Press release
Locally Grown South Bay Ballet Closes Successful Season with Cinderella
TORRANCE, CA (May 2012) – Arts enthusiasts can be hard to find in Southern California. Harder still is finding an audience base for ballet. Certainly there are those who snatch-up tickets, and the glamour that comes with, when a world-renowned ballet company makes its way through town. Supporting and nurturing a locally-grown ballet troupe however is a completely different story evidenced by the numerous professional ballet companies that have come and gone in Los Angeles alone through the years.Growing a company takes patience. Locally, on a professional level that has proven to be difficult as the support of donors and audiences wavers. On a pre-professional level though, many have found success.
South Bay Ballet is one prominent pre-professional company that boasts a 34-year history along with helping to launch the careers of professional ballerinas the likes of Misty Copeland, a soloist at American Ballet Theatre, and Ashley Ellis, a soloist at Boston Ballet, among countless others. Led by founder and artistic director Diane Lauridsen, this hardy troupe has managed to grow an even broader patron base in recent years by appealing to generations of Southlanders with a repertoire that is as engaging for novice dance enthusiasts as well as seasoned veterans.
Following suit with many professional companies, South Bay Ballet’s annual season begins with the staging of the The Nutcracker in December, followed with a classical and contemporary dance concert in the spring featuring the works of celebrated choreographers as well as emerging choreography spawned under Lauridsen’s watchful eye. Most notably a favorite among Southland audiences though is the company’s Storybook Ballet series which features somewhat condensed versions of the full-length ballets with adapted choreography and staging by Lauridsen and her creative team. Featured in South Bay Ballet’s Storybook anthology are four classical ballets: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia, and Cinderella.
Up for the 2012 Storybook rotation is South Bay Ballet’s kid-friendly version of Cinderella. Set to Sergei Prokofiev's well-known score, the ballet is just an hour and a half in length including intermission and runs for one weekend only, June 2 and 3 at the James R. Armstrong Theatre in Torrance. The company’s first performance of Cinderella was in 1992 and since has been revamped with additional scenes choreographed by Lauridsen, vibrant sets and backdrops by artist Jenny Tomich, and enchanting costumes designed by Janice Munson.
South Bay Ballet’s rendition is faithful to the beloved 1697 tale written by Charles Perrault, in which the heroine's father fails to protect his daughter from the wickedness of a stepmother, performed by Delany Zieg, and two stepsisters. After the intervention of her Fairy Godmother, danced by Norika Matsuyama, the downtrodden Cinderella, danced by Daisy Jacobson, is transformed from a ragged servant-girl into a radiantly beautiful princess who is carried off in her carriage to find love in the arms of a Prince, performed this year by John-Paul Simoens.
Perhaps the most famous piece from Prokofiev's score is the lovely, melodic waltz of the Act II ball scene, to which the Prince and Cinderella, who have fallen in love at first sight, dance a blissful pas de deux. In the concluding number of the act, Cinderella realizes she must leave before the stroke of midnight and rushes out leaving behind a sparkling slipper. True to the tale, the Prince vows that he will not rest until he has found the owner of the slipper.
Rivaling the romantic storyline however is the humorous, over-the-top pantomime from the Ugly Stepsisters, Prunella and Druzilla, perfected this year by Karrie McGillivray and Tess Goodrich respectively. While dozens of corps de ballet members fill the stage in stand-out roles including Kathryn Gonzalez-Valle as the Fairy of the Tiara, Yumi Kanazawa as the Fairy of the Slippers, and Mayu Odaka as Fairy of the Gown.
For Lauridsen, whose love of history enables her to grasp the harsh reality of life in medieval times finds the most magical aspects of Cinderella transforming. “When I went to mad Ludwig of Bavaria’s castle, I saw real carriages. They were gigantic and Rococo which really brought this story to life for me. I also try to look at the production through the eyes of a child so in our ballet, there is plenty of fun for the children in the audience while the adult mind is engaged by Cinderella’s touching despair, hope and triumph in the longed-for promise of a happily ever after.”
South Bay Ballet will give four performances of Cinderella at the James R. Armstrong Theatre at 3330 Civic Center Drive in Torrance the weekend of June 2 and 3. Tickets may be purchased by calling 310.781.7171 or by visiting www.southbayballet.org.
WHEN:
Saturday, June 2 – 2 pm & 6 pm
Sunday, June 3 – 2 pm & 5 pm
WHERE:
James R. Armstrong Theatre
Torrance Cultural Arts Center
3330 Civic Center Drive • Torrance, California 90503
INFORMATION & TICKET SALES:
All seats $22
310.781.7171
www.southbayballet.org
ABOUT SOUTH BAY BALLET:
South Bay Ballet, a non-profit organization, provides quality artistic performances to the community as well as outstanding training to young and pre-professional dancers. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Diane Lauridsen, and Assistant Artistic Director Elijah Pressman, the Company’s mission is to provide a nurturing environment for serious dance students to develop their skills while offering artistic excellence to the community. The Company is dedicated to providing performance opportunities that build character and confidence. The ultimate goal is to carry young dancers into their professional lives. www.southbayballet.org
South Bay Ballet
1261 Sartori Avenue
Torrance, CA 90501
Lisa Silagy, Publicity
310.755.8999
lisa@inkprfirm.com
This release was published on openPR.
Permanent link to this press release:
Copy
Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release.
You can edit or delete your press release Locally Grown South Bay Ballet Closes Successful Season with Cinderella here
News-ID: 221182 • Views: …
More Releases from South Bay Ballet

