"Clara's Dream" in Pasadena
Christina Hamlett
December 04, 2006
Badrak, who has been in the U.S. for 15 years, joined Le Studio Dance two months ago and is excited by the company’s break from tradition. “We want to give them a special surprise which includes a symbolic dream scene they haven’t seen before. I like it because there is a good message for children and their parents about the power to change things you’re not happy with and to make your wishes come true.”
Two guests from the Bolshoi will be joining the production. “Rusland Pronin is a principal dancer with a major repertoire of credits. His partner, Ksenia Kern, has garnered numerous awards in international competition.” Badrak grins as he reveals, “I’m dancing the role of Clara’s father.”
He praises the Sexson Auditorium technicians at Pasadena City College where the performances will be held. “They promise us a wonderful stage and lots of tricks like characters flying and pyrotechnics.” An additional surprise for American audiences, he continues, is the substitution of Babba-Yagga for the Mouse King.
Babba Yagga is a witch in Russian fairy tales. She wants to know what kind of person Clara really is. She disappears when she discovers Clara is good because bad things cannot relate to the power of love.”
Badrak proudly shares that the age range of his students is from 3 years old up to 60’s. “Everyone enjoys themselves and it really shows in our rehearsals.” In as little as two months, he relates, he has seen remarkable improvement. He is also quick to point out, “It’s better, I think, to teach a child dancing from the beginning than an adult because there are fewer bad behaviors that need to be unlearned!”
As he takes leave to attend rehearsals, Marsh explains the studio’s evolution. “My husband and I started Generation Dance Center about four years ago in La Cañada. We recognized the need to bring in high quality dance teachers in the area because there were so many young people who wanted to participate. When Towne Center redevelopment caused us to lose our building, we relocated to Pasadena and a studio down the street from this one.”
In an interesting bit of irony, her daughter – an accomplished dancer who will be playing the Babba-Yagga role – used to study with Charles and Philip Fuller, twin brothers who founded Le Studio Dance in 1979. “They were principals with Ballet West and had a high performance standard that enabled many of their students to achieve careers in ballet throughout the country.”
In 1981, Philip accepted the invitation of Evelyn LeMone, founding Artistic Director of Pasadena Dance Theatre, to serve as PDT's Co-Artistic Director with Charles as Executive Director. From 1981 through 1995, Le Studio was the home and official school of PDT. In 1995, knowing the importance of Pilates exercise for both the dancer and non-dancer, Le Studio established one of the first comprehensive Pilates program in the Pasadena area, which a year later was relocated to Le Studio Fitness, a separate facility located one half mile north of Le Studio Dance. In 1996, the Fullers, wanting to pursue their own artistic vision, founded DanceCorps, whereupon it became Le Studio's resident dance company with Le Studio as its official school.
Everyone was really saddened by the recent announcement they wanted to retire and move to Florida because they were so well loved by the community.” Marsh relates that they called her on a weekend to see if she’d be interested in the facility. By early September, it was a done deal.
This studio has always been known for its ‘Nutcracker’ and had adapted it to a one-hour version for children. The brothers brought their choreography from Ballet West and it was specifically licensed to them. I think when my husband and I took over, people were concerned the studio would no longer have the program they’d been coming to see for the past 20 years. We began a search for a new artistic director and, out of the many applicants we interviewed, we chose Alexei for his phenomenal credits, his own licensed choreography and the fact he works so well with the children.”
She glances around the studio. “It’s amazing we’ve only been here eight weeks but have taken on such an enormous production. Some of these children have been working to be in ‘The Nutcracker’ since they were babies. There was absolutely no way we were going to disappoint them!”
In addition to ballet, Le Studio Dance offers classes in tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical and modern dance. “Our instructors are exceptionally well trained and dedicated. Our commitment is to not only maintain the high caliber of talent this studio is known for but to crank it up a notch. Every day I’m in complete awe that our kids get to learn from some of the best professionals in the business. For only $15 a class, that kind of training and attention is – well, priceless!”
New students are accepted year-round. “They can call us (626-792-4616), drop in (100 West Villa) or visit our website at www.lestudiodance.com.”
Performances of “Clara’s Dream” will be held Saturday, December 16 at 2 and 5 p.m. and Sunday, December 17 at 2 p.m. in Sexson Auditorium at Pasadena City College, 1570 E. Colorado Blvd. Special school performances are scheduled for 10 a.m. on December 14 and 15. School tickets for groups of 20-30 can be booked for $7 per person. Reservations are required. Premium seating for all other shows is $30; general seating is $25 with discounts for children and seniors.
Photo: Sugar Plum Fairies in Training
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