Loews Hotel
Sand & Sea Ball
The Sand and Sea Ball is presented by Kaiser Permanente and Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, and produced by Arthur Murray Santa Monica. All proceeds benefit the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation.
Inspired by the popular television hit, “Dancing with The Stars,” the 2nd annual Sand and Sea Ball will be an elegant evening of cocktails, dinner, music and, of course, dancing. During this event, six local luminaries and their professional dance partners will compete for the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy. This year’s dancers include: Dr. Kimberly Petrick of Kaiser Permanente, Dr. Ben Drati, SMMUSD Superintendent, Evelyn Guerboian, Financial Officer, Atelier by Edward Avedis, Beth Hansler, National Sales Manager, Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, Jacqueline A. Seabrooks, Santa Monica Chief of Police and Bill Walker, Santa Monica Fire Chief.
Proceeds from the Ball will benefit the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation and will fund dance and music programs in Santa Monica-Malibu public schools next year. Established in 1982 by a dedicated group of parents, community leaders, and local business owners, the Ed Foundation raises funds to enhance and supplement the curriculum of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. All donations to the Education Foundation fund excellent programs – from art to STEM to wellness – that shape our future problem solvers, visionaries and global citizens.
Sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting the Education Foundation.
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel is located at 1700 Ocean Ave, The Ball will be May 21 from 5 – 10 p.m.
Tickets on sale now at SandandSeaBall.com
- Submitted by Ann Conkle
Citywide
SMC “Masters Of Dance” Series Continues
The Santa Monica College (SMC) Dance Department continues its Spring 2017 Masters of Dance series – an eclectic series of master classes and lectures – with a talk by Jennifer Fisher and a master class led by Marlita Hill.
All dance master classes are free and open to the public as observers or participants. The master classes are held on the SMC main campus, 1900 Pico Blvd. Seating is limited and on a first-arrival basis.
- May 11 (10:15 a.m., CPC 304): Marlita Hill: “Modern Dance.” Artistic Director/Choreographer for Speak Hill Dance Project and a co-founder of the Cortines School for the Visual and Performing Arts Marlita Hill – whose choreography has been presented in venues ranging from ARC Pasadena to the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage (in collaboration with VT Dance) – will introduce her unique modern dance technique/approach, showing how to use the body fluently and expressively while exploring diverse rhythmic and directional changes. If participating, wear appropriate black on black dancewear.
The Masters of Dance series is sponsored by the SMC Associates (www.smc.edu/associates) – a private organization that funds speakers and special programs on the Santa Monica College campus – and the SMC Dance Department.
For information, please go to www.smc.edu/dance or call (310) 434-4100 or (310) 434-3467.
Santa Monica College is a California Community College accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
- Submitted by Grace Smith, SMC Public Information Officer
Broad Stage
Bizet’s Opera Masterpiece “Carmen” At Santa Monica College
The Santa Monica College Music Department is pleased to present SMC Opera Theatre in a performance of Georges Bizet’s masterpiece “Carmen.” Shocking and scandalous when it debuted in 1875, “Carmen” is one of the world’s most popular operas today.
Performances will be held in The Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center (Santa Monica Boulevard at 11th Street, Santa Monica). Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, and Saturday, May 20. Matinee performances at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, and Sunday, May 21.
“Carmen” tells the tale of a love gone bad in Seville, Spain, between Don José – a young and naive soldier – and Carmen, an exotic gypsy woman who seduces Don José, but whose heart yearns for the elegant toreador Escamillo. SMC Opera Theatre’s fully staged and richly costumed production sweeps audiences into the drama of deadly seduction in Bizet’s romantic and dangerous world of gypsies, smugglers, bullfighters, and Flamenco. Music by Georges Bizet, with libretto by Henri Melhac.
“The greatness that is SMC allows us to incorporate our own Music students with the Santa Monica community to create the greatness that is ‘Carmen,’” said Gail Gordon, SMC Opera Theatre Director since 2009. Gordon – whose professional performance career in regional opera companies spans three decades – has taught voice at SMC since 1998. She is also the founding executive director of Santa Monica-based Opera Nova, which supports and promotes aspiring young opera singers by creating performance opportunities.
The “Carmen” production includes three members of the SMC faculty. SMC Voice Professor Dr. Janelle Destefano tunes up the performance’s singers and performs in the role of Carmen, SMC Dance Professor Cihtli Ocampo contributes choreography and topnotch Flamenco, and SMC Music Coach (and accompanist) Mercedes Juan Musotto makes her debut at the podium as conductor.
Tickets are $35 ($10 for current SMC students with valid ID). A modest service charge applies. Advance tickets may be purchased online at www.smc.edu/eventsinfo or by calling (310) 434-3005. Tickets may also be purchased at the box office up to 1 hour before the performance start time. Free parking available on the premises.
For tickets and information, please go to www.smc.edu/eventsinfo or call (310) 434-3005 or (310) 434-4323.
- Submitted by Gail Gordon, SMC Music Department
