Our signature Ballet Festival brings together the best dance artists and companies in Southern California to perform a curated program of classical, contemporary, and commissioned ballet works. 

New to the ballet scene? We’ve got you covered. The festival has something for everyone to enjoy. Presented in an entertaining, educational format, each piece is introduced with interesting insights enhancing the viewing experience for all.

Rena Kamariotakis

Hi I’m Rena Kamariotakis, founder of SoCal Ballet Scene and our Signature Ballet Festival event. Having trained and danced professionally in Southern California myself, I saw so much local talent, yet few opportunities for the community to appreciate and be moved by these artists. The Festival was created to provide a performance platform to bring together dancers, choreographers, regional ballet companies, and connect them with the community to celebrate dance together. The entire event, from connections made backstage to the reception following the performance, created a real sense of community among dancers and audience members. All are welcome to join us in this celebration of ballet. I hope to see you at our next Signature Festival Event!

2024 Festival application deadlines for SoCal artists:
- Choreographers & Regional Companies: April 6th
- Freelance Dancers: April 19th

Open applications for professional artists are now closed!

Application Deadlines

  • Choreographers & Regional Companies: April 6th 2024
  • Freelance Dancers: April 19th 2024

We received many applications for our Festival this year from professional artists throughout Southern California. Thank you to all who have expressed enthusiasm and interest in being a part of this cultural event! Stay tuned for 2024 programming details to be announced soon!

 

Performance opportunity for recreational adult ballet dancers

We love the community of recreational dancers in Southern California, many of whom study ballet for years, but rarely are given the chance to dance on stage. We are thrilled to announce that we will be providing a performance opportunity for these dancers in our upcoming ballet festival this Fall - September 14th at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center!

This opportunity is open to advanced level recreational adult dancers with at least 10 years of ballet experience. We will be selecting a group to perform in the corps de ballet of Act 1 of Don Quixote. Perform onstage alongside the professional dancers in our festival!

  • Pointe shoes are not required; The corps de ballet will dance in flat shoes
  • Must be available to attend our open classes and rehearsals at Laguna Dance Theatre every Sunday from July 7th through September 8th
  • No participation fees other than class tuition; unpaid performances

If you are interested in participating, email info@socalballetscene.com by June 1st 2024.

FESTIVAL GALLERY 2022

Photography: Samantha Zauscher

Here’s what our audience members and artists had to say about our inaugural event:
“It was phenomenal! Each performance was incredibly beautiful and unique, and the amount of talent was exceptional. I’m so looking forward to the next festival!”
- Shenin Mesdaghi, audience member
“The Realm Company is beyond grateful for its very first debut festival with SoCal Ballet Scene. TRC was able to perform in a beautiful venue with a sold out performance. We look forward to many more future projects and performances with SoCal Ballet Scene. This festival has a special place in our heart.”
- Chasen Greenwood, Artistic Director, The Realm Company

FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2022

September 24th, 2022
Robert B Moore Theatre
Costa Mesa, CA

When Leaving Isn’t An Option
The Realm Company
director & choreographer Chasen Greenwood
performed by Matisse Love, David Prottas, Cynara Woolner, Melissa Briggs, Emily DeVito
music Realm Records, produced by Taylor Briggs
 
Tango Interlude
Contempo Ballet
director & choreographer Jose Costas
performed by Aoi Aihara, AJ Dirickson, Kiara Kinghorn, Rafael Austria, Sydney Tanji
music Por Siempre Tango & Bajofondo Tango
 
Fantasie Impromptu
choreographer Sharon Savoy
performed by Hannah Cox, Virginia Shields, Kelsey Dorr, Rena Kamariotakis
music Frédéric Chopin
 
Cut To The Chase
Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre
director & choreographer Natasha Middleton
performed by Adele Pomerenke, Patrick Fitzsimmons, Zach Padlo, Aramis Hermes, Aida Tonoyan, Nina Elmoyan
music Worakls
 
Spring Waters
Anaheim Ballet
choreographer Asaf Messerer
directors Lawrence Rosenberg, Sarma Lapenieks Rosenberg
performed by Tatiana Ortega, Brayden Page
music Sergei Rachmaninoff
world premiere 1953 - Moscow, Russia
 
excerpt from Le Corsaire - Odalisques
choreographer Marius Petipa
performed by Rena Kamariotakis, Kelsey Dorr, Samantha Bell
music Adolphe Adam
world premiere 1858 - St Petersburg, Russia
 
excerpt from Light Rain
Kenneth Walker Dance Project
choreographer Gerald Arpino
director Kenneth Walker
performed by Gia Calhoun, Elijah Pressman
music Douglas Adams, Russ Gauthier
performed with permission of the Gerald Arpino Foundation
 
excerpt from Carousel
Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre
director & choreographer Natasha Middleton
performed by Kozue Kasahara, Eduard Sargsyan, Patrick Fitzsimmons, Yasuein Paradise, Zach Padlo, Aramis Hermès
music Rogers and Hammerstein
 
excerpt from The Lady of the Camellias
choreographer John Neumeier
performed by Maire New, Matthew Schroeder
music Frédéric Chopin
world premiere 1978 - Stuttgart, Germany
 
