Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo - Swan Lake
March 7-9, 2014 –
Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
The Center Audiences discovered Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo in their acclaimed Center debut in 2011 with Cinderella. Now, this exciting company returns with the American premiere of Jean-Christophe Maillot’s interpretation of another classic, Swan Lake. Extraordinary dancing, sumptuous costumes and inventive storytelling will come together in delightful ways as Maillot presents us with this personal vision of Swan Lake, bringing a new drama to this pillar of the classical repertoire.
Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, (714) 556-2787. Price $30 - $125.
Fri, Mar 7 @ 7:30p, Sat, Mar 8 @ 2:00p
Sat, Mar 8 @ 7:30p Sun, Mar 9 @ 2:00p
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Dancing with the South Bay Stars III
Courtesy of T.C.A.F.
February 15, 2014 – The Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation to presented its annual Dancing with the South Bay Stars III on Saturday, February 15 at 8 p.m.
The event paired local ‘celebrities’ with professional dancers in a competition to raise funds for the Foundation and the participants’ favorite nonprofit organizations. This season, nine of the South Bay’s brightest stars slipped on their dancing shoes, took the stage and showed their skills!
For the third consecutive year, I was asked to dance in the Torrance Foundation fundraiser. This year, I was partnered with Amanda Toney, a lovely, energetic and talented young lady. We performed well and based on the judge’s marks (and audience voting) we scored a 3-way tie for First place. However, after a final “dance off” we garnered a final result of 3rd place (boo-boo!). All in all, it was good fun for a great cause.
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Liliom premieres at Segerstrom Center
Courtesy of S.C.F.T.A.
February 7, 2014 – Following the tremendous success of The Little Mermaid, Segerstrom Center is proud to welcome the return of John Neumeier’s Hamburg Ballett with the American Premiere of Liliom. A superb storyteller, Neumeier applies his singular vision to Liliom, the 1909 play made famous by the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Carousel. With an original score by Oscar® winner Michel Legrand, Neumeier’s adaptation is more poignant than ever.
The story is about Liliom, a carousel barker who falls in love with Julie. Liliom loses his job and begins mistreating Julie out of bitterness, though he loves her. Julie discovers she is pregnant and Liliom plans a robbery to help provide for their child. The robbery is botched and Liliom kills himself to avoid capture. Years later, he is allowed to return to Earth for one day to perform a good deed. The romance between Liliom and Julie is timeless.
The ballet is wonderfully choreographed. Neumeier has captured our hearts and imagination by incorporating large crowd scenes, around the carousel and beautiful backgrounds, as well as the quiet, romantic moments between the lead characters, who move with passion and energy throughout the story.
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Beauty and the Beast
at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Photo by Joan Marcus
January 14, 2014 - Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the smash hit Broadway musical, made its debut at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Based on the Academy Award®-winning animated feature film, this eye-popping spectacle has won the hearts of over 35 million people worldwide.
Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.
Photo by Mark Mendez
This classic musical love story is filled with unforgettable characters, lavish sets and costumes, and dazzling production numbers including “Be Our Guest” and the beloved title song. Experience the romance and enchantment of Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at Segerstrom Center for the Arts!
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The Nutcracker - a holiday classic!
Photo by Mark Mendez
December 20, 2013 - The classic tale of The Nutcracker take place on Christmas Eve. The Stahlbaums invite guests for a Christmas Party where Drosselmeyer brings a special gift for Clara - a wooden nutcracker. Clara is excited about her new gift. After guests leave the party, Clara retires and falls asleep.
In Clara's dream, life-sized soldiers and her treasured Nutcracker come to life. A fierce battle takes place against the Rat King. Her galant Nutcracker defends her from the Rat King and is later transformed into a handsome prince. They travel to the Candy Castle where there is a great celebration to honor Clara and the Prince.
Photo by Mark Mendez
This Christmas season, the South Bay Ballet delights audiences with the holiday story of The Nutcracker at Marsee Auditorium. Once again, we are enchanted with some of our favorite characters - Clara, the Nutcracker, Sugar Plum fairy, and yes, the Rat King. Wonderful costuming and colorful backdrops bring this story to life. We are treated to Tchaikovsky's famous score while dancers float across the stage. Be sure to share this entertaining experience with family and friends.
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Shyamala Moorty - "What's Your Stereotype?"
Shyamala Moorty
October 20, 2013 -
Shyamala Moorty - Dance, and collaborators perform an evocative evening of dance, theater, multimedia, and audience interaction. Shyamala leads us on a ludicrous journey to discover her South Asian heritage in the secrets of the toilet as Bollywood dance and toilet paper flood the stage.
She is joined by a diverse group of artists who blow apart cultural stereotypes with extraordinary craft: Leilani Chan’s sarcastic gyrations expose the inner life of a dashboard hula dancer, C. Derrick Jones explodes the boundaries of art & life with visually arresting contemporary dance and Nguyễn Nguyên’s dynamic movement delves into identity and memory.
Nguyen Nguyen Dance. Photos by Mark Mendez
Also performing, is Sri Susilowati who combines exquisite classical Indonesian dance with a hilariously clever sense of humor. And, Christine Suarez examines motherhood through contemporary dance-theater, poetry and drumming with Carmela Herman, Carolina San Juan, Giavanni Washington and Shelby Williams-Gonzalez.
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