Some careers are carefully mapped out. Others unfold through a series of extraordinary circumstances, moments of courage, and a willingness to follow a calling wherever it leads.
When I sat down with Adrian Blake Mitchell, the newly appointed Artistic Director of Westside School of Ballet, I was struck not only by his accomplishments, but by the depth with which he spoke about ballet and dance. There is no trace of self-congratulations, instead, I found a love for the art that historically tracks back to the 17th Century. He understood that ballet is far more than a profession, it is a transformative force.
Adrian Blake Mitchell and Andrea Laššáková – Photo by Alexander Plotnikov
Three years ago, I had the good fortune of interviewing Adrian and his wife, the stunning ballerina Andrea Laššáková, shortly after they escaped from Russia amid the uncertainty and upheaval brought on by the war with Ukraine. They arrived after Covid, at a moment when the world itself seemed to be searching for who it was and how to move on. Today now finds the search for humanity and artistic identity in an increasingly chaotic and technological age.
As our conversation unfolded, I discovered a powerful base which supports his wealth of worldly experience that makes it clear why he has been chosen as the new leader of one of Southern California’s most respected ballet institutions. In our hour and a half conversation, he unfolded his life with love and candor…and I was hooked…
In the beginning:
Adrian grew up in a single family home where sports were central. Because of his mother’s primary background in sports, she enrolled him in virtually every athletic activity she could find at the time, hoping to help him discover his own passion. Then dance entered his life almost accidentally.
“I absolutely loved my first ballet class,” he recalls and, “I walked out thinking, ‘This is it!'”
What captivated him was ballet’s unique combination of athleticism and artistry having been brought up on classical music and sports. However, dance demanded physical discipline while offering something sports could not: storytelling, imagination, and emotional expression.
Adrian Blake Mitchell and Andrea Laššáková – Courtesy of the artists
Even as a child, he sensed he had found his place.
“I knew I liked spending my time dancing,” he admitted. “I also knew I was naturally good at it.”
Mitchell, refreshingly honest about his gifts, does not describe himself as a prodigy. Rather, he recognizes that he possessed the physical attributes, work ethic, and passion necessary to pursue ballet at the highest level.
Most importantly, he loved it.
That love would become the constant thread running through every stage of his career.
A Remarkable Influence
Throughout our conversation, Mitchell returned repeatedly to one person: his mother.
A single parent with a background in performance psychology, she worked as a Sports Metaphysician for student-athletes in LAUSD and later working as a Performance Coach for the NBA, NFL, MLB,WNBA and LA Clippers. While knowing little about ballet, she still understood discipline, focus, and the sacrifices required to pursue excellence.
The family moved frequently, so access to quality ballet training was often uncertain. Through every transition, however, she remained the constant.
Adrian Blake Mitchell – Photo by Eric Williams Photography.
“She’s been an incredible inspiration,” says Adrian. “She was a single mother, working incredibly hard, making sacrifices so I could pursue this. The fact that I’m sitting here having this conversation with you is because of her.”
However, she admits that Adrian always had his own internal drive and intelligence that she said she simply guided the best way she knew how.
Looking back, Mitchell sees her influence everywhere; in his work ethic, his resilience, and his understanding that success is rarely achieved alone.
That foundation would prove essential as opportunities began arriving from increasingly prestigious institutions.
Westside, Houston, and New York
By age twelve, ballet had become serious.
Training at Westside School of Ballet led to mentorships with Francine Kessler Lavac and Martine Harley, who would become important figures in his young artistic development. Recognizing both his talent and potential, Harley then encouraged him to seek the strongest training available. Eventually sending him to Houston Ballet School, renowned for its exceptional boys’ program, a pivotal step in his growth as a dancer.
Like many ambitious young artists, Adrian then set his sights on New York. He spent a summer at the School of American Ballet, studied with the legendary Gelsey Kirkland, and ultimately trained at Ellison Ballet under the great Edward Ellison, whose program is known for its rigorous Vaganova-based approach.
That training opened a door he never expected.
Adrian Blake Mitchell in “Multiplicity” – Photo by Nikolai Krusser,courtesy of Westside Ballet
Russia’s Calling
For Adrian, Russia represented more than a destination. It was the source—the heart of classical ballet.
Fascinated by Russian culture from childhood, he immersed himself in its history long before he ever set foot in St. Petersburg.
“I loved Russian culture so much,” he recalled. “When I discovered Russian ballet, it was really random, especially for a young Black kid from Texas. I did all my projects in school on Russia and Russian ballet.”
After meeting legendary ballet figure Oleg Vinogradov, Adrian traveled to Russia to perform; then following a class at the prestigious Vaganova Academy, he received an extraordinary invitation: Stay and Study.
