetles. She meets a match-making mouse performed by Julia Houser, a La Canada resident and graduating senior at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. She also meets a spider that performs high in the air on an aerial net, performed by professional dancer Alyssa Thompson from Canyon Country. Finally, she will dance with a Swallow, performed by Kelinda White of Los Angeles, who whisks her through the air to a handsome Prince, performed by Nicholas Zerman of Altadena.

The ballet begins with a witch, performed by dancer Tina Yedgarian of Glendale, and ends with the Vale of the Fairies created by collaborating choreographer, Lynn Bryson Pittenger of North Hollywood. As a young dancer, Pittenger was personally selected by George Balanchine to join the ranks of New York City Ballet where her professional career began. Pittenger clearly helps to deliver the final message of the ballet where soloist ballerinas, dubbed the “Fairies of Good Character,” represent the qualities which Thumbelina calls upon from within, as she is forced to confront and ward off adversity. And by doing so, Thumbelina earns her acceptance into the fairy kingdom.

Throughout the ballet, Mikkelsen’s music creates themes for each character. “He is brilliant at expressing the emotion required for ballet characters. What I attempt to do with movement, he does with music to help the dancers create their roles”, says Holt.

In addition to the music, choreography and characters, the ballet features large sets created to maintain a tiny fairy-like perspective. This includes 12-foot-high flowers, 5-foot-high toadstools, and the large tulip from which Thumbelina is born. The tulip operates by means of a hydraulic system, enabling its petals to open at the appropriate moment. To boot, these large sets were offered as a donation, giving Holt the impetus needed to go forward with her production and demonstrating that a tiny fairy can make a big show!

With a melding of contemporary dance, classical ballet and aerial arts, this ballet is a sure springtime bet for the entire family. Thumbelina by California Contemporary Ballet premieres at Glendale Community College (1500 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, California) on June 27th at 7:30pm, June 28th at 2pm and June 29th at 2pm. Tickets are $20-$30 at www.CalBallet.com Group ticket prices are also available. Call 818-583-7406.

Ballet Company Prepares For Summer Dance Production And Celebrates Local Artists

LOS ANGELES, CA: California Contemporary Ballet, (http://www.calballet.com) a professional dance theatre group in Los Angeles, recently held an event announcing the company’s upcoming production of Thumbelina, as well as celebrating local art featuring several prominent artists. The event helped raise funds for the company’s summer production of Thumbelina, an original ballet adaptation of the classic tale. The evening was hosted by Aerin Holt, California Contemporary Ballet’s Artistic Director and Choreographer.

The celebration featured several local artists, including Anne Tryba, Dwight Mikkelsen and Samson Chan. Ceramic artist, Anne Tryba, a Disney Imagineer of 20 years and manager of Imagineering Graphic Design for 7 years, attended the event and donated a flower sculpture as a door prize. Ms. Tryba also created one-of-a-kind Thumbelina statuettes specifically for the fundraiser. Dwight Mikkelsen, a classical composer whose music has been performed by groups such as the LA Philharmonic, the Pittsburgh Pops and the Vienna Opera Orchestra, wrote the original score for Thumbelina. Mr. Mikkelsen was present to sign copies of the CD and spoke about the creation of the music for the ballet. Samson Chan, 8-time Emmy award-winning cinemaphotographer and California Contemporary Ballet’s official photographer for last year’s production of Thumbelina, contributed signed photographs of the production as donation awards. The CCB costume designers, Mrs. Christine Morrison and Mrs. Nancy Scott, gave a presentation of the costumes for the upcoming production, describing the creative process involved in hand-making the outfits for each character. Finally, the California Contemporary Ballet gave a performance of several dances from their repertoire.

Aerin Holt, Artistic Director of California Contemporary Ballet, stated: “It was a very good event, we enjoyed celebrating so many types of artistic talent during the evening. Putting together a ballet really involves so many individual pieces that most of the time you don’t see all of them during the production. This was in anticipation for our upcoming production of Thumbelina this June. We strive to bring art and culture to the community, so this event was an excellent opportunity to do so.”

California Contemporary Ballet, a professional dance company, together with its youth division, California Contemporary Youth Ballet, perform throughout Southern California. Twice a year, for their summer production and their annual winter production of “The Snow Queen”, they put together an artfully integrated cast of professional dancers in principal roles, and chorus roles filled by youth dancers, actors and gymnasts from around Los Angeles, including the local foothill communities of Sunland/Tujunga and La Crescenta, La Cañada, Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank.

“Thumbelina” by California Contemporary Ballet (Los Angeles) will be performed at Glendale Community College (1500 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, CA) on June 27th at 7:30 PM, and on June 28th and 29th at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $20–$30 at http://www.CalBallet.com/upcoming-performances. Group tickets are also available.

