Laguna Dance Festival Pirouettes Into Town This Week

With broad support and encouragement from the City and residents of Laguna Beach and dance lovers from across Southern California, Laguna Dance Festival has announced its exciting seventh season. New York City Ballet stars Tiler Peck and Joaquin DeLuz will headline this year’s two Stars of Dance performances, joining companies from across the country that will perform on April 12, 13, 14 and 15 in Laguna Beach.

In addition to theatre performances, the 2012 festival includes master classes, pre-performance discussions with dancers and artistic directors. Theatre performances will be held at the 420-seat Laguna Playhouse, where every seat offers a choice viewing spot. Festival founder and artistic director Jodie Gates calls this season “a must-see if you love dance.”  Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.lagunadancefestival.org.

The series of theatre performances will begin on Thursday, April 12 when River North Dance Chicago, a jazz-based contemporary dance company and one of Chicago’s leading dance companies, makes its debut with the festival.

On Friday, April 13, Jodie Gates will premiere a new work choreographed for Philadelphia-based BalletX, returning by popular demand to showcase its unique brand of striking, sophisticated choreography whose roots are in ballet.

On Saturday evening, April 14, the festival presents its dazzling Stars of Dance gala performance with New York City Ballet principals Tiler Peck and Joaquin DeLuz joining Maria Mosina (formerly of the Bolshoi Ballet) and Alexei Tyukov from Denver-based Colorado Ballet, along with San Francisco-based Smuin Ballet principals Robin Cornwell and Jonathan Dummar. A fundraising reception at Laguna Playhouse will follow the performance.

On Sunday, April 15 at 2 p.m., the Stars of Dance performance, with the same stunning lineup of artistic luminaries, will be presented as a matinee and with a pre-performance discussion with the dancers at 1 p.m.

The Laguna Dance Festival is regarded as one of Orange County’s major annual cultural events and continues to be an important showcase for new and established dance companies and artists. The festival is an annual happening where choreographers and dancers stretch their imaginations and spirits, providing top-quality performances ad master classes, transforming Laguna Beach into a vibrant hot spot for professional dance.

General admission tickets are $50; student tickets with ID are $35. Tickets for the Saturday night gala are $50 each. For more information regarding the new season, call 949.715.5578 or visit www.lagunadancefestival.org.

ABOUT LAGUNA DANCE FESTIVAL

Laguna Dance Festival presents professional dance performances, master classes, pre-performance talks in an intimate venue in this arts-minded beach community. The festival’s mission is to support and promote the development of dance creation, presentation and education, and to increase public appreciation of the art form in Orange County and beyond. Laguna Dance Festival is a California nonprofit corporation.

ABOUT TILER PECK (Stars of Dance)

New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck was born in Bakersfield, California. She began her dance training at age seven, studying privately in Hollywood with former Bolshoi Ballet principal dancer Alla Khaniashvili. At 11 she began studying at Conjunctive Point in Culver City, Calif., with former New York City Ballet dancers Colleen and Patricia Neary. During this time she also studied with former NYCB principal Yvonne Mounsey at Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. At 12, Ms. Peck entered the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet, for most of the 2000-2001 Winter Term. She returned to SAB during the summers of 2002 and 2003, and that fall began as a full-time student. In September 2004, Ms. Peck became an apprentice with New York City Ballet. In February 2005 she joined the company as a member of the corps de ballet, was promoted to soloist in December 2006, and in October 2009 became a principal dancer.

ABOUT JOAQUIN DeLUZ (Stars of Dance)

Joaquin DeLuz, a principal dancer with New York City Ballet, was born in Madrid and received his training at the Victor Ullate School of Ballet. He danced with Victor Ullate Ballet Company from 1992 until 1995. In August 1996, he joined the Pennsylvania Ballet as a soloist, where he danced leading roles in La Bayadère, Diana and Acteon, Don Quixote, Paquita Suite, The Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake, as well as George Balanchine's Allegro Brillante, Theme and Variations, and Who Cares?

Mr. DeLuz joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in 1997 and was promoted to soloist in 1998. His repertory with ABT included the Bronze Idol in La Bayadère (choreographed by Natalia Makarova after Marius Petipa), the Red Cowboy in Billy The Kid (Eugene Loring), the first sailor in Fancy Free (Jerome Robbins), Benno in Swan Lake (Kevin McKenzie after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov), and leading roles in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 (Clark Tippet) and Theme and Variations (George Balanchine).

Mr. De Luz joined New York City Ballet as a soloist in 2003, and in January 2005, he was promoted to principal dancer.

ABOUT MARIA MOSINA (Stars of Dance)

Maria Mosina, who is in her 18th year with the Colorado Ballet, was born in Moscow and graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia. Ms. Mosina joined the Bolshoi Ballet Grigorovich Company upon graduation and was immediately selected for principal roles. Mosina had toured the world appearing on all major European, American, African and Asian stages. She has been seen in the International Arts Festival in Spoleto, Italy, the Gala Performance in Memory of Nureyev in Ufa, and the Fernando Bujones Gala in Miami, Florida. 

As a leading principal dancer for Colorado Ballet, Ms. Mosina performed all major parts in classical productions such as Clara and Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Sylphide in La Sylphide, Odette-Odille in Swan Lake, Aurora and Princess Florine in The Sleeping Beauty, Swanhilda in Coppelia, Kitri in Don Quixote and many others. Ms. Mosina has showcased her talent in dozens of neoclassical, modern and contemporary choreographed masterpieces such as Balanchine’s Apollo, Rubies, Theme and Variations, Western Symphony, Serenade, Concerto Barocco, Stars and Stripes and Who Cares?, Christopher Wheeldon’s  A Midsummer Night's Dream and Peter Pucci’s Size Nine Spirit (as seen on PBS).