South Bay Ballet’s The Nutcracker Pirouettes into its 10th Season
This year marks the 10th anniversary of South Bay Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker – one of the best things to do in the Southland for the holidays! Dancers who started out as tiny mice in early productions have graduated to bigger roles of the full-length seasonal classic, which shows December 20, 21 and 22 at El Camino College Center for the Arts, Marsee Auditorium.
Mayu Odaka, 16, of Redondo…

South Bay Ballet Announces Ambitious 2013-2014 Season
South Bay Ballet announces its 2013-2014 season and it’s an ambitious one with the 10th anniversary of The Nutcracker, Bravo! The Classical & Contemporary Ballet Experience and the storybook premiere of Peter Pan.
The season opens December 20th with the 10th anniversary celebration of the company’s traditional holiday production of The Nutcracker. March 2014 brings South Bay Ballet’s annual Bravo! dance concert showcasing a range of the work from…

Corps Stars Bring South Bay Ballet’s Nutcracker to Life
(Torrance, CA) If you are one of those who look forward to the holiday season and enjoy the performing arts then more than likely you are not a stranger to the timeless story of The Nutcracker. Performed by ballet companies around the world year in and year out, the account of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince is an enchanting tale enjoyed by theatre-goers of all ages. And…
More Releases for Cinderella
UK Female Hair Piece, Wig, and Extension Market to Witness Comprehensive Growth …
According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, "UK Female Hair Piece, Wig, and Extensions Market by Product Type, and Material: Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2027," The UK female hair piece, wig, and extension market size was valued at $612.9 million on 2019, and is expected to reach $1,185.1 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 11.7% from 2021 to 2027. The wigs segment was the…
Pamela Quinzi: The Global success of The Cinderella of New York. From Italy to N …
Pamela Quinzi is a trailblazing entrepreneur, celebrity fashion designer, author, and influencer whose story embodies resilience, creativity, and empowerment. Born in Rome, Italy, Pamela arrived in New York City with little more than a dream. Her journey from humble beginnings to global recognition as "The Cinderella of New York" has inspired women worldwide to pursue their aspirations with courage and tenacity. With a deep passion for design and innovation, Pamela…
Human Hair Extension Market May See a Big Move | Hair Dreams, Cinderella, Hairlo …
Advance Market Analytics published a new research publication on "Human Hair Extension Market Insights, to 2028" with 232 pages and enriched with self-explained Tables and charts in presentable format. In the Study you will find new evolving Trends, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities generated by targeting market associated stakeholders. The growth of the Human Hair Extension market was mainly driven by the increasing R&D spending across the world.
Get Free Exclusive PDF Sample…
Hair Extension Market Giants Spending Is Going to Boom | Balmain, Easihair, Hair …
Advance Market Analytics published a new research publication on "Hair Extension Market Insights, to 2028" with 232 pages and enriched with self-explained Tables and charts in presentable format. In the Study you will find new evolving Trends, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities generated by targeting market associated stakeholders. The growth of the Hair Extension market was mainly driven by the increasing R&D spending across the world.
Get Free Exclusive PDF Sample Copy of…
Electric Incinerator Toilet Market Growth Opportunities and Investment Feasibili …
LOS ANGELES, United States: The electric incinerator toilet market refers to the industry involved in the manufacturing and distribution of electric incinerating toilets. These are specialized toilets that use electricity to burn human waste to ash, eliminating the need for water or sewer connections.
Electric incinerator toilets are commonly used in locations where traditional toilet installations are not practical or available, such as RVs, boats, and remote cabins. They are also…
Cinderella Solution Reviews - Real Weigh tLoss System or Scam?
Visit Official Website Here >. https://bit.ly/2YjLECE
Are you struggling with your weight loss journey? Have you arrived at the conclusion that maybe women over the age of 40 simply cannot lose weight? If you have, this is a misconception that needs to be put to an end immediately. Most women fail to realize that the impact of a hormonal imbalance can be huge. Without rectifying the internal issues, none of the…