The Westside Ballet of Santa Monica’s 50th Anniversary Spring Performances, a tribute to the enduring legacy of dance and the visionaries who have shaped its history, will include five Culver City resident and student dancers.
The 2024 “Masters of Movement” series will feature a tribute to legendary ballerina Patricia Neary. “The historic Gala event will feature appearances by ballet luminaries, including the legendary Patricia Neary, and showcase performances by stars from the American Ballet Theatre,” reads a statement from the company.
“This is Westside Ballet’s 50th performance season – it was our 50th Nutcracker and now our 50th Spring Show. So this year we have extra special guest artists and professional alumni coming in to perform in the special Sat 5/18 event,” says Jewels Solheim-Roe, Publicity, Social Media & Marketing/ Westside Ballet of Santa Monica. “The Spring Showcases Fri night 5/17 and Sat 5/18 matinee, have some crossover performances which include our most advanced pre-professional dancers and even the trainees with Los Angeles Ballet (who are trained in collaboration with LAB and Westside Ballet. Five of them are actually former Westside after-school students. The trainees ages 17-19 train all day between the two institutions!).
The Culver City dancers, which Solheim-Roe says are very special are: Asha LeeBogart, Heath Olvera, Isla Segar, Luna Mizorogi, and Serena Klipfel. LeeBogart and Mizorogi attend Culver City Middle School, Klipfel attends Culver City High School, Olvera attends the Ocean Charter School, and Segar attends New West Charter Middle School.
“‘Masters of Movement’ Spring Showcases are May 17 at 7 p.m. and May 18 at 1 p.m.,” says Solheim-Roe. “The Gala Special Event curtain is May 18 at 6:30 p.m. with doors opening at 5 p.m. for drinks and hors d’oeuvres — and after the 6:30 awards and special performance 8 p.m. dinner. Both programs promise an enchanting blend of classical elegance and contemporary flair, celebrating the rich history and enduring legacy of ballet, with the showcases being priced at $45 and the special event priced at $195.”
The event takes place at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage. Tickets may be purchased online at westsideballet.com/SpringTix or by phone (additional fees apply) at (800) 595-4849 (4TIX).
