Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre Presents “dance In The Usa” August 17, 2012

Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre (PBDT), formerly known as the Media City Ballet Company since its formation in 2001 in Burbank, brings Dance in the USA to the Ford Amphitheatre on Friday, August 17, 2012, 8:30 p.m. Known for its preservation of ballet’s aesthetic and standards of excellence created and established by the dancers and choreographers of the Ballet Russe and the development of new work that draws on the creative talents of contemporary choreographers and composers, PBDT has chosen to branch out from their traditional European roots to pay homage to the American experience with an explosive dance and music retrospective.
Dance in the USA employs a compilation of works by iconic musical artists such as Aaron Copland, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Roy Orbison, Janis Joplin, The Doors, Michael Jackson, to name a few. This exciting retrospective shows how American music influenced dance, moving from decade to decade. It starts with a Hoedown with music by Aaron Copeland then moves to the Cakewalk with Ragtime; the Charleston with music by Duke Ellington (a pianist will perform live on stage); to Swing and Boogie Woogie of the ‘40s and the twist and shouts of the 50s with music by Bill Haley and the Comets to Elvis Presley and Motown; and then onwards to the 60s with the Beat Generation and a number from Frank Sinatra (sung live by dancer/singer Chris Trousdale); to The Doors, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. Then onwards to the 1970s with Disco music, then on to the 80s with music by Whitney Houston and Madonna; and, of course, Michael Jackson.
This new work, the vision of PBDT’s artistic director Natasha Middleton, utilizes American music as a foundation to present the variety and evolution of dance in a style similar in manner to that of the Ballet Russe. Male dancers share equal billing with female dancers and are coached theatrically to re-enact the personality of each era. The Ballet Russe style trains dancers to fully utilize their bodies athletically and theatrically. Copland’s “Rodeo” was composed for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. The choreographers’ strong connection to ballet will provide an authentic portrayal of the folk style to the audience. This association gives each dance a very sincere yet unforced quality allowing the audience to relate and appreciate the feel of the time.
PBDT attracts first-class talent from around the world, including Armenia, Asia, Russia, and Spain, with dancers who have previously worked with such companies as American Ballet Theatre, Armenian National Opera Ballet, the Bolshoi Theatre Ballet, the Kirov Opera and Ballet Company, the Korean National Ballet, and the Chicago Ballet. In addition, PBDT has worked with and developed many talented local dancers. Over 30 professional and company dancers will perform in Dance in the USA, many of whom have their own professional careers with acting, dancing, singing and choreography and can be seen dancing and acting on TV, music videos, and feature films. Featured dancers include Chris Trousdale, who also sings during the performance. Trousdale was a member of the popular boy band Dream Street and is in the new Disney show “Shake it Up” and is currently recording a dance/pop CD; Alexander Fost from “So You Think You Can Dance;” and Allan McCormick who has just come off of performing in “La Rêve” in Las Vegas as a dancer, acrobat and aerialist.
“When the audience watches this particular show, I think they are going to have a really good time going through all the eras. They’re going to be feeling how fun it has been from the rodeo days all the way through to the millennium,” explains Natasha Middleton, PBDT’s artistic director.
Tickets start at $15-$35 and $12 for full-time students with ID and children 12 and under. VIP packages start at $65 and include premium seating and a pre-performance reception. Tickets are available at www.FordTheatres.org or (323) 461-3673 (for non-visual media (323) GO 1-FORD). For groups of 8 or more, please call (323) 769-2147. Please visit http://www.pacificballetdancetheatre.org/ for more information.

ABOUT THE FORD AMPHITHEATRE
The Ford Amphitheatre is located at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood, CA 90068, just off the 101 Hollywood Freeway across from the Hollywood Bowl and south of Universal Studios. The grounds open two hours before showtime for picnicking. The Ford offers a number of dining options: a variety of food and beverages is available on site and box dinners for evening events may be ordered in advance. Patrons are welcome to bring their own food and drink.
The Ford is disabled accessible. Portable wireless listening devices are available upon request. On-site, stacked parking costs $5 per vehicle for evening shows and $1 per vehicle for morning family shows. For evening shows only, FREE non-stacked parking serviced by a FREE shuttle to the Ford, for evening amphitheatre performances only, is available at the Universal City Metro Station lot at Lankershim Blvd. and Campo de Cahuenga. The shuttle, which cycles every 15-20 minutes, stops in the "kiss and ride" area.
This event is part of the Ford Amphitheatre 2012 Season, a multi-disciplinary arts series produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in cooperation with Los Angeles County-based arts organizations. For a complete season schedule, directions to the theater and parking information, log on to www.FordTheatres.org.
CALENDAR LISTING
WHO: Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre (formerly known as Media City Ballet Company)

WHAT: “Dance in the USA”
A Tribute to the Music that Made All Americans Move their Feet

An original ballet evolved from the country’s multi-ethnic population through a diverse array of musical styles, such as country, rhythm and blues, jazz, rock ’n roll and pop.

Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre creates a new production which pays tribute to American music and dance styles ranging from the 1800s to the present day, closing with selections from Michael Jackson. Program will include recorded and live music.

WHERE: The Ford Amphitheatre
2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East
Los Angeles, CA 90068

WHEN: Friday, August 17, 2012, 8:30 PM

TICKETS: Tickets prices start at $15-$35 and $12 for full-time students with ID and children 12 and under. VIP packages start at $65 and include premium seating and a pre-performance reception. Tickets are available at www.FordTheatres.org or (323) 461-3673 (for non-visual media (323) GO 1-FORD). For groups of 8 or more, please call (323) 769-2147.

The Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre Company formerly known as the Media City Ballet Company, Inc., has been around since 2001. Since then it has experienced remarkable growth and has become one of the major ballet companies in the Southern California area. While its beginnings may have been humble, its linage is impressive. Company founder and Artistic Director, Natasha Middleton, continues a family tradition in the arts. Her grandmother, Elenna Wortova, danced with the original Ballet Russe. Her father, Andrei Tremaine, was a principal dancer with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and the Ballet Nacional de México. In addition, he was the Artistic Director of the Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre. Throughout his career, he has coached numerous ballet stars such as Cynthia Gregory and Charles Maple. Her mother, Natalie Garrotto, was an opera singer with the San Francisco Opera. Ms. Middleton was a principal dancer with the Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre and also performed with the Joffrey II in New York City. She has been teaching ballet for over twenty years and is the owner of the Media Dance Arts Center in Burbank. Over the last seven years, Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre has attracted first-class talent from around the world, including Armenia, Asia, Russia, and Spain. PBDT dancers have previously worked with such companies as ABT, Armenian National Opera Ballet, the Bolshoi Theatre Ballet, the Kirov Opera and Ballet Company, the Korean National Ballet, and the Chicago Ballet. In addition, PBDT has worked with and developed many talented local dancers.

Natasha Middleton, artistic director, was born into ballet legacy. Her grandmother danced with the Ballet Russe, and her father, Andrei Tremaine, with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Middleton was a ballerina with the original Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre, under the direction of her father. She trained and danced in Los Angeles and in New York with the Joffrey II, as well as Europe and Asia performing in such ballets as the Nutcracker, Raymonda, Spartacus and Carmen. She is the daughter of former San Francisco Opera Soprano, Natalie Garrotto and the niece of the late film star, Yvonne de Carlo. With music and acting under her belt, Ms. Middleton performed and choreographed in many musicals, operas, television and theater plays. After recovering from a life threatening automobile accident, she hung up her "pointe" shoes and began only teaching and directing. She traveled much of the world studying many forms of cultural dancing, art design and contemporary and classical theatre. Ms. Middleton then began choreographing professionally on Broadway with the Chick Corea Elektric Band & Herbie Hancock. Music videos for VH-1 including artist, Bette Midler. Television shows with such actor/dancers as Mario Lopez, John Ritter and super model Naomi Campbell and the feature films, "Love Hurts" and "No Way Out". In 2001, she founded the Media City Ballet company and has staged numerous ballets in Los Angeles. In 2007, she made history with her production of "Men of the Ballet Russe" - honoring her father and other such greats as Fredrick Franklin, Mark Platt, the late George Zoritch, Victor Moreno and Paul Maure. In 2011 she directed the show "Axis Mundi" at the Ford Amphitheatre, and the show place 2nd out of the Top 10 dance performances in California by the Beverly Hills Outlook. Ms. Middleton is now continuing the family tradition, honoring the former name of her fathers’ once prestigious ballet company (Pacific Ballet Theatre), and renaming it the "Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre". The new company will return to the Ford Amphitheatre this summer performing "Danced in the USA", her tribute to American music. Natasha Middleton is also the school director of the Media City Dance Studio, located in the Media Village in beautiful downtown Burbank.

Official Website: http://www.pacificballetdancetheatre.org