Insignificant Betrayals
choreographer Jeff Raschiatore
performed by Hannah Cox, Claire Nguyen, Alec Guthrie
music Philip Glass
 
excerpt from Flames of Paris
choreographer Vasily Vainonen
performed by Tara Ghassemieh, Vitor Luiz
music Boris Asafiev
world premiere 1932 - Leningrad, Russia
 
When Leaving Isn’t An Option
The Realm Company
director & choreographer Chasen Greenwood
performed by Matisse Love, David Prottas, Cynara Woolner, Melissa Briggs, Emily DeVito
music Realm Records, produced by Taylor Briggs
 
Tango Interlude
Contempo Ballet
director & choreographer Jose Costas
performed by Aoi Aihara, AJ Dirickson, Kiara Kinghorn, Rafael Austria, Sydney Tanji
music Por Siempre Tango & Bajofondo Tango
 
Fantasie Impromptu
choreographer Sharon Savoy
performed by Hannah Cox, Virginia Shields, Kelsey Dorr, Rena Kamariotakis
music Frédéric Chopin
 
Cut To The Chase
Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre
director & choreographer Natasha Middleton
performed by Adele Pomerenke, Patrick Fitzsimmons, Zach Padlo, Aramis Hermes, Aida Tonoyan, Nina Elmoyan
music Worakls
 
Spring Waters
Anaheim Ballet
choreographer Asaf Messerer
directors Lawrence Rosenberg, Sarma Lapenieks Rosenberg
performed by Tatiana Ortega, Brayden Page
music Sergei Rachmaninoff
world premiere 1953 - Moscow, Russia
 
excerpt from Le Corsaire - Odalisques
choreographer Marius Petipa
performed by Rena Kamariotakis, Kelsey Dorr, Samantha Bell
music Adolphe Adam
world premiere 1858 - St Petersburg, Russia
 
excerpt from Light Rain
Kenneth Walker Dance Project
choreographer Gerald Arpino
director Kenneth Walker
performed by Gia Calhoun, Elijah Pressman
music Douglas Adams, Russ Gauthier
performed with permission of the Gerald Arpino Foundation
 
excerpt from Carousel
Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre
director & choreographer Natasha Middleton
performed by Kozue Kasahara, Eduard Sargsyan, Patrick Fitzsimmons, Yasuein Paradise, Zach Padlo, Aramis Hermès
music Rogers and Hammerstein
 
excerpt from The Lady of the Camellias
choreographer John Neumeier
performed by Maire New, Matthew Schroeder
music Frédéric Chopin
world premiere 1978 - Stuttgart, Germany
 
Insignificant Betrayals
choreographer Jeff Raschiatore
performed by Hannah Cox, Claire Nguyen, Alec Guthrie
music Philip Glass
 
excerpt from Flames of Paris
choreographer Vasily Vainonen
performed by Tara Ghassemieh, Vitor Luiz
music Boris Asafiev
world premiere 1932 - Leningrad, Russia
© SoCalBalletScene. All Rights Reserved.
Pas De Deux Workshop

Back by popular demand! - Adult pas de deux workshop, with limited class size of 12 participants!

For Intermediate and Advanced levels.
Female students will be partnered by professional male dancers from the local area.
Male student will be partnered by one of our female professionals.

Location:
Laguna Dance Theatre
23854 Vía Fabricante F3, Mission Viejo, CA 92691

Throughout the year, SoCal Ballet Scene hosts workshops that enable both recreational and professional dancers to explore different aspects of ballet that are not covered in a standard technique class:
 
  • contemporary ballet choreography with regional choreographers
  • pas de deux workshops where adult students learn the art of partnering with local professional partners to help guide them
 
Our workshops provide a unique opportunity for recreational adult dancers to study topics that are often not available elsewhere. They also foster community, networking, and collaboration between local professional artists and students.
"I spent a few hours today with SoCal Ballet Scene taking their open class and then the Pas de Deux workshop adult class. I spent my teenage years dancing at a tiny school in rural Nebraska. The ONLY boy was about ten years old when I was 16 so we certainly didn't do any partnering! I really appreciated this opportunity to finally get to try partnering. It was challenging and quite different from dancing alone, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and would love to do more in the future. Thank you to Edward Sargsyan for being such a skilled partner and keeping me safe and on my leg!"

- Gina Buccolo

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Your Help is Needed

We appreciate your generous support of the 2024 Ballet Festival, enabling us to connect local professional ballet artists with our SoCal community.

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