California Contemporary Ballet (CCB)
California Contemporary Ballet (CCBallet), established by Erin Holt, the company’s visionary choreographer and Artistic Director, is one of Southern California’s burgeoning dance companies.
During the summer of 2007, the Company traveled to Ostrava, Czech Republic under the auspices of the Prague International Ballet, where they were honored with an invitation to perform “Blind Journey”, an original full length ballet created by Ms. Holt, at the Janacek Conservatory. Upon their arrival back home, CCBallet was asked to re-produce the ballet, “Blind Journey”, in it’s entirely for the unique “Theater in the Round” at the Glendale Center Theatre where the Company performed to a packed house. These experiences elevated the company to a professional classification.
The company was established as a full-fledged professional company in 2008 featuring the talent of 5-7 career dancers and Holt’s unique blend of classical and contemporary dance works. CCBallet provides its dancers with the opportunity to perform an exciting repertoire of innovative and original dance projects performed in concerts, theatre and festivals throughout Southern California.
CCBallet offers self produced concerts featuring the original innovative choreography by Ms. Holt as well as renowned guest choreographers and distinguished visiting artists. Their performances highlight CCBallet’s career dancers, embellished by beautiful handmade costumes, sets and lighting design. The company often presents the works of original music by guest and resident composers. Several such original works have included a rock n roll ballet of "Romeo and Juliet", "Lifetimes" -which explored the concept of experiencing life beyond death, "Blind Journey"- about a young girl trapped between reality and the spiritual world, "Angelitos"- a ballet adapted from the famous Puerto Rican story of "Angelitos Negros". Whether performing on a grand stage or in their own intimate studio theatre, the entire company delivers a passionate, moving experience to their audiences.
CCBallet was selected to participate in the Celebrate Dance Festival during the 2009 season at the Alex Theater in Glendale, as part of a special dance series produced by Los Angeles presenter and choreographer Jamie Nichols, and premiered choreography by Ms. Holt entitled, “Quintessence”. CCBallet was also selected to perform at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium as a featured presentation for the Pasadena Dance Festival 2009, produced by Lineage Dance Company, where the Company presented excerpts from, “Blind Journey”-previously presented in the Czech Republic in 2007.
The Company’s annual signature ballet titled, “The Snow Queen”, is a delightful winter production starring the career members of California Contemporary Ballet (CCBallet), accompanied by the California Contemporary Youth Ballet (CCYBallet) and select dancers from the community, resulting in a cast of 60-70 dancers. Adapted for ballet from the classic children’s story written by Hans Christian Andersen, the production features the dramatic choreography of Erin Holt which is performed to the beautiful original musical score composed by Randall Michael Tobin.
In 2009 The Los Angeles Times reported on California Contemporary Ballet’s “The Snow Queen” with a full feature article by Debra Levine who wrote:
“Holiday alternatives do exist for the imaginative ballet master.
One smart coach, Erin Holt of California Contemporary Ballet, who grew up dancing “The Nutcracker,” decided she had had enough. Holt developed a vehicle that provides all-things-Nutty: an innocuous family outing, exposure to classical ballet for kids and a big-tent approach to casting. Only, it’s not the “Nutcracker.” It’s “The Snow Queen.” And she’s been doing it for 12 years. Adios Sugar Plum Fairy. Bienvenidos, er … Queeny.”
“Holt does December differently. Her project offers a "Nutcracker" alternative: her own creation inspired by Andersen's set of seven tales about Gerda, a little girl who saves her best buddy, Kai, from an evil spell. The Snow Queen and a (nasty, spell-bearing) mirror gives the dance-drama its good-versus-evil moral dimension, making "The Snow Queen" fine family fodder”
The Company has been fortunate to establish Glendale Community College as its current home for the ballet which celebrated its 12th season in 2009. “The Snow Queen” has become a community favorite for the holidays by offering the public a pleasant alternative to the numerous Nutcracker productions at reasonable ticket rates.
Additionally, CCBallet has been invited to perform by a number of Southern California organizations including Los Angeles Council District 14 Fourth of July Celebration and Festival, the Woman’s Auxiliary of Southern California, the Long Beach Day Nursery, the premiere of Katie Cassidy’s first record single in Studio City, the Miles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica, All Nations Church in Lakeview Terrace, the Celebrity Center International, El Portal Theater in North Hollywood, the Glendale Center Theater and the Harvest Festival at Descanso Gardens and more.
As with any other professional company, CCBallet company members are selected through an audition process or are handpicked by the Artistic Director on a project-by-project basis.
CCBallet is resident of the California DanceArts Academy, a school of ballet and contemporary dance providing quality dance education, located in the foothills of Los Angeles. While affiliated solely through the art of dance, CCBallet and California DanceArts provide the most progressive quality dance education and inspired performance experiences for their respective artists and audiences. With the establishment of CCBallet and as a testament to the innovation that the company provides, dancers from the Academy and the community have found a home for their artistic expression and careers.
Grant Awards
In November 2002, California Contemporary Ballet was awarded a grant by the Hezlep Family Foundation of San Marino, California, providing for the purchase and restoration of costumes for the 2002 production of The Snow Queen. In addition, California Contemporary Ballet has received eight unrestricted grants, each from the Time Warner Foundation during the 2000 through 2009 calendar years. An unrestricted Grant was awarded to California Contemporary Ballet by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Comission supporting the company's 2009 and 2010 seasons. California Contemporary Ballet also continues to draw support from its generous Patrons of the Arts.
Sponsor Us
CCBallet operates entirely upon the generous funding from rare grant awards, community business, private patrons and ticket sales. By infusing our community with high quality performances, CCBallet artists are doing their part to inspire and enhance our community with the joy of dance. However, it literally takes hundreds of creative hours to invent new choreographic works or to keep our current repertory well rehearsed. Our artists require monetary remuneration to maintain the quality of our offerings. Please consider encouraging and supporting the accomplished artists of California Contemporary Ballet today by becoming a sponsor.
