Westside School of Ballet Brings Cutting-Edge Training to Southern California

Students at Southern California’s Westside School of Ballet know what it means to have big (pointe) shoes to fill. Founded in 1967, the school’s alumni include some of ballet’s biggest names, including New York City Ballet’s Tiler Peck, Andrew Veyette, and Jock Soto. Westside remains Los Angeles’ oldest public ballet school and uses this foundation to continue its cutting-edge training for the next generation via its pre-professional training (Levels V, V+, VI, VI+, and VII), a newly formed trainee program, summer study opportunities, and boys-only program.

The school’s trainee program, directed by Westside alums Melissa Barak and Adrian Blake Mitchell, is currently in its first year and pairs students in the highest level with classes and performance opportunities at Los Angeles Ballet. Barak, LAB’s artistic director, is a longtime Westside faculty member, and Mitchell, the school’s associate executive director, is a graduate of the Vaganova Ballet Academy and was the first Black man to join a major Russian ballet company, the Mikhailovsky Theatre. “We had wanted to develop a pre-professional day program and Melissa had her eye on some young dancers that she felt could be a great fit for the company,” he says, describing the full-time opportunity as a “hybrid of a second company and an intense training program.” Students take daily classes at both Westside School of Ballet and the nearby Los Angeles Ballet, and frequently attend company rehearsals. “The trainees have a huge amount of performing opportunities,” says Mitchell. In December, many performed in Nutcrackers with both Los Angeles Ballet and Westside Ballet, and they will continue to take part in performances with the company throughout its 2024 season. In the spring, dancers will participate in Westside’s Spring Gala and a Trainee Showcase at the school’s new black-box theater.

Westside’s scope also ensures that its pre-professional students, ages 13 to 19, enjoy just as much attention to detail via a rigorous after-school syllabus overseen by artistic director Martine Harley. Also a Westside alumna, she builds on the school’s rich lineage, preparing dancers in Levels 5 and above for professional careers. Students train with esteemed year-round faculty, including Barak, Mitchell, Francine Kessler Lavac, Evan Swenson, Natalia Velarde, Sophie Monat, and Carol Youngjohn. 

Top-notch training extends through the summertime. Mitchell shares that “we start and end our summers with specialty workshops taught by guest faculty,” who’ve included Nilas Martins, Zippora Karz, Andrea Lassakova, Patricia Neary, Tiler Peck, and Indiana Woodward. In the middle weeks, the school runs a summer intensive with its year-round faculty, where small class sizes—capped at 16 students—allow for direct attention between student and teacher. “Each week concludes with an in-studio showcase for friends and family to attend,” Mitchell adds.

Lastly, Westside continues to make room for boys in ballet. “Our focus spans allégro, pirouettes, variations, and pas de deux,” says Mitchell, who leads three divisions within the boys-only program. “Westside welcomed me with open arms,” he says, “and I hope to extend the same warm embrace to young students aspiring to master this incredible art form.”

Westside School of Ballet Levels V and Above

Program size: 55 students
Age range: 13–19
Performance opportunities: Westside Ballet’s Nutcracker (the longest-running production in Southern California), which features a symphony orchestra; school spring showcase; Spring Gala with guest stars from across the globe; year-end demonstration
Tuition: $7,035–$8,610
Room/board: The school helps nonlocal students find housing and host families nearby. 
Daily schedule: Monday to Friday, 4–7 pm, plus Saturdays. Classes include ballet technique, conditioning/floor barre, pointe, variations, and repertoire (classical and neo-classical).  
Additional opportunities: Through the school’s partnership with Santa Monica College, students are able to receive college credit for their performance prep.
Alumni: New York City Ballet’s Tiler Peck, Jock Soto, Andrew Veyette, Monique Meunier, and Melissa Barak; American Ballet Theatre’s Anna Liceica and Christina Gibbs; Bolshoi Ballet’s Michael Shannon and Joy Womack
Important dates in 2024: February 1: Summer enrollment opens; May 18–19: Spring Gala & Showcase; June: Fall registration opens; June 19–August 4: Six-week summer intensive; August 24: Nutcracker auditions
To learn more about training opportunities at Westside School of Ballet, a non-audition school, visit its website.

Los Angeles Ballet Trainee Program 

Program size: 12 dancers
Age range: 16–19
Performance opportunities: Los Angeles Ballet (all programming, including The Nutcracker), Westside Ballet’s Nutcracker; Westside Ballet’s Spring Gala with guest stars from across the globe; in-studio black-box trainee showcase 
Tuition: $8,620
Room/board: The school helps nonlocal students find housing and host families nearby. 
Daily schedule: Monday to Friday, 9 am–4:15 pm. Classes include ballet technique, conditioning/floor barre, pointe, variations, pas de deux, contemporary, repertoire (classical and neo-classical), and workshops in rotating dance styles such as Indian dance, flamenco, and jazz.
Additional opportunities: Through the school’s partnership with Santa Monica College, students are able to receive college credit for their performance prep.
Important dates in 2024: March 17: In-studio black-box trainee showcase; April 7: Trainee auditions; May 18–19: Spring Gala & Showcase
For more program information and to register to audition, visit losangelesballet.org.