“20 Years of Los Angeles Ballet” celebrates the company’s anniversary with a dazzling program featuring Balanchine’s iconic Rubies, Sir Peter Martins’ elegant Frank Bridge Variations, and a world premiere by Artistic Director Melissa Barak. This special evening highlights the company’s artistic range, legacy, and forward-looking vision.

“20 Years of Los Angeles Ballet” is a celebratory triple-bill program honoring two decades of the company’s artistic growth, innovation, and dedication to classical and contemporary ballet in Southern California. Bringing together iconic repertoire and a bold new creation, the evening reflects the company’s unique identity: rooted in tradition yet constantly evolving.

The program opens with George Balanchine’s Rubies, the fiery and athletic middle section of Jewels. Set to Stravinsky’s Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra, Rubies bursts with jazzy energy, sharp musicality, and sparkling wit. Its crisp lines, quick footwork, and playful interactions showcase the dancers’ technical precision and dynamic stage presence.

Next comes Sir Benjamin Britten’s Frank Bridge Variations as choreographed for Los Angeles Ballet. This work transforms Britten’s Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge into a series of contrasting movement portraits, each exploring a different emotional quality. Elegant, lyrical sections blend with brisk, character-driven passages, highlighting the dancers’ expressive range and the company’s affinity for musical nuance.

The evening culminates in a World Premiere by Artistic Director Melissa Barak, created specifically for the company’s 20th anniversary season. Known for her architectural sense of movement, contemporary clarity, and refined musical sensitivity, Barak crafts a new ballet that celebrates LAB’s present and future. Through inventive patterns, sculptural partnering, and a fluid choreographic language, the piece honors the dancers’ individuality while reaffirming the company’s vision for the next decades.

Together, the three works form a powerful tribute to Los Angeles Ballet’s journey—its artistic heritage, its commitment to excellence, and its forward-looking spirit—marking twenty years of dance that continues to inspire audiences across the region.