Toby Batley Toby Batley

Behind the Curtain: The Art and Challenges of Ballet Set Design

Creating an immersive world for ballet performances is an intricate endeavor that challenges set designers and builders to fuse artistic vision with practical execution. Gaining a better understanding of ballet set design and construction can help anyone appreciate the hard work that goes into any production. If you’re interested in set-making, it’s a great introduction to a hobby or career role.

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Toby Batley Toby Batley

The Art and Science of Ballet Choreography

Choreographing a ballet is an intricate and multifaceted process: it requires blending creativity, technical skill, and deep understanding of the ballet narrative and music to create performances that captivate audiences. The process involves much more than devising steps; it encompasses conceptualization, planning, and execution phases, each with its unique challenges and requirements.

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Toby Batley Toby Batley

Make Your Spring Transformative With a Ballet Performance of Cinderella

As spring awakens the world with its vibrant blossoms and renewed energy, there's no better way to celebrate the season than by experiencing a ballet performance of Cinderella. This isn't just a tale of magical slippers and midnight curfews; it's a story deeply woven into American social fabric.

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Toby Batley Toby Batley

How Long Does It Take to Learn a Full-Length Ballet?

Ballet is a dance form celebrated for its grace and discipline, and well-executed ballet productions are a testament to the dedication and hard work of its performers. Learning and rehearsing a part for a full-length ballet is a rigorous process, involving extensive time and effort from the dancers.

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Toby Batley Toby Batley

12 Benefits of Learning Ballet

Ballet, a classical dance form that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts, has transcended time and culture to become a beloved art form worldwide. Yet beneath the beauty and grace of ballet lies a multitude of holistic benefits for those who choose to learn ballet, regardless of their age.

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Press, Coverage, News, Current Dancers Toby Batley Press, Coverage, News, Current Dancers Toby Batley

Business Spotlight: Southern California Ballet to perform ‘Cinderella,’ host summer dance camps

From a ballet performance to camps for would-be young dancers, Southern California Ballet has a full roster of upcoming events.

The story of “Cinderella” will be performed April 1 and 2 by SCB for the first time since 2019.

Husband and wife team Toby Batley and Martha Leebolt , co-artistic directors of Southern California Ballet, first choreographed the ballet in 2018.

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Press, Coverage, News, Current Dancers Toby Batley Press, Coverage, News, Current Dancers Toby Batley

Southern California Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” returns for 30th year

In a sign of how skilled its older students have become, three Southern California Ballet dancers have been cast in roles often performed by professionals in “The Nutcracker.”

Misha MacGowan and Emilia Wightlin are sharing the role of Snow Queen in seven shows from Dec. 15-18. Zachary Ong is partnering with both girls as the Snow Cavalier during the Christmastime ballet at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts.

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Press, Coverage, News, Current Dancers Toby Batley Press, Coverage, News, Current Dancers Toby Batley

SD Union Tribune: Southern California Ballet to present ‘Alice in Wonderland’ after two-year delay

For 18-year-old Lily Hofstetter, dancing the lead role in Southern California Ballet’s upcoming “Alice in Wonderland” is a dream come true.

“I didn’t expect it at all,” Hofstetter said. “I’m super excited to dance it. It is more hours in the studio learning choreography. I love it as it is so much fun.

“Alice stays on stage almost the entire ballet,” she explained. “There is not a lot of rest time.”

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Press, Coverage, News, Current Dancers Toby Batley Press, Coverage, News, Current Dancers Toby Batley

SD Union Tribune: ‘The Nutcracker’ is a Schultz family tradition

In what is likely the first time in Southern California Ballet’s more than 35 years, eight members of a family will perform together in its annual presentation of “The Nutcracker.”

The Schultz family of Poway said this is the first and likely only time all eight of them will be in the same show.

[…]

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Press, Coverage, News, Current Dancers Toby Batley Press, Coverage, News, Current Dancers Toby Batley

Southern California Ballet presents outdoor ‘Coppélia’ in June

The Poway Center for the Performing Arts will once again have patrons on its premises with two outdoor performances of “Coppélia on the Green” on Saturday, June 5.

Tickets are on sale now for the ballet, performed by the dancers of Southern California Ballet. This is a limited-capacity outdoor event with socially-distanced pod seating.

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Press, Coverage, News, Current Dancers Toby Batley Press, Coverage, News, Current Dancers Toby Batley

Southern California Ballet's 'The Nutcracker' goes virtual

Poway OnStage has teamed up with the Southern California Ballet to present “The Nutcracker” virtual field trip, available now through Dec. 18.

Southern California Ballet traditionally performs the classic Christmas ballet on the stage of the Poway Center for the Performing Arts every holiday season. With COVID-19 restrictions, the dance company and Poway OnStage have a found a way to bring the show to life in a safe manner for children.

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