Snow Queen

Janine Marnien Danielle Busta has been feeling a little fatigue in the arms lately. The 8-year-old Mountain Avenue Elementary School student is an angel, horse and town folk kid in an upcoming performance of "The Snow Queen: Ballet Redefined." Even though she has a lot of steps to learn, the tricky part for her isn't the footwork. "The difficult thing is when you have to keep your arms up," she said. "I have to hold up my arms the whole time, and they get tired."

When audiences are all Nutcrackered out this season but still want to see a beautiful holiday ballet filled with a queen, two snow-crossed lovers and a scary forest they need to look no further than the California Contemporary Ballet’s production of the “Snow Queen.” The original ballet, conceived, directed and choreographed by Erin Holt, has been enchanting audiences for years. In this the 11th year of the performance, Holt continues to find new angles to the story.

Joyce Rudolph CAPTION: Jackie Speas dances the role of The Princess while Michael Forscch is The Prince in "The Snow Queen" this weekend at The Lanterman Theatre in La Canada Flintridge. "The Snow Queen," a ballet based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen, has been redefined through a special partnership between a local dance company and composer. Burbank native Randy Tobin has written, produced and played all the musical instruments on the recording for this production staged at 7 tonight and 2 p.m. Sunday at The Lanterman Theatre in La Canada Flintridge.

Karen Apostolina One refreshing alternative to the season's ever present "Nutcracker" is the California Theatrical Youth Ballet's "The Snow Queen -- Ballet Redefined." "It's a winter ballet that's not just about Christmas," Artistic Director Erin Holt said during a rehearsal break at the California Dance Arts in La Canada Flintridge. "There is more value to the story and lessons to be learned." In the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, a magic mirror shatters, then pierces the soul of Kay, a young boy. Abducted by the Snow Queen, he lives numbly in her castle until his friend, Gerda, rescues him by melting his heart.

For lovers of the performing arts, families looking for a delightful and moving holiday story and fans of California Theatrical Youth Ballet's productions, this year brings an even more compelling reason to see "the show." In addition to the refreshing holiday presentation of Hans Christian Anderson's The Snow Queen, the story about the struggle between good and evil as taken on by a little boy and girl, Gerda and Kai, performers from one of Mexico's premiere youth ballet troupes will infuse the production with international flair.

Bonnie Bonham of La Cañada didn't quite know what to think when Erin Holt, artistic director for La Cañada-based California Theatrical Youth Ballet, took her by the hand and guided her through her first rehearsal as a dancer-actress in the opening scene of the company's seasonal ballet "The Snow Queen," to be performed this month at the Glendale Community College Theatre. Bonham's two children, Kate and Jacob, ages 6 and 9, attended the show's auditions held in September and each child was successful in securing several performing roles.

This year's production of the annual "The Snow Queen" will be marked not only by visiting principal dancers from Mexico, but a new narrator and special effects as well. All serve to take this year's production to new heights and a must-see. Ray Korns, a Los Angeles-based actor and musician, replaces Will Long, who passed away last year. He plans to present his narration in keeping with Hans Christian Anderson's original creation. Additionally, special effects company ZFX Flying Company will allow the Snow Queen, played by 19-year-old Alyssa Thompson of Tujunga, to fly. Thompson will be lifted into the air suspended by two cables which give the illusion that she is "flying."

With the holiday season fast approaching, dancers are getting ready to perform "The Snow Queen - Ballet Redefined" being presented in the performing arts theater at Glendale Community College, 1500 N. Verdugo Road, Dec. 17 to 19. Alyssa Thompson, an aspiring dancer from Tujunga, carefully warms up her feet before lacing up her pointe shoes and heading into what promises to be a long, arduous series of rehearsals. She fondly reflects that she was only 13 years old when she first performed in California Theatrical Youth Ballet's production of "The Snow Queen."

Erin Holt is soaring in light of the news that for the first time, the title character in her California Theatrical Youth Ballet's performance of "The Snow Queen" will fly. It was a longtime dream for the artistic director and choreographer and will become a reality for the ninth annual production set for Dec. 21 through 23 at Glendale Community College. "That's something I've wanted to do since the first year we did the ballet in 1998," Holt said. "We've done lots of fundraising to try to do it and this year we were able to meet our goal and have the Snow Queen go aerial."

Producers forecast a frosting of renewed energy in dance and music for California Contemporary Ballet?s 12th annual performance of ?The Snow Queen? next weekend. Based on the classic by Hans Christian Andersen, the story is about a little girl named Gerda who saves her friend Kai from an evil spell. Emma Mesrobian of Glendale returns this year to dance the role of the Gypsy Woman, and she infuses the character with a lot of passion, said Erin Holt, artistic director of the professional nonprofit company.

