When Hollywood Ballet takes the stage at Glendale’s landmark Alex Theatre this Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 7:30 pm, the co-artistic directors Petra Conti and Eris Nezha hope it is the start of a spring performance tradition similar to what they were part of during their international careers.
In a recent interview, Conti, who is also the company’s principal dancer, previewed the dancers, choreographers, and program in the upcoming A Night With Hollywood Ballet: From Tradition to Innovation. (The interview has been edited for clarity and space)
Joshua Tyebkhan – Hollywood Holidays- Hollywood Ballet production – Photo by Edith Tyebkhan.
“We were Inspired by the many ‘Ballet Stars Galas’ that we had the honor to perform in during our international careers. We embraced the idea of presenting a mixed program that showcases the rich spectrum of dance expression,” Conti explained.
In the vein of a European ballet gala, last year’s initial effort, Poetry in Motion, assembled guest artists from renowned European ballet companies—Paris Opera Ballet, Bavarian State Ballet, Béjart Ballet Lausanne, and the National Opera of Ukraine.”
Petra Conti and Eris Nezha.Les Hivernales de La Danse 2013, Belgium – Photo by Costin Radu.
For this second spring performance, Hollywood Ballet’s emphasis is on local ballet talent within the company and invited guest artists with a program that moves from challenging ballet classics to new contemporary choreography.
“At Hollywood Ballet we feel a deep responsibility to preserve and present the timeless beauty of classical ballet to our audiences. That’s why the first act of the evening is dedicated to Tradition, featuring iconic classical pas de deux that showcase the dancers’ technical brilliance and emotional depth,” Conti said. “In the second act, we are thrilled to spotlight a new generation of local dancers and exciting new choreographers like Liza Retter and Sarah Alfino, and to celebrate the vibrant energy of our city’s dance community.”
The classics are part of the artistic directors’ DNA. Both Conti and Nezha were principal dancers at Milan, Italy’s famous La Scala Ballet, then they joined Boston Ballet, before moving to become principal dancers with Los Angeles Ballet under Co-Artistic Directors Colleen Neary and Thordal Christiansen. At Boston and at LAB, Conti and Nezha became steeped in contemporary ballets by George Balanchine, Aszure Barton, Alejandro Cerrudo, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Christopher Wheeldon. While dancing for Los Angeles Ballet, Conti continued to guest internationally in Europe and Turkey, and starred in The Petra Conti Show in 2019. In June 2023, Conti and Nezha launched Hollywood Ballet with the goal of merging the magic of Hollywood with the magic of ballet. Tigran Sargsyan, another LAB principal, joined Conti and Nezha’s new company as a principal dancer and choreographer.
In December 2023, the new company unveiled its Nutcracker with several guests from several European companies. Last year, members of Hollywood Ballet appeared at several local dance festivals, as well as Poetry in Motion, the predecessor of this Saturday’s show.
Petra Conti – Swak Lake, Kyiv, Ukraine National Opera – Photo by Orlova Ksenia.
On the classical, or traditional, end of the scale, Conti will dance the White Swan and Black Swan pas de deux from Swan Lake, partnered by Harry Peterson. The demanding technical challenges of Diana and Acteon will go to Aimana Tazhibaeva and Avik Hovhanissian, and Tazhibaeva also takes on the dramatic demands of Romeo and Juliet, partnered by Sargsyan.
The host company also welcomes choreographer Chasen Greenwood, Artistic Director of The Realm Company as a special guest. Greenwood brings When Leaving Isn’t an Option, danced by Matisse Love and David Prottas
Conti hopes this type of mutual support among LA’s ballet community will continue.
“This exciting collaboration with Chasen and his company reflects our continued commitment to connection, innovation, and artistic growth within the LA cultural landscape. Our hope is to offer a night of beauty, inspiration, and shared humanity—because we believe that dance is for everyone.”
Tigran Sargsyan and Preston Swovelin – Poetry in Motion Gala- Hollywood Ballet production – Photo by Sarah Madison.
The contemporary works draw on music from 1980’s pop hits to new compositions. Hurwitz Pas de Deux by Sarah Alfino is danced by Camille Goldsborough and Chris Flores. Conti and Nazha perform Ode to Serenity, written by Robert Barbera. Sargsyan choreographed and dances The End with Tazhibaeva. La Scala Ballet’s Andrea Pujatti created Après un Rêve (After a Dream) for that 2019 Petra Conti Show. Here it is danced by Bryn Graham McRee and Brandon Forrest.
The new choreography includes a 20-minute preview of what’s coming next, what Conti described as an ’80s music show, choreographed by Liza Retter, with additional choreography from Mia Hjelte and Nezha.”
“It’s a high-energy fusion of ballet and iconic pop hits. Retter is an exciting new choreographic voice within Hollywood Ballet, and there’s also choreography by Mia Hjelte and Eris Nezha. This finale promises to bring the house down.”
Dancer Petra Conti. Hollywood Holidays- Hollywood Ballet production – Photo by Sara Madison.
She shared some of the songs that Hollywood Ballet dancers will perform. I’m So Excited, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Time After Time, Let’s Dance, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Sweet Dreams, and I Wanna Dance with Somebody.
Part of the audience will reflect some of the young company’s community outreach and involvement efforts. After its 2023 Nutcracker debut at the Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo, Hollywood Ballet developed an ongoing relationship with downtown’s Midnight Mission and several other community serving organizations.
“We are honored to welcome guests from the Midnight Mission, a Skid Row shelter where we’ve had the privilege of performing twice before, as well as children with rare conditions from the organization iCAN, veterans and performers affected by the recent fires,” Conti shared.
Petra Conti and Eris Nezha – Photo courtesy of the artists.
“This performance also marks a special moment for Hollywood Ballet—it will be our debut at the historic Alex Theatre. We are excited to bring our production to this iconic stage and to share our work with new audiences. As part of our mission, we are committed to expanding our reach across Los Angeles and beyond, bringing dance to a wider range of communities and venues,” she continued. “That’s why A Night with Hollywood Ballet is not just a performance—it’s also an outreach show. Our hope is to offer a night of beauty, inspiration, and shared humanity—because we believe that dance is for everyone.”
Hollywood Ballet – From Tradition to Innovation at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Sat., May 3, 7:30 pm, $50.99-$114.99 (fees included). https://feverup.com/m/336808
For more information on Hollywood Ballet, please visit their website.
Written by Ann Haskins for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Petra Conti – Photo by Eris Nezha.
