Kids Mentoring Kids - South Bay Ballet's Formula for Success begins with The Nutcracker

TORRANCE, CA, November 17, 2012 (Press-News.org) Throughout her career Diane Lauridsen and her staff at Lauridsen Ballet Centre in Torrance have trained thousands of young people in ballet discipline. She has come to believe that the mentoring of young talent is central to both the continued growth of dance as an art form and her mission as an artistic director and teacher. In 2006 this philosophy gave birth to Lauridsen's performing company's [South Bay Ballet] mentoring program.

Unlike many other art forms, ballet is an oral tradition. Its survival depends on one generation passing knowledge onto the next. South Bay Ballet continues the tradition at the start of each new season with the company's senior dancers being paired with those in the junior company. Under Lauridsen's supervision, the mentors work with their mentees during the nine months of rehearsing, learning and creating. The mentees receive not only the benefit of their mentor's guidance, but also develop a sibling-like bond that strengthens the core of this pre-professional company.

As a new season begins, South Bay Ballet is intensely rehearsing its version of The Nutcracker which tells the story of a young girl on Christmas Eve, dreaming a lush and vivid fantasy of her faithful Nutcracker Prince escorting her to the Kingdom of Sweets, where she becomes his beautiful, grown-up ballerina. Lauridsen's expertise has been put to the test this year with the company reaching an all-time record of 111 company members - including ten young men and ten boys which is a rarity for any ballet company. Lauridsen says the mentoring program helps such a large group to find balance and sustain organization throughout the season.

Her goal for all junior company members is to shadow a dancer who has been in the program for a while. Ask him or her questions about classes, technique, rehearsal etiquette, and simply how to balance school and home life with so many hours dedicated to ballet each week.

Karrie McGillivray is one such senior dancer. In her ninth year with South Bay Ballet, McGillivray has benefitted from being a mentee in her earlier years, and now shares her knowledge with four mentees; three of whom have been her charges for three seasons. "I remember the first year the program began. Andie Bartol was my mentor (she called me her Manatee); however, I was Little Clara in The Nutcracker and Charlotte Munson was my 'big Clara,' so I was the only lucky little junior company member who had two mentors.

"Andie helped me truly appreciate the joys of being more of an artist rather than a student learning technique. However, because technique is extremely important, Charlotte took special time when she assisted in ballet class to make sure her 'mini me' had perfect alignment and turnout while still being expressive. I absolutely loved having two senior company members that I was comfortable enough to talk to about advancing, sewing my brand new pointe shoes, and to ask any questions I had."

McGillivray, who will dance the solo role of the Chinese Tea Princess in the upcoming performance of The Nutcracker, says she participates in the program because she remembers how much of an impact her mentors had on her love of ballet, and hopes that she can be just as supportive to her own mentees. She says she hangs out with them all the time and enjoys hearing the stories they have to tell and what fun things that are going on in their lives.

One of her mentees of three-seasons, Luna Weintraub, says that McGillivary is always there to help her especially if she is taking a hard class. "I think having a mentor is important because it is nice to have someone in an upper level to say hello to or go to for help if you have a question on a particular step. It is also really cool to be able to look up to someone and think 'I want to be her someday.'" Weintraub will perform as a Candy Cane in The Nutcracker.

As an apprentice dancer this season, a level just below a senior company member, Weintraub had the opportunity to become a mentor herself. Lauridsen paired Weintraub with a first year ballet student, Adele Cardani who will perform as a Lollipop in The Nutcracker. Weintraub says she is looking forward to answering any questions Cardani might have and continuing the circle of mentorship, which according to Lauridsen is the ultimate purpose of the program - kids mentoring kids.

Audiences of all ages can enjoy these pre-professional performers in action this holiday season when South Bay Ballet takes the stage for its annual production of The Nutcracker. Featured in this year's performance is the exceedingly graceful Daisy Jacobson dancing as Clara and the solidly talented Elijah Pressman as her Nutcracker Prince. Yumi Kanazawa delights as the Sugar Plum Fairy; a heart-melting Mayu Odaka performs as the Snow Queen; and an enchanting Delaney Zieg in the role of the Arabian Princess. As an added highlight, South Bay Ballet's Nutcracker features a notable community member in the guest role of Grandmother Clara. This year, Carolyn Brewer, wife of Torrance City Council Member Tom Brewer, will share the stage.

South Bay Ballet will give three performances of The Nutcracker at the Marsee Auditorium at El Camino College Center for the Performing Arts at 16007 Crenshaw Boulevard in Torrance the weekend of December 14, 15 and 16. Tickets may be purchased by calling 310.329.5345 or by visiting http://www.centerforthearts.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. http://www.southbayballet.org