Six Beverly Hills ballerinas danced in The Westside Ballet of Santa Monica’s two-day spring performance, “Masters of Movement: Ballet through the Centuries,” at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage on May 31 and June 1. The performances, featuring 130 dancers, offered audiences the opportunity to experience ballet through the ages, from August Bournonville’s “Le Conservatoire: Pas d’école” to Justin Peck’s “Bloom.”
Beverly Hills’ Avery Hand, Billie Dane, Chloe Meyer, Elle Shim, Jesse Sapadin and Willa Cross were among the 130 student ballerinas who danced in a total of eight performances over the weekend.
“I love the Westside [Ballet] community and anything we do together,” said Meyer. She added that learning new dances “creates a new bonding experience which [she] always holds dear to [her] heart.”
“I feel like my teachers have really emphasized using my artistry and performing to my fullest,” said Shim, who danced in her seventh spring performance with Westside Ballet. “Having the feeling of always performing, even if it’s in class or rehearsal, has helped me dance to my fullest and tell a story with my movements.”
The Saturday evening gala kicked off the spring showcase weekend with cocktails, performances and a light dinner.
New York City Ballet principals and esteemed Westside Ballet alumna Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia delivered a captivating performance of Jerome Robbins’ “Other Dances.” Westside Ballet also honored its former dancer, Andrew Veyette, who just marked the end of his 25-year career with New York City Ballet.
In between the five stunning performances on Saturday evening, Westside Ballet presented the Huntley Santa Monica Beach Community Arts Award to Los Angeles and Santa Monica first responders, many of whom were in the crowd. The honor was especially sentimental for Westside Ballet, since 55 of its dancers and staff, including owner Allegra Clegg, lost their homes in the Palisades and Eaton fires.
“The kids who lost their home still came to ballet, and they’re so happy to be performing because I think Westside [Ballet] is the glue for them,” Clegg told the Courier. “The community came together for them … so that’s how we look at Westside, besides being an incredible ballet school.”
A portion of the proceeds from the gala will go towards Westside Ballet’s Fire Relief Scholarship Fund, which will assist impacted families with tuition, performance fees and dance wear replacement costs.
