The 50th anniversary of the Westside’s premiere ballet theater company will pay homage to an iconic ballerina with two stunning shows, featuring one dancer who recently brought national glory to the company’s legacy.
On Friday and Saturday at the BroadStage, Westside Ballet of Santa Monica will present the Masters of Movement series for its 50th anniversary spring performances, set around a tribute to the legendary Patricia Neary, one of the 20th century’s pioneering ballerinas. The showcases will culminate on Saturday at 5pm, as Neary’s remarkable career will be honored during a gala event with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
The weekend will feature many stars of the craft, including American Ballet Theatre principal dancers Isabella Boylston and James Whiteside performing the Black Swan pas de deux, as well as guest artists Andrea Laššáková and Adrian Blake Mitchell presenting excerpts from the contemporary piece Agon.
“Our 50th anniversary celebrates Westside Ballet’s enduring legacy and the universal allure of ballet,” Westside Ballet Artistic Director Martine Harley said. “We celebrate our founders’ dream and our dancers’ excellence, which have fostered a haven of creativity and learning.”
The past, present and future of the art form will be on display, as the BroadStage will feature alumni stars such as Lucia Connolly, Lyrica Woodruff and Joy Womack. Womack, gaining international fame as one of the few American dancers to succeed at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia, is the subject of both the 2021 documentary Joy Womack: The White Swam and the 2023 film Joika.
Now back home after a tense period speaking out against the Russian offensive in Ukraine, Womack’s talents will be able to shine where she got her start.
“Dancing in the 50th spring show for Westside Ballet feels like coming home, a proud continuation of a rich legacy that has shaped so many artists … it’s an honor to contribute to this milestone event and pay tribute to my inspiration (Neary) as we celebrate the past and inspire future talents,” Womack said.
The future is now in the case of 11-year-old prodigy Spencer Collins, who will be performing Flames of Paris during the spring showcases. Collins’ already decorated career took another step up this year, as he recently took home first-place in the pre-competitive age division during the Youth America Grand Prix in New York City. Collins was a double victor at the competition, winning both the classical dance and contemporary dance honors.
“That was definitely a big win for me … I feel [that] Westside has really changed the way I dance in the span of one year, so that has definitely made me feel more confident in my dancing,” Collins said of his monumental victory.
Collins’ confidence impacts all of those around him, as his fellow Westside students can tell he is destined for greatness.
“I love watching Spencer dance,” said Westside performer Samantha Zane. “I can tell that he really loves it, and he’s always laughing in class and enjoying [himself] … he has done amazing things and I’m so excited for him in his future.”
Zane, who will be showcased in several excerpts this weekend, had an uncertain future after suffering an avulsion fracture to her fifth metatarsal during her time at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Taking a year off due to the foot injury, Zane found Westside and deemed it “the perfect place” to find her footing once more, making a comeback performance during the 2023 holiday rendition of The Nutcracker.
“[It] was definitely very scary, because I hadn’t danced for about a year or so … but Westside has definitely gotten me back to [the] level I should be at, and I’ve found it very helpful having many friends here and everyone [supporting me],” Zane said.
One of Zane’s friends is Nadia Hofer, who has been with Westside for almost nine years, saying the company has sharpened her commitment to ballet. Hofer has been looking forward to the spring showcases, namely Concerto Barocco due to its mix of styles from jazz and contemporary to classical symphony.
“I think it’s really nice to have that mix, because sometimes it can just be strictly ballet or strictly contemporary, and just really opening your eyes to everything can really help you take something from one part and … just really grow the way you dance,” Hofer said.
The Masters of Movement spring showcases start at the BroadStage at 7pm on Friday and 1pm on Saturday, with the Saturday showcase followed by the gala honoring Neary. For tickets, visit tix.com/ticket-sales/WestsideBallet/4547
