Sunday, December 9 – Fifty-two young eastside dancers presented their best work at the LAMusArt Winter Dance Recital held in the heart of Downtown LA. With a full rehearsal, tech run and performance, children as young as age 4 had the opportunity to experience the awe and the delights of performing in a professional theatre. Their enthusiasm and love for dance filled the stage for over 200 guests who came to celebrate their young dancers.
LAMusArt’s dance department is led by teaching artists Carissa Songhorian, Tiana Alvarez, and Christina O’Brien. An hour of dances within Pre-ballet, Ballet I, Ballet II, Jazz, and Hip Hop were performed against a classical theatre backdrop. Fitting for a winter recital, dancers rose to the challenge of Ms. Carissa’s choreography to Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker numbers such as “Waltz of the Flowers” then closing with the popular hip-hop favorite, “Mi Gente”.
The recital featured original works from Ms. Carissa and dance partner Alan Perez plus Christina O’Brien, demonstrating the strength and skill of LAMusArt staff not only as teaching artists but as creative artists themselves.
This event was made possible with the support of the hardworking LAMusArt staff and the etiquette demonstrated by our own dancers. Dance student Ariana Avellan, age 11, showed her skills both onstage and off as she led LAMusArt Nutcracker soldiers (age 5+) between the dressing room and the stage.
“Arts education does not stop in the classroom. The strengths that LAMusArt students develop through dance education were so clear to me today when I saw our older dancers helping our primary age dancers backstage without being asked. They were poised, confident, respectful – all before showing such grace on stage!” – Angie Sanon, LAMusArt Office Manager
LAMusArt would like to thank their hardworking staff who persevere through any challenge, the gracious performer family members and most importantly, the devoted young artists who continue to grow through the arts.
LAMusArt’s mission is to provide access to affordable, tuition-free and sequential arts education programs for the community of East Los Angeles to inspire creativity, foster artistic expression and create communal engagement in the arts. Since 1945, LAMusArt has been a place for youth in the community to engage in music learning irrespective of race, color, aptitude or ability to pay.
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Photos by CBGRAPHY
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