Seven San Fernando Valley Dancers Take the Stage at Westside Ballet's Spring Performances

This is a paid post contributed by a Patch Community Partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own, and the information presented has not been verified by Patch.

---

When the curtain rises on Westside Ballet's Spring Performances at The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica, seven dancers from communities across the San Fernando Valley will join more than 130 student performers from throughout Southern California.

Founded in 1967 by New York City Ballet soloist Yvonne Mounsey and Royal Ballet dancer Rosemary Valaire, Westside School of Ballet has trained generations of dancers while maintaining a non-audition philosophy that makes classical ballet accessible to students from all walks of life. Westside Ballet of Santa Monica, the nonprofit performance company that presents the Spring Performances, was founded in 1973 and raises funds to provide scholarships for academy students.

Westside Ballet's 2026 spring season has been framed around the argument that ballet, far from being a dying art form, is broadening: that the people drawn to it now arrive from many directions, and that the form itself is large enough to hold them. Calvin Royal III is one example. He did not begin formal ballet training until age 14, after a childhood spent moving between army bases with his military family before settling in Tampa, where his grandmother fostered his arts education. Two years later he was a Youth America Grand Prix finalist on full scholarship to ABT.

The weekend also marks a significant leadership moment for Westside, as Adrian Blake Mitchell becomes Artistic Director on June 8.

This year's Spring Performances feature excerpts from the classical ballet Paquita, selections from Giselle, George Balanchine's Who Cares?, Champagne Polka, and contemporary works including Algorithm and Places.

Representing Woodland Hills, Calabasas, West Hills, Porter Ranch, Sherman Oaks, and Burbank, these dancers attend a variety of schools and come from different backgrounds, but they share one thing in common: a commitment to the rigorous training and artistry of Westside Ballet, one of Los Angeles' oldest and most respected ballet institutions.

Like many young dancers, these seven students balance school, family commitments, and rigorous training schedules. Together, they represent nearly every stage of a dancer's journey, from elementary school students making early memories on stage to a graduating senior preparing for college.

Louisa Damborg, 18, of Calabasas has trained at Westside Ballet for 15 years and will perform in Paquita, Algorithm, and Places. This fall she will attend Smith College.

For Louisa, one of the most rewarding aspects of performing comes from working together as part of an ensemble. "In the corps de ballet in Paquita, I love that we all have to work together in the performance," she said. "During class, you focus almost solely on improving yourself. However, performances like these are about making a group look good, and that requires everyone to breathe and dance as one."

Aralyn Wilson, 11, of Woodland Hills has trained at Westside Ballet for nine years and performs in Paquita Polonaise. One of her favorite ballet memories came during Westside Ballet's 2025 production of The Nutcracker. "One of my all-time favorite moments on stage was on closing night of Westside Ballet's 2025 Nutcracker," she said. "I played the part of the naughty Polichinelle, which was a dream role."

Aralyn hopes to one day become a principal dancer with New York City Ballet.

Brynlee Highway, 17, of West Hills has trained at Westside Ballet for 15 years and will perform as a corps dancer in Paquita and Who Cares? One of Brynlee's favorite past roles was the Snow Queen in The Nutcracker. Outside of ballet, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and writing. Looking ahead, Brynlee hopes to join a professional ballet company and continue pursuing a career in dance.

Zoe Rembuskos, 11, of Porter Ranch performs in the Giselle “Peasant Dances” and is participating in her second Spring Performance with Westside Ballet.

West Hills resident Ulysses Grullon (11) has trained at Westside Ballet for nine years and performs in Defile and also in “Peasant Dances”. Some of Ulysses's favorite past roles include Conservatoire, the Battle Scene in The Nutcracker, and Barcarolle. Outside of ballet, he enjoys playing the saxophone, volleyball, astronomy, space exploration, and learning about NASA and spaceships.

One lesson from class has stayed with him both inside and outside the studio: "Ms. Francine says that if you think that your legs will never be straightened, you'll force them to stay straight," he said. "She also says to imagine that your legs are two big magnets."

In the future, Ulysses hopes to become a ballet dancer, ballet teacher, and astrophysicist.

Noah Nazarian of Sherman Oaks joined Westside Ballet two years ago at age 12. He began his formal ballet training at age 5 under the direction of José Carayol, current Head of Artistic Programmes and Productions at The Royal Ballet School. To further his technical development, Noah attended Ellison Ballet's Summer Intensive, where he trained under Edward Ellison. For the past three years, he has balanced his dance training through iLead Online while maintaining his academic studies.

This season, Noah is featured as a lead in Champagne Polka and performs the Giselle Peasant Dances pas de deux variation. These roles follow his performance as the Soldier Doll in Westside Ballet's 2025 production of The Nutcracker. "I am looking forward to performing in the Champagne Polka," he said. "I mainly dance classical ballet, and the Polka is a comedy piece. I am excited for it to take me out of my comfort zone, and I hope it will help me grow as a dancer and become more well-rounded."

Imogen Dorame, 10, of Burbank performs in Paquita Polonaise and represents the youngest generation of San Fernando Valley dancers appearing in this year's performances.

Together, these seven dancers reflect the breadth of talent, dedication, and ambition found throughout the San Fernando Valley. Whether they dream of professional dance careers, college studies, or careers beyond the arts, they share a commitment to the discipline and artistry that ballet requires.

Westside Ballet of Santa Monica's Masters of Movement Spring Performances run Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31 at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center. Spring Showcase tickets are $50, and Gala tickets are $195. Tickets and showtimes are available at westsideballet.com/SpringTix.

---

This post is an advertorial piece contributed by a Patch Community Partner, a local brand partner. To learn more, click here.