Blankenship Ballet Company Kicks off Night of Dance at the Alexandria
Blankenship Ballet
Blankenship Ballet Company dancers shown in Palm Court at the Alexandria Hotel
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — This weekend marks the return of another spectacular night of dance courtesy of the Blankenship Ballet Company who has recently made the Alexandria Hotel their new home.
On Saturday, May 22 at 8:00pm the Blankenship Ballet Company kicks off their 2010 schedule in the Palm Court with "Cuban Ballet Extravaganza," a series of ballet, jazz and contemporary dance numbers featuring their world class dancers.
The ballet company was based in Venice before discovering the Alexandria Hotel, a venue they thought would be the perfect place to showcase their talents. Quietly over the past few months they have been settling into their new home, preparing for a series of community events and performances. Not only have they signed a long term lease at the Alexandria but they will be renovating the King Edward Ballroom for future performances, classes and events.
Creative producer Mark Blankenship wants to create a place where people can be exposed to the arts in a very unpretentious manner regardless of ability to pay or experience level, "We invite people to stop by and dance with our company of performers. Many of our dancers defected from Cuba, they know what it means to be liberated by the arts and we want to share that passion."
Blankenship's wife, Bertha, a former dancer with Ballet Nacional de Cuba, serves as Artistic Director and is a perfect example of that passion. Her performance at Vibiana last year had the standing room only crowd truly captivated by her grace.
While a schedule of traditional classes are on the horizon, anyone can contact the company to watch one of their weekly rehearsals, dance with a professional ballerina or simply indulge in an artistic escape.
For more information on this Saturday's performance, visit the company's website.
Guest on May 18, 2010, at 01:35PM – #1
I attended their performance last year at St. Vibiana and it was amazing. I'm looking forward to seeing them again, especially right here in Downtown. Welcome Blankenship Ballet Company to our neighborhood!
Guest on May 18, 2010, at 02:07PM – #2
BRAVO! BRAVO!! BRAVO!! A MUST SEE. Don't let this one pass you by if you are into dance. This is a dance company of extraordinary ability.
Howie on the Hill
Susana Benavidez on May 19, 2010, at 08:06AM – #3
This is great news! Welcome to the neighborhood! I hope they offer dance classes for kids (hint hint)... That would be awesome! :)
Guest on May 19, 2010, at 12:38PM – #4
Susana: Have you checked out The Colburn School on Grand Ave. near MOCA? They offer a great dance program for kids as well as adults.
Susana Benavidez on May 20, 2010, at 09:28AM – #5
@Guest #4 - I keep trying to get a hold of someone there for the weekend classes and it seems no one is staffing the program. I've left several vm's and nada...
I'm excited about a ballet company whose artistic director was a member of Ballet Nacional de Cuba!
Jeannine Denholm on May 20, 2010, at 11:22AM – #6
Susana,
I actually take the adult classes on Saturday at the Colburn and would be happy to answer any questions you have. Currently the Blankenship doesn't have classes for children but they hope to in the future. But they do encourage children to stop by with their parents for rehearsals, just simply contact Mark at the Blankenship through their website. Also they admit children under 15 for free at their performances.
I saw their last performance at Vibiana and really could not put it into words -- its THAT great ; )
Jeannine
Guest on May 23, 2010, at 11:31AM – #7
Wow! The performance last night was truly amazing. What a unique group of talented artists. We are so lucky that Blankenship has found a home here in Downtown and in such a beautiful venue as The Alexandria's King Edward Ballroom. I mean, this room was designed to host a ballet company: wood floors, 15' ceilings, french doors opening to second floor terraces. This could easily be mistaken for any dance studio of any dance company in Paris.
FLEA on May 23, 2010, at 01:19PM – #8
I too was at the performance last night and it almost blew me away, literally. We were sitting in the front row and I felt like I was dancing with them they were so close. They were amazing. The flamego dancers were a surprise. I didn't expect them when I knew I was going to see ballet. I LOVE FLAMEGO and they were some of the best. Also, it was in The Palm Court room not the King Alexandria ballroom. Wasn't it? I can't wait to see them again. This was just one magical night but I hope they plan on honoring us downtowners with more performances in the near future.