ABOUT ALEXEI TYUKOV (Stars of Dance)

Russian-born Alexei Tyukov, who joined Colorado Ballet as a principal in 2007, graduated with honors from that country’s Perm State Ballet Academy in 1995, and danced with the Perm State Ballet Theatre that same year. In 1999, he won the gold medal in the senior men’s division at the Arabesque Competition in Perm and was awarded the Mikhail Arnopolsky Prize for the most talented competition participant. He was a principal with Ballet Internationale Indianapolis where he performed leading roles in Phaedra, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Firebird, Carmen and A Thousand and One Nights. He has danced all over the world – in Taiwan, China, Canada and Germany.

In 2006, he joined Cincinnati Ballet as a principal and performed classical and contemporary works including Plan to B, The Bridge and Bakers Dozen. Mr. Tyukov has also participated in numerous galas including Le Gala Des Etoiles in Montreal, Stars of the 21^st Century in Paris, Stars of the Mariinski in Germany and the International Gala in South Korea. The New York Times said of Tyukov, "In Swan Lake, Alexei Tyukov broke the audience's hearts as much as Odette's in his eloquent portrayal of an all too-human Siegfried."

ABOUT ROBIN CORNWELL (Stars of Dance)

Robin Cornwell, principal dancer with San Francisco-based Smuin Ballet, hails from San Rafael, California. She started training at age three at Marin Ballet. Her teachers included Leslie Crockett, Robert Sund, Cynthia Lucas, Joanna Berman, Evelyn Cisneros, Lawrence Pech and Michael Smuin. Robin’s favorite roles include Michael’s Medea, St. Louis Woman, The Eternal Idol, Stabat Mater, Santa Baby and Baby It’s Cold Outside in The Christmas Ballet.  Other favorite ballets include Jiri Kylian’s Petite Mort, Ma Cong’s French Twist and Amy Seiwert’s Falling Up.

ABOUT JONATHAN DUMMAR (Stars of Dance)

Jonathan Dummar joined San Francisco’s Smuin Ballet this season. His classical and contemporary repertoires include works by master choreographers Petipa, Kylián, Balanchine, Robbins and Tharp. He has performed principal roles with Joffrey Ballet, the Trey McIntyre Project, and Ballet Memphis.

ABOUT RIVER NORTH DANCE CHICAGO (Thursday, April 12 performance only)

River North Chicago Dance Company was founded in 1989 by four visionary dancers/choreographers, the company has established itself as one of Chicago’s leading dance companies, receiving national and international critical acclaim. Under the direction of artistic director Frank Chaves, the jazz-based contemporary company embodies a true flavor of “Americana” in its dynamic repertoire.

From Frank Chaves to the dancers whose artistry and talent have mesmerized a nation, River North Chicago Dance Company brings a bold standard of excellence to the cultural landscape of many communities. The company is recognized for its highly skilled and emotive dancers, stimulating music, and bold, commanding choreography.

The works demonstrate depth and sophistication, yet the company is committed to creating an accessible, enriching experience for audiences comprised of seasoned dance patrons as well as those experiencing their first encounters with concert dance.

ABOUT BALLET X (Friday 4/13 performance)

Philadelphia-based BalletX is recognized locally and nationally as a cohesive company dedicated to commissioning daring work from a diverse pool of choreographers. Award-winning co-artistic directors Matthew Neenan and Christine Cox seek to expand the boundaries of ballet by choreographing new works themselves and building a repertory of compelling works by emerging talents and established choreographers from the national and international dance communities.

In just five years, they have built a diverse, dynamic repertoire comprising original choreography by 14 guest artists including Jorma Elo, Jodie Gates, Adam Hougland, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Zane Booker, Edwaard Liang, Helen Pickett, Thang Dao, Alex Ketley and Tobin Del Coure. Performed by dancers with remarkable technical proficiency, the bold, often athletic works bring a sophisticated, contemporary sensibility to the art form.

As the resident dance company at Philadelphia's Wilma Theater, the company has presented 21 world premieres, including interdisciplinary multimedia work incorporating ballet, spoken text, video, originally composed music and imaginative set design.

LAGUNA DANCE FESTIVAL: Complete Schedule of Events

• Wednesday, April 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. – Master class by Frank Chaves of River North Dance Chicago, Laguna Playhouse

• Thursday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. – Performance by River North Dance Chicago; pre-performance talk at 6:30 p.m. with artistic director Frank Chaves, Laguna Playhouse

• Friday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. – Performance by BalletX – premiere work choreographed by Laguna Dance Festival creative director Jodie Gates; pre-performance talk with artistic directors Matthew Neenan and Christine Cox at 6:30 p.m., Laguna Playhouse

• Saturday, April 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Master class by Tara Keating of BalletX, Laguna Beach High School Dance Studio

• Saturday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m.  – Stars of Dance gala performance with New York City Ballet’s Tiler Peck and Joaquin DeLuz, Colorado Ballet’s Maria Mosina and Alexei Tyukov and Smuin Ballet’s Robin Cornwell and Jonathan Dummar. A post-performance VIP fundraising gala will be held. Location tbd.

• Sunday, April 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Master class by Joaquin DeLuz of New York City Ballet, Laguna Beach High School Dance Studio

• Sunday, April 15 at 2 p.m. – Stars of Dance matinee performance, Laguna Playhouse; pre-performance talk with the dancers at 1 p.m.

All performances will be held at Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Laguna Playhouse box office. Two of the master classes are at the Laguna Beach High School Dance Studio, 625 Park Avenue; the third is at Laguna Playhouse. Check the website for tickets and performance details: www.lagunadancefestival.org or call 949.715.5578.