AND lAwNDAle News The Weekly Newspaper of Lawndale Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - November 22, 2012 Inside South Bay Ballet Brings Back The Nutcracker This Issue Calendar...............................3 Classifieds ...........................3 Community Briefs ..............2 Food ......................................8 Legals ...............................5-7 Under the artistic direction of Diane Lauridsen, nationally known South Bay Ballet delivers a holiday confection for savvy ballet audiences who are looking for impeccably trained artists and a creative, Police Briefs .......................3 Auditorium located at 16007 Crenshaw Blvd. For more information, please call 310-329-5345 or visit www.centerforthearts.org. Photo courtesy of the South Bay Ballet.accessible interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s classic. South Bay Ballet’s rendition of The Nutcracker will be showing for one weekend only on Friday, Dec. 14 through Sunday, Dec. 16 at El Camino’s Marsee South Bay Ballet’s Formula for Success Police Reports....................3 Begins with The Nutcracker Courtesy of South Bay Ballet questions about classes, technique, rehearsal have someone in an upper level to say hello Throughout her career Diane Lauridsen etiquette, and simply how to balance school to or go to for help if you have a question Sports ...................................4 and her staff at Lauridsen Ballet Centre in and home life with so many hours dedicated on a particular step. It is also really cool to Torrance have trained thousands of young to ballet each week. be able to look up to someone and think ‘I people in ballet discipline. She has come to Karrie McGillivray is one such senior want to be her someday.’” Weintraub will believe that the mentoring of young talent dancer. In her ninth year with South Bay perform as a Candy Cane in The Nutcracker. is central to both the continued growth of Ballet, McGillivray has benefitted from As an apprentice dancer this season, a dance as an art form and her mission as being a mentee in her earlier years, and now level just below a senior company member, an artistic director and teacher. In 2006 shares her knowledge with four mentees; Weintraub had the opportunity to become a this philosophy gave birth to Lauridsen’s three of whom have been her charges for mentor herself. Lauridsen paired Weintraub performing company’s South Bay Ballet three seasons. “I remember the first year with a first year ballet student, Adele mentoring program. the program began. Andie Bartol was my Cardani who will perform as a Lollipop Weekend one generation passing knowledge onto Charlotte Munson was my ‘big Clara,’ so in The Nutcracker. Weintraub says she islooking forward to answering any questionsCardani might have and continuing theandThe Nutcrackermentor (she called me her Manatee); however,I was Little Clara inUnlike many other art forms, ballet isan oral tradition. Its survival depends on Forecast tradition at the start of each new season member who had two mentors. Lauridsen is the ultimate purpose of thecircle of mentorship, which according toI was the only lucky little junior companythe next. South Bay Ballet continues the with the company’s senior dancers being “Andie helped me truly appreciate the program – kids mentoring kids. paired with those in the junior company. joys of being more of an artist rather than Audiences of all ages can enjoy these Under Lauridsen’s supervision, the mentors a student learning technique. However, pre-professional performers in action this Friday work with their mentees during the nine because technique is extremely important, holiday season when South Bay Ballet Sunny months of rehearsing, learning and creating. Charlotte took special time when she assisted takes the stage for its annual production The mentees receive not only the benefit of in ballet class to make sure her ‘mini me’ of The Nutcracker. Featured in this year’s 73˚/55˚ their mentor’s guidance, but also develop a had perfect alignment and turnout while performance is the exceedingly graceful sibling-like bond that strengthens the core still being expressive. I absolutely loved Daisy Jacobson dancing as Clara and the of this pre-professional company. having two senior company members that solidly talented Elijah Pressman as her As a new season begins, South Bay Ballet I was comfortable enough to talk to about Nutcracker Prince. Yumi Kanazawa delights is intensely rehearsing its version of The advancing, sewing my brand new pointe as the Sugar Plum Fairy; a heart-melting Saturday girl on Christmas Eve, dreaming a lush and shoes, and to ask any questions I had.” and an enchanting Delaney Zieg in the roleMayu Odaka performs as the Snow Queen;McGillivray, who will dance the solo which tells the story of a youngNutcracker, Sunny vivid fantasy of her faithful Nutcracker role of the Chinese Tea Princess in the of the Arabian Princess. As an added 74˚/56˚ Sweets, where she becomes his beautiful, says she participates in the program because features a notable community member inhighlight, South Bay Ballet’s Nutcracker,The Nutcrackerupcoming performance ofPrince escorting her to the Kingdom of grown-up ballerina. Lauridsen’s expertise she remembers how much of an impact the guest role of Grandmother Clara. This has been put to the test this year with the her mentors had on her love of ballet, and year, Carolyn Brewer, wife of Torrance company reaching an all-time record of hopes that she can be just as supportive to City Council Member Tom Brewer, will 111 company members – including ten her own mentees. She says she hangs out share the stage. Sunday for any ballet company. Lauridsen says the the stories they have to tell and what fun performances of The Nutcracker at theSouth Bay Ballet will give threewith them all the time and enjoys hearingyoung men and ten boys which is a rarity Sunny mentoring program helps such a large group things that are going on in their lives. Marsee Auditorium at El Camino College 70˚/55˚ to find balance and sustain organization One of her mentees of three-seasons, Center for the Performing Arts at 16007 throughout the season. Luna Weintraub, says that McGillivary is Crenshaw Boulevard in Torrance the weekend Her goal for all junior company members always there to help her especially if she of December 14, 15 and 16. Tickets may is to shadow a dancer who has been in is taking a hard class. “I think having a be purchased by calling 310-329-5345 or the program for a while. Ask him or her mentor is important because it is nice to by visiting www.centerforthearts.org. •
Lawndale 11_22_12
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