DANCE/UPCOMING EVENT: LUMINARIO GALA REVIEW AND EL PORTAL PREVIEW

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LUMINARIO GALA REVIEW AND EL PORTAL PREVIEW

 

For lovers of dance, I strongly suggest you see the Luminario Ballet’s performances at the El Portal Theatre this coming weekend. I saw a preview of it at their recent Gala, and the dancers and repertoire are just great. [Details for the upcoming show are at the bottom, in case you’re in a hurry to get the info.]

Let me tell you about the Gala first. It was held at their new rehearsal space, which is the perfect setting for them. We were treated to not only an absolutely delicious buffet, catered by Atmosphere Events and Catering, but a special evening mingling with the company and watching them perform, which is how I know the coming show will also be terrific.

Right after the welcome from company managing director, Judith Helle, she was joined on stage by famed Russian Kirov Ballet dancer and teacher, Marat Daukayev. We then had a beautiful musical interlude by Ricardo Veiga and Manoela Wunder before dinner.

Without further ado, the dances began. They were all beautiful, including a solo performance by Carrie Lee Riggins who was one of the dancers in Black Swan. (She even worked with the director on blocking Natalie Portman’s dance moves.)

My favorite piece was one that featured aerials and one of my new favorite dancers, Alexander Stabler. At the cocktail portion of the Gala, he and I bonded over our circus experiences–he performs in Cirque du Soleil in Vegas often, and I was the Divided Lady in a traveling Big Top in my (much) younger days.

Carrie Lee Riggins being "auctioned-off."

As if all this wasn’t enough, after the dances, they had an auction of dates with the dancers. I was impressed at just how well they all handled that part because, as someone who allowed myself to be auctioned off for a charity during the days of my show, Karen’s Restaurant Revue, it is not a fun feeling to stand there and have strangers bid on a date with you. Fortunately, my highest bidder was a young, cute, wealthy, Jewish Beverly Hills attorney! How lucky can a girl get?! (Since Mr. X was already my boyfriend, I had the date with the guy on my show, and a great time was had by all. And I still know the guy!)

Which brings us to this week-end. The details are below, and trust me, between the intimacy of this lovely theatre, the creativity of the Luminario, and the super-affordable ticket prices, I can just about guarantee an excellent theatre experience.

Luminario Ballet Show running on April 15, 16, 17                                                                                                                                                                                El Portal Theatre 5269 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood                                                                                                                                                    For tickets: www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/800365 or www.luminarioballet.org

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