Press Release: Southern California Ballet to Premiere Brand New “Alice in Wonderland”
RELEASE
For Immediate Release, February 17, 2020
Southern California Ballet to Premiere Brand New “Alice in Wonderland”
San Diego, CA — Southern California Ballet will premiere a brand new production of “Alice in Wonderland” on April 4-5, 2020, staged by its co-artistic directors Martha Leebolt and Toby Batley, former principal dancers of Northern Ballet in Leeds, UK, now in their third year directing SCB. The full-length ballet will feature all new choreography set to a score by Carl Davis with excerpts of Pyotr Llyich Tchaikovsky, a completely redesigned and newly built set, and over 50 new costumes. The new production is made possible partly by generous donors who “Raised the Paddle” at Southern California Ballet’s annual fundraising gala, which took place on February 8, 2020 and raised $5,000 to support the project.
“The story contains so many fantastic characters along Alice’s journey through Wonderland that we are excited to see realized through dance. We are particularly excited to be working on new choreography for our talented Company-level dancers who, in addition to their skill as dancers, bring so much personality to the studio and the stage. The feeling of ownership and pride that comes as a dancer being involved in the new creation of a ballet is irreplaceable and it’s something that we love to be able to give to the students!” said Leebolt.
Taking place on Saturday, April 4 at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 5 at 1:00 p.m. at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, the production will feature Southern California Ballet company dancers in the main roles and also include other local dance students supporting them.
Last year's production of “Cinderella” was truly a team effort from the whole of the Southern California Ballet community, with students and parents sewing costumes at costume parties and even helping paint parts of the set. “This is the beauty of our organization,” said Batley, “everyone involved has a sense of ownership over the production, from our sponsors and donors to the students learning and helping create brand new choreography. Last year we had three generations of some families sewing together at our sewing party and parents with their kids helping paint sets and make props.”
Southern California Ballet will also once again offer a free educational workshop at its studios for children in elementary and middle school on March 29 from 12:00-1:30 p.m. The workshop will introduce children to the art of ballet, focusing on “Alice in Wonderland,” and will provide them the opportunity to see the brand new costumes and sets from the production up close. Participants will learn about all aspects of the process of making a new ballet.
Co-artistic directors Leebolt and Batley—who came to San Diego in 2017 from Northern Ballet in Leeds, UK—share that they are very excited to be choreographing a full-length ballet from scratch. The new costumes will be designed and built by Tutu Terry of Carlsbad, San Diego and the new set designed by television production designer Taff Batley.
After successfully revamping Southern California Ballet’s “Coppélia” production in 2018, and bringing to life a whole new production of “Cinderella” last year, Leebolt and Batley decided that “Alice in Wonderland” would be a fantastic addition to the Southern California Ballet repertoire. “The story was previously performed by SCB for many years as an Academy Production and we felt that the story has so much energy, whimsy and comedy that it would make a great full length professional Spring Production,” said Batley.
In addition to staging stunning ballet productions for the enjoyment of San Diego audiences, Southern California Ballet has always been dedicated to providing its students with the invaluable experience of taking part in professional-level productions.
Company Dancers
Southern California Ballet is proud to train dancers with the skill and talent needed to perform principal roles in its professional-level productions. The title role of Alice will be played by 15 year old Inspire home schooled Malia Wellwerts and Madeline Franz, a junior at Rancho Bernardo High School. Samuel Fiorino, a senior at Rancho Bernardo High, will dance the role of the Mad Hatter while The Queen of Hearts/Edith will be performed by Leah Zabezhinsky, a senior from Rancho Bernardo High and Lili Olah, a junior from West View High.
Save the date! Performances of Alice in Wonderland will take place Saturday, April 4 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 5 at 1:00 p.m. at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets will be sold both through the SCB website, www.southerncaliforniaballet.org/alice, and at the PCPA Box Office. Tickets are priced at $23, $38, or $46. Student, senior, group, and military discounts are available.
Poway Center for the Performing Arts is located at 15498 Espola Road, Poway, CA, 92064.
To read more about SCB and our news go to: www.southerncaliforniaballet.org/news
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Notes to Editor:
SCB supports P.L.A.Y., Poway Leisure Assistance for Youth, Girls Scouts of America, and senior assisted living centers through reduced ticket prices striving to make ballet accessible and affordable for all to enjoy.
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