College students at Southern California’s Westside College of Ballet know what it means to have massive (pointe) footwear to fill. Based in 1967, the varsity’s alumni embrace a few of ballet’s largest names, together with New York Metropolis Ballet’s Tiler Peck, Andrew Veyette, and Jock Soto. Westside stays Los Angeles’ oldest public ballet college and makes use of this basis to proceed its cutting-edge coaching for the subsequent technology through its pre-professional coaching (Ranges V, V+, VI, VI+, and VII), a trainee program, summer season examine alternatives, and boys-only program.
The college’s trainee program, directed by Westside alums Melissa Barak and Adrian Blake Mitchell, is at present in its second yr and pairs college students within the highest stage with courses and efficiency alternatives at Los Angeles Ballet. Barak, Los Angeles Ballet’s (LAB) creative director, is a longtime Westside school member, and Mitchell, the varsity’s affiliate govt director, is a graduate of the Vaganova Ballet Academy and was the primary Black man to affix a serious Russian ballet firm, the Mikhailovsky Theatre. “We had needed to develop a pre-professional day program and Melissa had her eye on some younger dancers that she felt might be an excellent match for the corporate,” he says, describing the full-time alternative as a “hybrid of a second firm and an intense coaching program.” College students take every day courses at each Westside College of Ballet and the close by Los Angeles Ballet, and steadily attend firm rehearsals. “The trainees have an enormous quantity of performing alternatives,” says Mitchell. Trainees carry out with the Los Angeles Ballet all through their season and likewise tackle main roles in Westside Ballet’s Nutcracker and spring performances.
Westside’s scope additionally ensures that its pre-professional college students, ages 13 to 19, take pleasure in simply as a lot consideration to element through a rigorous after-school syllabus overseen by creative director Martine Harley. Additionally a Westside alumna, she builds on the varsity’s wealthy lineage, making ready dancers in Ranges V and above for skilled careers. College students prepare with esteemed year-round school, together with Barak, Mitchell, Francine Kessler Lavac, Evan Swenson, Natalia Velarde, Sophie Monat, and Carol Youngjohn.
Prime-notch coaching extends by {the summertime}. Mitchell shares that “we begin and finish our summers with specialty workshops taught by visitor school,” who’ve included Nilas Martins, Darla Hoover, Zippora Karz, Andrea Lassakova, Patricia Neary, Tiler Peck, and Indiana Woodward. Within the center weeks, the varsity runs a summer season intensive with its year-round school, the place small class sizes—capped at 16 college students—permit for direct consideration between pupil and trainer. “Every week concludes with an in-studio showcase for family and friends to attend,” Mitchell provides.
Lastly, Westside continues to make room for boys in ballet. “Our focus spans allégro, pirouettes, variations, and pas de deux,” says Mitchell, who leads three divisions inside the boys-only program. “Westside welcomed me with open arms,” he says, “and I hope to increase the identical heat embrace to younger college students aspiring to grasp this unbelievable artwork type.”
Westside College of Ballet Ranges V and Above
Program dimension: 55 college students
Age vary: 13–19
Efficiency alternatives: Westside Ballet’s Nutcracker (the longest-running manufacturing in Southern California), which incorporates a symphony orchestra; college spring showcase; Spring Gala with visitor stars from throughout the globe; year-end demonstration
Tuition: $7,035–$8,610
Room/board: The college helps nonlocal college students discover housing and host households close by.
Every day schedule: Monday to Friday, 4–7 pm, plus Saturdays. Courses embrace ballet approach, conditioning/ground barre, pointe, variations, and repertoire (classical and neoclassical).
Extra alternatives: Via the varsity’s partnership with Santa Monica School, college students are in a position to obtain school credit score for his or her efficiency prep.
Alumni: New York Metropolis Ballet’s Tiler Peck, Jock Soto, Andrew Veyette, Monique Meunier, and Melissa Barak; American Ballet Theatre’s Anna Liceica and Christina Gibbs; Bolshoi Ballet’s Michael Shannon and Pleasure Womack
Vital dates in 2025: Summer time enrollment now open; Could 30–June 1: Spring Gala & Showcase; June: Fall registration opens; June 16–August 1: Six-week summer season intensive; August 23: Nutcracker auditions
To be taught extra about coaching alternatives at Westside College of Ballet, a non-audition college, go to its web site.
Los Angeles Ballet Trainee Program
Program dimension: 12 dancers
Age vary: 16–19
Efficiency alternatives: Los Angeles Ballet (Nutcracker and different choose seasonal programming), Westside Ballet’s Nutcracker; Westside Ballet’s Spring Gala with visitor stars from throughout the globe.
Tuition: $4,250
Room/board: The college helps nonlocal college students discover housing and host households close by.
Every day schedule: Varies based mostly on firm manufacturing schedule. Courses embrace ballet approach, conditioning/ground barre, Gyrotonic, pointe, variations, pas de deux, up to date, and repertoire (classical and neoclassical).
Extra alternatives: Via the varsity’s partnership with Santa Monica School, college students are in a position to obtain school credit score for his or her efficiency preparation.
Vital dates in 2025: Trainee fall time period begins August 18.
For extra program and audition info please attain out to: [email protected]
