If one only reads the New York Times for dance coverage, one could be forgiven for thinking that the Los Angeles Dance scene is nonexistent or solely the brainchild of a few imported names from far-off lands. The truth is much more exciting, equitable, and evolving. Los Angeles has a thriving dance community; ballet is a huge part of that scene, with innovative companies dotting the landscape from Santa Barbara to San Diego. The adult ballet phenomenon is also exploding as new and returning ballet students of all ages and experiences rekindle a love of the art form, taking mixed-level classes that intersperse professional dancers among those who are just becoming acquainted with ballet or pointe shoes, and filling the theaters to see performances to be inspired by both local and touring companies.
SoCal Ballet Scene brilliantly bridges the diversity and geography of these varied dance communities. Founded in 2019, the organization received non-profit status in 2023. I had the immense pleasure of talking with Founder and Artistic Director Rena Kamariotakis and Board member Brenda Erlinger about the progression of the organization, their upcoming festival, and the exciting changes that are taking place in Southern California’s ballet community.
Rena Kamariotakis – Photo courtesy of the artist.
SoCal Ballet Scene is dedicated to creating a cohesive dance community, building connections between local professional artists, the audience, and the large cohort of adult dancers who both dance themselves and form the donor and audience base in the Southern California region.
Our goal is to build connections between the professional artists and the audience here. So many times we see, at these big theaters, touring companies from out of state or out of the country, which is great, but there’s so much talent in Southern California! We really want to shine a light on what’s here in our community. (Rena Kamariotakis)
SoCal Ballet – Photo by Sam Zausch Photo.
Ms. Kamariotakis has been dancing her entire life. In her twenties, she performed professionally with Anaheim Ballet and has maintained ties with the organization. The company performed at the festival in 2022 and will return this year. Ms. Erlinger also has a life-long relationship with ballet; studying as a child and first returning to it recreationally as a student at the University of Utah during her college years, before connecting with SoCal Ballet Scene.
I always thought that, at some point, I would come back to ballet, but it really took me the better part of 25 years to find my way back to the barre, so to speak. I had just taken classes here or there, over that span of time. It’s been life-changing for me to rediscover this art form and this form of expression. And it’s been just a beautiful experience to have the opportunity to join classes like Rena’s. (Brenda Erlinger)
Ms. Kamariotakis is a force to be reckoned with. She has yet to take a salary for her work and has a full-time job working for Zillow. She runs a non-profit and teaches classes as a passion project but has aspirations for it to become a self-sustaining organization, with a fully paid staff. Tanya Durbin has recently joined the organization as Associate Artistic Director. A professional dancer with a long ballet and ballroom resumé, she is an exciting addition to the team. The managing team and board of directors include many adult ballet dancers, all of whom are passionate and devoted to expanding the scope of the organization.
Brenda Erlinger – Photo courtesy of the artist.
SoCal Ballet Scene offers adult ballet classes for only $15/class, well below the going rate of up to $25/class. In an offering to the professional community, of which many members are freelance artists, classes are free for professional dancers.
Our organization hosts open classes on Wednesdays and Sundays. We offer our classes complimentary for professional dancers. And then our drop-in rate is very low because we want to help the community in general. (Kamariotakis)
That community building has served the organization well. The Inaugural Festival took place in 2022 and featured Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre, Anaheim Ballet, The Realm Company, Kenneth Walker Dance Project, and Contempo Ballet. The organization also produced three dance films, Dying Swan on the Water – ballet on film, Tango Del Fuego choreographed by Sharon Savoy, and Allure, a short film created by Sadie Black celebrating historical aircraft and the magic of flight.
Petra Conti – Photo by KseniA.Photoarts.
This year’s festival, on September 14th at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach is an even grander celebration. There are both matinee and evening performances and there is also a complimentary outdoor fair on the theatre terrace with live music, food trucks, ballet photography exhibits, and ballroom demonstrations. Featured artists include special guest artist Kathryn Morgan who will be performing Balanchine’s Tchaikovsky Pas De Deux. Petra Conti, the prima ballerina and artistic director of the new Hollywood Ballet will perform the White Swan Pas De Deux. The Realm Company out of Los Angeles and Anaheim Ballet will participate again in this year’s festival. SoCal Ballet Scene is setting Act I of Don Quixote starring former NYCB ballerina Rachel Hutsell, Eduard Sargsyan, and Alexander Romanchikov, a former soloist from Mariinsky Theatre. Rounding out the program is Kismet, a piece originally commissioned by the Smuin Ballet and choreographed by local artist Claire Buehler, Flower Festival Pas de Deux, and original contemporary works by up-and-coming SoCal choreographers Jeff Raschiatore and Sadie Black.
Ms. Erlinger describes the feel and focus of the festival and the focus on bringing ballet out of its elitist shell and into the experience of the community at large.
To touch on the community aspect, the format of the festival provides a great introduction to ballet for anyone who might be curious about the art form but may have felt it was a little elitist or not for them. The program offers something for everyone. Each piece is presented in a narrative format, which I think really lends itself to people feeling like, “Oh, I understand that piece a little better!” It might be some background information about a choreographer provided that kind of enriches the experience. And then they have the opportunity to mingle with the dancers after the performance. We, as a board, have spent a lot of time creating these opportunities for the community to enrich their lives, and elevate their well-being through access to this beautiful artform. (Erlinger)
Rachell Hutsell – Photo by Hugh Foster.
Don Quixote is a particularly exciting venture for the group. In addition to the stars listed, recreational community dancers have been given the opportunity to perform in the corps de ballet. While most of the costumes are being sourced from Long Beach Ballet, Christine Pigott, one of those recreational dancers, has created original costumes for Kitri, Mercedes, and Kitri’s friends.
SoCal Ballet Scene is also making tickets available to youth who might otherwise not be able to attend the performances, such as a group from the Wooden Floor and another from the Santa Ana High School Dance Team.
SoCal Ballet – Photo by Hugh Foster.
When asked about future goals, the answers ranged from the basic; a fully paid staff, to the lofty; elevate the festival, and continue to create ongoing connections for dancers, choreographers, and community members in all of their intersecting identities to elevate ballet in the Southern California region. The dedicated team and board members are doing everything possible to expand the vibrant community that they already have. With the passionate and dedicated Rena Kamariotakis at the helm, a diverse, eclectic, and exciting ballet community is a reality.
Tickets for the festival are available here.
To learn more about the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, please visit their website.
Written by Nancy Dobbs Owen for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: SoCal Ballet – Photo by Sam Zausch.