California Contemporary Ballet Delighted to Host After-Performance Displays of Miniaturized Set Pieces

La Canada, CA — Kurt Bowker, a New Mexico artist and owner of Advanced Concept Group, has created several large set pieces for the upcoming premiere of California Contemporary Ballet's (http://www.CalBallet.com) new springtime production “Thumbelina” on June 29 and 30. And he will be displaying beautiful, functional display art in the lobby after the show.

With the use of a huge trailer, Kurt Bowker is packing up 10ft metal flowers and 5ft metal toadstools that will be featured onstage in the ballet, along with several works he also has prepared for display and sale in the lobby at Glendale Community College Theater, June 29 & 30. He will also pack up his four year old daughter, Kyrah, who will appear in the ballet as a Dew Drop. They will travel from Moriarty, New Mexico where Mr. Bowker lives on a large horse ranch and will arrive in La Canada this week. 

The performance of “Thumbelina” will be filled with his colorful flowers. Adapted from the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, this new ballet will tell the story of the thumb size girl, Thumbelina, who is born from a tulip and undergoes various adventures in her quest for love. Set pieces are designed large in order to make the cast appear small, and will include beautiful flowers & toadstools made of painted sheet metal.

Bowker, a general contractor who has performed a variety of jobs for his community, discovered that he could use the scrap metal on his property that was left over from odd jobs to create many different types of functional and display art of all size. Mr. Bowker states, “Creating art has been a sideline until Aerin Holt asked if I could make huge flowers and toadstools for her ballet.” Bowker's daughter appeared in Ms. Holt's ballet of Snow Queen last December. “After seeing that production, I was excited to be involved with a new creative endeavor collaborating with Aerin. For the past several months, I’ve not been getting much sleep. It’s been a big project to design, weld and shape all these over-sized toadstools and flowers.”

Mr. Bowker has also built the large metal Tulip that will open (with use of hydraulics) to reveal the tiny Thumbelina (aka, Jaclyn Stryker who will perform the role). He notes, “The upside of using sets made of metal is that Thumbelina will be able to slide down a flower petal to get to the dance floor and some of the fairies will be able to sit on leaves of the tall flowers.” Mr. Bowker is as excited as anyone to see his creations on stage with the dancers. Once Bowker delivers these giant beauties his work won’t be done as he directs the crew on the use of the sets backstage during the show.

Lead choreographer and art director Aerin Holt says, “We are very excited about working with Kurt’s creations. This ballet will be a melding of contemporary dance, classical ballet and aerial arts, and a perfect choice for the entire family.” A further description of the ballet can be found at http://goo.gl/D2eVQ

For more information about Kurt Browker and his company, visit http://advanceconceptgroup.com/ His sheet metal sculptures will be on display at the premiere of “Thumbelina” by California Contemporary Ballet, which will be at Glendale Community College (1500 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, CA) on June 29th at 7:30 PM, and on June 30th at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $20–$30 at http://www.CalBallet.com/tickets. Group tickets are also available.

California Contemporary Ballet Delighted to Host After-Performance Display of Nature-Themed Ceramic Creations

Los Angeles, CA — Anne Tryba, a La Cañada artist and professional designer, will be displaying her beautiful ceramic flower sculptures at the upcoming premiere of California Contemporary Ballet's (http://www.CalBallet.com) new springtime production “Thumbelina.”

Drawing from more than 20 years experience as a graphic designer for Walt Disney Imagineering, Anne Tryba has had a passionate focus on clay forms for the last decade. The fruits—or the “flowers”—of her work will be available for viewing and for purchase at the opening performance of “Thumbelina,” coming at the end of this month.

“My experience as a professional designer has influenced the expression of the art I create for my own pleasure, but when I am working on a piece of sculpture, there is an inner and extremely personal urge that directs my hand,” says Ms. Tryba. “My experimentation with unique textures on different types of clay, combined with under- and over-glazes, allows me to create an endless variety of surface decoration. My current floral garden sculptures can be attributed to a love of nature, as well as lots of trial and error with techniques. Combining the various pieces is like assembling a colorful puzzle. I hope you find the results as delightful as I do!”

The performance of “Thumbelina” will not be without its own colorful flowers. Adapted from the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, this new ballet will tell the story of the thumb size girl, Thumbelina, who is born from a tulip and undergoes various adventures in her quest for love. Set pieces are designed for fairies (scaled to human size) and will include beautiful flowers & toadstools made of painted sheet metal. Lead choreographer and art director Aerin Holt says, “The piece will be a melding of contemporary dance, classical ballet and aerial arts, and a perfect choice for the entire family.” A further description of the ballet can be found at http://goo.gl/D2eVQ

For more information about Anne Tryba and her artwork, visit http://www.annetryba.com/. Her floral ceramic sculptures will be on display at the premiere of “Thumbelina” by California Contemporary Ballet, which will be at Glendale Community College (1500 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, CA) on June 29th at 7:30 PM, and on June 30th at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $20–$30 at http://www.CalBallet.com. Group tickets are also available.