Business Spotlight: Southern California Ballet to perform ‘Cinderella,’ host summer dance camps
Business Spotlight: Southern California Ballet to perform ‘Cinderella,’ host summer dance camps
Poway News Chieftan | San Diego Union Tribune
by Regina Elling
From a ballet performance to camps for would-be young dancers, Southern California Ballet has a full roster of upcoming events.
The story of “Cinderella” will be performed April 1 and 2 by SCB for the first time since 2019.
Husband and wife team Toby Batley and Martha Leebolt , co-artistic directors of Southern California Ballet, first choreographed the ballet in 2018.
Batley said the performance has all original sets and costumes made specifically for the show.
The pair have previously described their “Cinderella” ballet as “a new version that distills the story to its magical fairy tale beginnings and brings the storytelling up to date.”
Leebolt is an alum who trained at the facility from a child through her teenage years. Both Leebolt and Batley are former principal dancers for the Northern Ballet in Leeds, United Kingdom. They became SCB co-directors in 2017.
Describing the event as “family friendly,” Batley said the performance features 60 to 70 dancers, with dancers ages 6 to professional adults.
Guest artists include Ian Isles as Stepmother and Kenda Vance as The Queen.
The ballet, danced to the music of Sergei Prokofiev, brings to life the well-known fairy tale of Cinderella. The SCB website said “Cinderella” “is sure to have audiences leave the theater believing in the true kindness of human spirit.”
“Cinderella” will be performed Saturday, April 1 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday, April 2, from 1 to 3 p.m. Tickets are $21-$60, with child, student, senior, military and group discounts available.
The event will be held at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road. For more information, call 858-748-0505 or visit: www.southerncaliforniaballet.org/cinderella-2023.
For the younger set inspired to be dancers, SCB is offering two Summer Dance Camps in June; classes are for ages 4 to 6 and 7 to 9.
The first camp will be held from June 12 to 16; the second camp is scheduled for June 19 to 23. Beginning June 25, a three-week-long intensive camp is held for older students.
The classes are designed to be fun and introduce children to ballet, said Batley.
“The students do learn serious ballet, but we make it very fun and there are no competitions involved,” he said.
Students learn ballet and other dance styles, free movement and dancing in groups.
They also engage in crafts related to dance. The youngsters might make a headdress with feathers as a prop for a performance; last year, they all worked together to paint their own backdrop, Batley said.
“The best thing about the dance camps is that they all make lots of friends and learn about ballet,” he said. “It’s a great way for kids to learn life skills, such as focus, concentration and creativity; skills that can be applied to anything in life.”
Classes are held from 9 a.m. to noon daily; an optional lunch time is available for children to bring their own meal.
Although no uniform is required for the dance camp, ballet slippers are beneficial. Specific criteria is available on the SCB website.
There will be an in-studio presentation at the end of the week for parents.
“It’s always really fun and the kids love showing off what they’ve been working on,” Batley said.
With about 5,000 square feet of space, including two large and two small studios, there is plenty of room for all the students.
For more information or to enroll online, visit: https://www.southerncaliforniaballet.org/summer-dance-camp.
As one of the only fully nonprofit dance studios in San Diego, SCB offers numerous classes, conducts outreach programs and workshops in schools, and offers classes to students with special needs/disabilities.
SCB studio is at 12285 World Trade Drive, Suite K/L, San Diego,92128 or call 858-674-1006.