PAST SHOWS
HOLLYWOOD BALLET X
SKID ROW
On October 31st at 2:30pm Hollywood Ballet came back to Skid Row for another mesmerizing performance at the Midnight Mission. Hollywood Ballet's mission is to promote diversity, encourage inclusion, inspire our audiences, and enrich our communities. Our goal is to support underserved communities and strive to bring smiles, beauty, and hope to those who need it the most. So for us, Ballet + Skid is core to Hollywood Ballet ethos.
For the second time this year, we partnered with The Midnight Mission, an institution offering a path to self-sufficiency to men, women, and children experiencing homelessness since 1914.
In a packed room of approximately 100, we performed a 30-min mixed show of ballet classics and original creation. For many, it was their first time watching ballet IRL. For others, it brought back memories of a daughter who used to do ballet in a previous life. The feedback has been overwhelmingly moving and uplifting. From feelings of joy, hopefulness, beauty, grace, escape, connection and happiness. 100% of those who filled our surveys loved the performance and want to have us back! Some quotes were particularly poignant:
“It takes away from all the chaos of the world”
“left smiling”
“makes you forget all your problems and worries”
“thank you for performing, you have given new eyes to a weary and forgotten soul”
“a night and day difference from my experience fresh out of county jail”
HOLLYWOOD BALLET joins the
SOCAL BALLET SCENE FESTIVAL
On September 14th, 2024 Hollywood Ballet took part in the SoCal Ballet Scene Festival at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.
Hollywood Ballet founders and renowned principal dancers Petra Conti and Eris Nezha performed the iconic White Swan Pas de Deux from Swan Lake in both shows, 2pm and 7pm.
HOLLYWOOD BALLET and the
DANCE FOR LIFE FESTIVAL
On July 20th, 2024 Hollywood Ballet took part in the Dance for Life Festival at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center; "an annual dance festival to benefit the fight against HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and other health issues confronting Black and other people of color in Los Angeles."
Principal dancers Petra Conti and Tigran Sargsyan performed Real Love, a new piece sparked from a collaboration with singer HAPPIE, which is also featured in the official music video (by James Smith).
HOLLYWOOD BALLET for
INDUSTRY LEADERS SUMMIT
On June 1st, 2024 Hollywood Ballet sponsored a dance segment during the Industry Leaders Summit, presented by L.A. Style Magazine, at the Writer's Guild Theatre in Los Angeles.
Principal Dancers Petra Conti and Tigran Sargsyan performed Real Love, choreographed by Tigran on the newest song by Happie Hofman.
This event featured world renowned speakers, entrepreneurs and business leaders.
POETRY IN MOTION
On April 27th we presented Poetry in Motion, an exquisite mix of dancing, singing and live music at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica.
Hollywood Ballet dancers performed alongside ballet superstars like:
Ana Sophia Scheller ~ former Principal Dancer at New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, National Opera of Ukraine, and Guest Principal Dancer at the Greek National Ballet, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, and Teatro Massimo di Palermo;
Myrna Kamara ~ former dancer with New York City Ballet, Principal Dancer with Miami City Ballet and the Bejart Ballet, Guest Principal Dancer at Teatro alla Scala, Arena di Verona, and Director and Performer at Ballet Extreme;
Ariel Merkuri ~ Soloist at Bavarian State Ballet;
Alexander Maryianowski ~ dancer with Paris Opera Ballet and former dancer at Boston Ballet.
Preston Swovelin ~ Principal Dancer with Eugene Ballet Company, California Ballet, Golden State Ballet.
The evening included original songs, performed live by singers Anna Dorfman and Happie, and the world premiere of an exquisite composition by David K. Israel, crafted exclusively for Hollywood Ballet.
The program incorporated samples of iconic pieces from Le Corsaire, La Bayadere, Balanchine’s Who Cares? - as well as contemporary and original pieces that will be part of upcoming full-evening projects of Hollywood Ballet.
We also had our first Hollywood Ballet Gala immediately after the performance, hosted by actor and comedian Matthew Moore which was attended by 100 patrons and included live and silent auctions, special previews and unique interviews.
HOLLYWOOD BALLET for SKID ROW
On April 4th at 2:30pm we brought BALLET, for the first time in history, to the heart of Skid Row, the Midnight Mission.
Free to all served by the Midnight Mission, our dance show was open also to our fans and friends, aiming to unite diverse journeys, voices and communities for a new, vibrant experience.
We look forward to performing for Skid Raw again and again, as we truly believe we have the artistic responsibility to bring a glimpse of beauty, magic and hope to everyone, especially to those more in need!
HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAYS
First Original Production!
December 28th, 2023, at the Orpheum Theatre of Downtown Los Angeles.
For Hollywood Ballet’s first original commissioned work, contemporary choreographer Andre Megerdichian has imagined to be sitting at a dinner table with the likes of Martha Graham, Gwen Verdon, Bob Fosse and José Limon - the latest being the founder of Limon Dance Company, where Megerdichian has truly danced, in the past.
Hollywood Ballet’s Dancers and Trainees have brought to life a multi-faceted look at family relationships in modern society to a musical journey from Frank Sinatra’s timeless classics to Max Richter’s interpretation of Vivaldi through Chopin's melancholic notes, some performed live by a piano and four strings.
For a taste of the full night and all who made it possible, please see our Program here.
First Official Production!
December 1st and 2nd, 2023, at the Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles.
Two delightful nights to start off Hollywood Ballet’s first season and the winter holidays!
Hollywood Ballet’s Dancers and Trainees, together with Students from Pasadena Civic Ballet, Guest Dancers from Grand Kyiv Ballet and Actors from Improv for the People have presented Eris Nezha’s choreographic interpretation of this classic on the notes of the Dream Orchestra of Los Angeles.
SOFT LAUNCH OF HOLLYWOOD BALLET
First Show and Inaugural Party!
August 22nd, 2023, at The Ebell Theatre of Los Angeles.
For our three hundred guests we have prepared two classic pas de deux from Swan Lake and Don Quixote along with a commissioned contemporary piece by Leah McCall (Clouds, The Mind On The (Re)Wind), a Broadway style piece by Andre Megerdichian (Sing Sing Sing), a classical ballet Overture choreographed by ten year old Alianna Nassos, one duet inspired by the movie Ghost re-imagined by Eris Nezha and choreographed by Andre Megerdichian, and a pulp creation by Gianluca Schiavoni, Blackstone. Everything accompanied by the twenty-five musicians of the Dream Orchestra of Los Angeles, directed by Daniel Suk. The intermezzo was hosted by principal dancer and comedian Tigran Sargsyan, and even a very touching poem by Los Angeles’ iconic poet Charles Bukowski has made its way into the show.
A heartfelt thank you to our dancers, choreographers, team and the staff of the Ebell Theater; and, of course, the biggest thank you goes to all our guests for a truly magical and unforgettable evening!