Dancers Clayton Velasquez and Dale Jordan – Photo by Genta Carter
Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre (PBDT), (formerly known as Media City Ballet Company), Natasha Middleton, Artistic Director and Choreographer will kick off it’s 14th Anniversary Season at the historic El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Boulevard (at Weddington Street), North Hollywood, CA 91601 with a fresh new show of classical and contemporary dance entitled, “A Collection of Works” to be presented on the Main Stage at the El Portal Theatre on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 26, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. In addition, two other new productions soon to be announced will be presented at the El Portal Theatre in September 2015 and November 2015 respectively, as part of Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre’s 14th Anniversary Season.
Special Appearance by Alexander Fost, So You Think You Can Dance Season 8 Finalist – Photo by JONO Photography
Natasha Middleton, Artistic Director and Choreographer of Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre said, “‘A Collection of Works’ will feature beautiful Pas de Deux’, Pas De Trois’, Quartets and Ensembles set to music of both classical and modern contemporary composers. The program will feature our company’s most accomplished and experienced professional Soloist dancers.”
Alexander Fost (of Alhambra), a Season Eight Finalist of So You Think You Can Dance, will make a special appearance in the show. The production also features 10 other PBDT Soloist dancers, including: Elan Alekzander (of Anaheim), Artur Aleksanyan (of North Hollywood), Grigori Arakelyan (of Glendale), Irina Gharibyan (of Burbank), Ani Hovhannisyan (of Glendale), Elen Harutunyan (of Tarzana), Pamela Ortega (of Burbank), Julia Sanches (of Santa Clarita), Damara Titmus (of West Hills) and Clayton Velasquez (of West Hollywood).
The program will feature “Chopin Pieces” set to the music of Frédéric Chopin’s romantic Nocturnes, intense Etudes and his melodic Fantasie-Impromtu; the World Premiere of “A Beginning, A Detour and an Open Ending,” a modern contemporary piece of a man fighting for his identity choreographed by Clayton Velasquez set to the music of Imogene Heap; “Searching,” a new Adagio contemporary ballet duet set to the music of Kevin Keller; “Black Coffee” in which four dancers hash out their blues set to the music of k.d. lang; and “Fire and Drums,” a dance of speed, strength and passion set to American Indian Drumming.
Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre has received much critical acclaim in the media. The Los Angeles Times has written: “The ambitious troupe has much to be proud of,” while The Burbank Leader wrote: “The dancers are focused and have lovely technique.” The Daily Splash has written: “The dancing left much of the audience with their mouths open as they watched in awe. The flexibility and the grace that all of the performers displayed was breathtaking. This was a magical evening that will not be forgotten.”
Tickets are $41 and $51 and may be purchased by calling the El Portal Theatre Box Office Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. by calling 818-508-4200 or through TheaterMania operators from 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., seven days a week by calling 866-811-4111. Tickets are also available for sale 24/7 via the Internet at https://web.ovationtx.com/trs/pr/944322.
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Limited Free Parking is available behind the theatre in the Lankershim Elementary School parking lot located on the corner of Weddington Street and Bakman Street. There is also metered and some free parking on streets surrounding the theatre, and paid parking at The Federal Restaurant located across the street from the theatre.
To learn more about the show, please visit www.elportaltheatre.com, Events and Tickets, Main Stage Theatre Calendar and www.pacificballetdancetheatre.com. To view a sampling of previous work of Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre, please visit https://vimeo.com/120824991. Network with us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Ballet-Dance-Theatre/86766326286 and tweet with us @natashaPBDT
About Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre and Natasha Middleton, Artistic Director and Choreographer:
Now celebrating its 14th Annual Season under the guidance of Artistic Director/Choreographer Natasha Middleton, Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre (PBDT) (formerly Media City Ballet Company) is dedicated to providing Los Angeles and the surrounding communities with quality live ballet productions, utilizing the inspired and creative talents of the local community, as well as professionals from around the world. PBDT is the only ballet company in Los Angeles presenting performances in the tradition and philosophy of the legendary Ballet Russe de Serge Diaghilev. Natasha Middleton’s grandmother, Elena Wortova, was a Soloist in the original Ballet Russe, which included other legendary dancers like Anna Pavlova, George Balanchine, Alexandra Danilova and Vaslav Nijinsky. Middleton’s father, Andrei Tremaine, was a Principal Dancer with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, and Soloist with the Ballet Nacional de Mexico and the Colon Opera Ballet of Buenos Aires. Natasha Middleton, a “Ballet Russe Baby,” was a Principal Dancer for her father’s ballet company, Pacific Ballet Theatre, as well as a member of the Joffrey II Ballet Company in New York City, before taking on the responsibilities of Artistic Director for Media City Ballet Company (now renamed Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre in honor of her father’s historic dance legacy and former dance company). For more information about Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre, please visit the website www.pacificballetdancetheatre.com.