Spring Performances 2025 « Westside Ballet of Santa Monica

This Spring, Westside Ballet of Santa Monica presents the annual Masters of Movement showcase and Gala the weekend of May 31 and June 1st.

Annual Gala

This signature fundraising event is a highlight of Westside Ballet’s season, offering guests an evening of cocktails, dinner, and breathtaking performances featuring principal dancers from the New York City Ballet—Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia with live piano accompaniment of music by Frédéric Chopin. Join us for cocktails and canapés at 5:30 p.m., Gala Performance at 7:00 p.m. and lite fare and desserts at 8:00 p.m.

This year’s Masters of Movement Spring Gala will spotlight two celebrated works by renowned choreographer Jerome Robbins, an acclaimed piece by Justin Peck performed with a live string quartet, along with a rarely performed masterpiece by August Bournonville. Westside Ballet will honor Andrew Veyette, a principal dancer with New York City Ballet and an esteemed alum of Westside Ballet, with this year’s Bravo! Award. Additionally, The Huntley Santa Monica Beach Community Service Award will be presented to the Los Angeles and Santa Monica First Responders in recognition of their dedication and service to the community.

Other Dances is a celebrated ballet choreographed by Jerome Robbins, originally created for the legendary couple Natalia Makarova and Mikhail Baryshnikov. It will be performed at Westside Ballet’s prestigious Gala by New York City Ballet Principals—alumna Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia.

Premiering in 1976, Other Dances explores the theme of love in its many forms, from passionate and exuberant to tender and introspective. The duet’s choreography captures fleeting moments of joy and melancholy, inviting audiences to reflect on the nuances of human connection. Other Dances stands as a testament to Robbins’ ability to convey deep emotional truths through movement. Set to a waltz and four mazurkas by Frédéric Chopin, the performance will feature a live piano accompaniment.

Another highlight of the program will be Justin Peck’s Bloom. A pas de deux featuring leading dancers from Los Angeles Ballet Kate Inoue and Marcos Ramirez, the piece incorporates Peck’s signature style of low lifts, rapid spinning, and constant changes of direction, mixed with opulent slow movements. The music, composed by Caroline Shaw and performed live by a string quartet, references Tchaikovsky’s music used in Balanchine’s Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux.

Circus Polka is a short ballet choreographed by Robbins, set to Stravinsky’s score and originally created for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus by George Balanchine. This whimsical piece brings the excitement of the circus to the ballet stage. The ballet features a parade of children, highlighting the playful and vibrant atmosphere of a circus. The choreography is characterized by lively, rhythmic movements that mimic the energy of circus performances, the innocence and exuberance of childhood, as well as the magic of the circus experience, captured through joyful movement and playful interactions. Colorful costumes and elaborate staging contribute to the whimsical nature of the ballet, inviting audiences into a fantastical world.

Le Conservatoire is a one-act ballet choreographed in 1849 by August Bournonville, a prominent Danish ballet master known for his narrative-driven works and emphasis on character and expression. The ballet is set in a conservatory where various students and instructors engage in humorous and playful interactions. It is a recreation of a Vestris dance class of the exact type attended by Bournonville during his Paris sojourn in the 1820s.

The ballet highlights themes of youthful ambition and the joy of learning. The choreography features lively dance sequences that reflect the personality of each character, blending classical ballet technique with a light-hearted approach. Bournonville’s style showcases intricate footwork, playful jumps, and ensemble work that emphasizes the group dynamic in the conservatory setting.

Spring Showcase

The Masters of Movement Spring Showcase will be presented at 1pm both Saturday and Sunday, May 31 and June 1.

The program will feature the works of August Bournonville, Marius Petipa and newly created pieces highlighting both the versatility of the dancers and the innovation of dance in its many forms. These ballets and performances each offer a unique exploration of themes related to love, ambition, and the joy of performance, showcasing the diverse styles and narratives within the world of dance.

August Bournonville’s Le Conservatoire, a one-act ballet from 1849 that recreates a Vestris dance class, will be performed by Westside’s pre-professional and advanced students. Highlighting the Danish choreographer’s signature style of intricate footwork and lively jumps, this rarely performed masterpiece is staged by alumnus Adrian Blake Mitchell, current Associate Executive Director. Additionally, Nilas Martins, who has had a distinguished career in ballet since the 1980s and is a Repetiteur for the George Balanchine Trust, also coached the performers in the Bournonville style.

Excerpts from Coppelia, a charming ballet choreographed by Arthur Saint-Léon and set to music by Léo Delibes. Excerpts will include the Friends Dance from the lively village scene of Act I where Swanilda and her friends dance together; from Act III, The Dance of the Hours: one of the ballet’s most celebrated sequences; the male solo of Franz; and the Betrothal Dance, all illustrating the joy and energy of the characters through spirited choreography.

A contemporary work choreographed by Mark Tomasic, Dance Department Chair at Santa Monica College, shows off the versatility of the dancers as they go beyond the classical realm.

Westside Ballet alumna “Miss K” fulfills a dream by choreographing a beautiful ballet for the company’s youngest performers.

Cabaret, originally directed by Bob Fosse, and arranged by Westside’s own Michele Bachar Mendicelli, is a jazz musical that transports audiences to 1930s Berlin, and the backdrop of the seedy yet vibrant world of the Kit Kat Club. The setting is filled with enticing performances, showcasing a blend of jazz & cabaret, and iconic songs like “Wilkommen” & “Money,” reflecting the characters’ struggles and desires, delivered through dynamic choreography that emphasizes Fosse’s signature style, combining sensuality and sharp movements.