12 Benefits of Learning Ballet
Ballet, a classical dance form that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts, has transcended time and culture to become a beloved art form worldwide. Yet beneath the beauty and grace of ballet lies a multitude of holistic benefits for those who choose to learn ballet, regardless of their age.
Business Spotlight: Southern California Ballet to perform ‘Cinderella,’ host summer dance camps
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.
Southern California Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” returns for 30th year
In a sign of how skilled its older students have become, three Southern California Ballet dancers have been cast in roles often performed by professionals in “The Nutcracker.”
Misha MacGowan and Emilia Wightlin are sharing the role of Snow Queen in seven shows from Dec. 15-18. Zachary Ong is partnering with both girls as the Snow Cavalier during the Christmastime ballet at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts.
SD Union Tribune: Southern California Ballet to present ‘Alice in Wonderland’ after two-year delay
For 18-year-old Lily Hofstetter, dancing the lead role in Southern California Ballet’s upcoming “Alice in Wonderland” is a dream come true.
“I didn’t expect it at all,” Hofstetter said. “I’m super excited to dance it. It is more hours in the studio learning choreography. I love it as it is so much fun.
“Alice stays on stage almost the entire ballet,” she explained. “There is not a lot of rest time.”
SD Union Tribune: ‘The Nutcracker’ is a Schultz family tradition
In what is likely the first time in Southern California Ballet’s more than 35 years, eight members of a family will perform together in its annual presentation of “The Nutcracker.”
The Schultz family of Poway said this is the first and likely only time all eight of them will be in the same show.
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Southern California Ballet presents outdoor ‘Coppélia’ in June
The Poway Center for the Performing Arts will once again have patrons on its premises with two outdoor performances of “Coppélia on the Green” on Saturday, June 5.
Tickets are on sale now for the ballet, performed by the dancers of Southern California Ballet. This is a limited-capacity outdoor event with socially-distanced pod seating.
Southern California Ballet's 'The Nutcracker' goes virtual
Poway OnStage has teamed up with the Southern California Ballet to present “The Nutcracker” virtual field trip, available now through Dec. 18.
Southern California Ballet traditionally performs the classic Christmas ballet on the stage of the Poway Center for the Performing Arts every holiday season. With COVID-19 restrictions, the dance company and Poway OnStage have a found a way to bring the show to life in a safe manner for children.
SD Union Tribune: Creative versions of ‘The Nutcracker’ will keep holiday tradition alive
Those not quite ready to attend an in-person performance can catch unique twists on virtual productions, starting with Southern California Ballet.
The Carmel Mountain-based company and ballet school is partnering with Poway OnStage to create a virtual “Nutcracker” field trip for school groups, special needs groups and senior groups.
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Article Features SCB: Dance studios and gym teach online due to COVID-19
“Dancers are making it work,” said Martha Leebolt, co-artistic director of Southern California Ballet. “They are finding ways ... and we are really proud of them.”
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Immediately upon learning Poway Unified School District was suspending classes, SCB faculty started filming themselves doing components of their classes’ syllabuses on March 13. The videos were uploaded on a website so students could practice at home. On March 23, they added live classes via Zoom and now most teachers film from their homes, Leebolt said, with only she and her husband, Toby Batley, filming in the studio. As they got more became familiar with the technology’s capabilities, teachers offered corrections based on what they saw students doing during interactive sessions.
After its successful launch last October, Adaptive Dance program returns in spring
In October 2019, Southern California Ballet launched its first adaptive dance program. The program was designed specifically for adults with disabilities, an often overlooked community, to extend their work day while giving them physical activity, an artistic outlet, and a chance to express themselves in a way that they may have never dreamed possible.
Press Release: A Successful 2020 Roaring 20s Gala Fundraiser
Southern California Ballet’s (SCB) Annual Fundraising Gala celebrated “The Roaring 20s” in style. This year’s event, held at AleSmith Brewing Company, proved to be a night to remember raising over $17,000 to support SCB’s Academy and Community programs.
Southern California Ballet Announces Two New Scholarship Programs for 2020 Summer Intensive Programs
We are excited to announce that, thanks to support from a generous donor and proceeds from last year's Gala Wine Pull, Southern California Ballet is inaugurating a scholarship to help students with the financial burden of attending its summer intensive programs.
We are so excited about creating this scholarship, and hope that it will extend the accessibility of our fantastic summer intensives to those who might otherwise have been unable to attend due to financial constraints, and push students to gain a deeper understanding of their dance training through the essay scholarship, which is open to all.
Press Release: Southern California Ballet to Premiere Brand New “Alice in Wonderland”
San Diego, CA — Southern California Ballet will premiere a brand new production of “Alice in Wonderland” on April 4-5, 2020, staged by its co-artistic directors Martha Leebolt and Toby Batley, former principal dancers of Northern Ballet in Leeds, UK, now in their third year directing SCB. The full-length ballet will feature all new choreography set to a score by Carl Davis with excerpts of Pyotr Llyich Tchaikovsky, a completely redesigned and newly built set, and over 50 new costumes.
Free dance program created for those with disabilities
“Having grown up with one of my closest friends (Claire Feth) being part of the community of individuals with disabilities, this is an extremely important program that is very close to my heart,” said Martha Leebolt, SCB artistic director. “Growing up with her was a formative part of my life, and seeing her transition into adulthood helped me understand the difficulties of this stage of both her and many others’ lives.
“This led us to create this program, which I hope will flourish to become something that can enrich everyone’s lives who want to be involved,” Leebolt said.
For adults with disabilities, another form of creative expression — through dance
Martha Leebolt is the co-artistic director of Southern California Ballet, which was awarded a grant to start an adaptive dance program for adults with disabilities, beginning Oct. 9
It was around this time last year when Southern California Ballet was awarded a grant to start a six-week adaptive dance program for adults with disabilities, spearheaded by the dance company’s co-artistic director, Martha Leebolt.