"The Nutcracker" is often the usual Christmas classic, but locals know another story: "The Snow Queen. " California Contemporary Ballet will perform Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale of good prevailing over evil Dec. 17 to 19. The story tells of two best friends, Gerta and Kai, and Gerta's path to reach Kai after the Snow Queen places him under an evil spell. "The Snow Queen" features a cast of 60 performers in a mix of classical ballet and contemporary dance. Dancers also take flight through aerial ballet.

Producers forecast a frosting of renewed energy in dance and music for California Contemporary Ballet?s 12th annual performance of ?The Snow Queen? next weekend. Based on the classic by Hans Christian Andersen, the story is about a little girl named Gerda who saves her friend Kai from an evil spell. Emma Mesrobian of Glendale returns this year to dance the role of the Gypsy Woman, and she infuses the character with a lot of passion, said Erin Holt, artistic director of the professional nonprofit company.

When audiences are all Nutcrackered out this season but still want to see a beautiful holiday ballet filled with a queen, two snow-crossed lovers and a scary forest they need to look no further than the California Contemporary Ballet’s production of the “Snow Queen.” The original ballet, conceived, directed and choreographed by Erin Holt, has been enchanting audiences for years. In this the 11th year of the performance, Holt continues to find new angles to the story.

A new guardian angel and reorchestrated prologue signal the dawn of a new era for “The Snow Queen Ballet Redefined,” which has been produced for the past 11 years by the California Contemporary Ballet, company officials said. The ballet returns this weekend to the theater on the Glendale Community College campus. Based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, the story is about Gerda, who comes to the rescue of her friend Kay, who is held captive by the Snow Queen.

Ballet to perform ‘Snow Queen’ The California Youth Ballet will mark its 10th annual presentation of “The Snow Queen” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Glendale Community College theater, 1500 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale. Additional performances will be at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 23. Advanced tickets are $22 for adults and $16 for students and $24 for adults and $18 for students at the door. For tickets, call (818) 790-7924. Association meets for holiday mixer The Glendale Latino Assn.

Adults and youngsters are combining the art of dance with acting in the California Theatrical Youth Ballet’s annual performance of “The Snow Queen.” Artistic director and choreographer Erin Holt received training in the Martha Graham modern dance technique, and she perpetuates the practice in her 10th annual production scheduled for Dec. 21 to 23 at the Glendale Community College auditorium. “It’s extremely dramatic, and I think I get my dramatic intuition as a choreographer from my studies in the Graham method,” she said.

Mary O?Keefe/Valley Sun     M artha Graham said, "Dance is the hidden language of the soul." That is true — it is an art form that has been used to express the feelings of hope, despair and love since the beginning of civilization. But the fact is that dance is also very hard work that requires dedication and, as in most art forms, sacrifice. "I lost a lot of my social life," said 19-year-old La Cañada dancer Ryan Morrison.

This year's production of the annual "The Snow Queen" will be marked not only by visiting principal dancers from Mexico, but a new narrator and special effects as well. All serve to take this year's production to new heights and a must-see. Ray Korns, a Los Angeles-based actor and musician, replaces Will Long, who passed away last year. He plans to present his narration in keeping with Hans Christian Anderson's original creation. Additionally, special effects company ZFX Flying Company will allow the Snow Queen, played by 19-year-old Alyssa Thompson of Tujunga, to fly. Thompson will be lifted into the air suspended by two cables which give the illusion that she is "flying."

Erin Holt is soaring in light of the news that for the first time, the title character in her California Theatrical Youth Ballet's performance of "The Snow Queen" will fly. It was a longtime dream for the artistic director and choreographer and will become a reality for the ninth annual production set for Dec. 21 through 23 at Glendale Community College. "That's something I've wanted to do since the first year we did the ballet in 1998," Holt said. "We've done lots of fundraising to try to do it and this year we were able to meet our goal and have the Snow Queen go aerial."

For lovers of the performing arts, families looking for a delightful and moving holiday story and fans of California Theatrical Youth Ballet's productions, this year brings an even more compelling reason to see "the show." In addition to the refreshing holiday presentation of Hans Christian Anderson's The Snow Queen, the story about the struggle between good and evil as taken on by a little boy and girl, Gerda and Kai, performers from one of Mexico's premiere youth ballet troupes will infuse the production with international flair.