Adrian Blake Mitchell – Photo courtesy of the NYC Dance Project.
“It was the kind of thing you don’t say no to,” says Adrian. Both he and his mother knew this decision was going to be costly, both in funds and dedication. International students paid full price for this training. Yet, with this challenge came support from a fundraising campaign championed in part by Misty Copeland.
Suddenly, ballet history was no longer something he studied. It was something he lived.
At Vaganova, he trained in studios where generations of ballet artists had shaped the art form. He worked with master teachers, encountered legendary performers, and absorbed traditions that few American dancers experience firsthand.
“I love ballet. I’m obsessed with it,” he admitted. “But I’ve also been blessed with experiences that shaped who I am and why I do what I do.”
Those experiences deepened not only his technical knowledge, but also his sense of responsibility to the art form itself.
Adrian Blake Mitchell in rehearsal with Westside Ballet dancer Dylan Weinstein – Photo by Chris Mortenson.
Ballet as an Art
One of the most striking moments in our conversation came when Adrian described his relationship to ballet.
“I see ballet as a sacred art form,” he said.
The word was not spoken for effect. Rather, it reflected a profound respect for ballet’s ability to transform both performer and audience.
For Adrian, technique is never the final goal.
The goal is transcendence.
He spoke of the rare performances that leave audiences unable to remain in their seats—moments born from years of sacrifice, discipline, and artists willing to reveal something deeply human.
That philosophy now shapes his approach as an educator.
Students must master ballet’s physical demands, but they must also engage with music, literature, theater, and culture. They must become complete in the arts.
Artistry, he believes, grows from curiosity, experience, emotional intelligence, and a deeper understanding of the world.
Adrian Blake Mitchell coaching Spencer Collins – Photo by Sarah Madison Photography.
New Beginnings
Three years ago, Adrian and his wife, Andrea, faced another unexpected turning point. The outbreak of war in Ukraine forced them to leave Russia and reconsider their future. They left their lives and careers as soloist with the Mikhailovsky Ballet in Saint Petersburg without more than a suitcase and their hope for safety. Coached by phone, Adrian’s savvy mother, midst growing reports of drums of war with Ukraine, just ahead of bank closures and deafening silence in Russia, forced them to reluctantly leave their brilliant lives.
Safe on land outside Russia, and armed with their brilliant experience and training, they could have pursued opportunities almost anywhere.
Los Angeles was not the obvious choice. In ballet circles, New York remains the traditional center of gravity in the U.S. Yet Westside School of Ballet welcomed them home, offering Adrian and Andrea both opportunity and purpose.
Back in the States, Adrian had already begun considering how he might contribute beyond the stage. Increasingly, he felt drawn toward leadership, education, and arts administration. Westside became the place where those ambitions could take shape.
“There was an opportunity here,” he explained. “LA could benefit from it more than New York.”
Rather than entering an already crowded arts ecosystem, he saw the possibilities of shaping Southern California’s ballet future.
A Vision for the Future
At Westside, Adrian speaks with enormous caring and respect for Martine Harley under whose stewardship she so brilliantly helmed after Yvonne’s passing. Harley’s decision to move into the role of Director of Artistic Operations created a pathway for Adrian as the new Artistic Director bridging and expanding the legacy for the future of Westside.
His goals are ambitious: expanding scholarship opportunities, strengthening outreach, growing the boys’ program, and positioning Westside among the nation’s leading ballet schools.
Yet one of the clearest reflections of his leadership philosophy can be found in Dance to Dreams, Westside’s program that evolved from Dancers in Color, a non-profit he began while in Russia. Westside’s Dance to Dreams, provides access to young people who might never otherwise be encouraged nor encounter serious ballet training.
Through scholarships, mentorship, community partnerships, and outreach programs, Dance to Dreams helps remove barriers that have historically limited access to the art form.
“Talent exists everywhere,” Adrian says. “Opportunity doesn’t.”
For Adrian, that belief is personal. His own life was shaped by teachers, mentors, and institutions that recognized potential and opened doors to him. Now he’s hoping to do the same for the next generation.
Already, Westside’s boys’ program has expanded. Partnerships with organizations such as California Dance Institute are bringing dance education and scholarship opportunities directly into Los Angeles communities. Guest artists and internationally recognized teachers regularly work with students, exposing them to some of the finest training and artists in the field.
Adrian believes excellence and access can coexist—and that the future of ballet depends on both.
Adrian Blake Mitchell – Photo by Eric Williams Photography.
A Leader at the Right Time
As our conversation came to a close, I found myself reflecting on the unlikely path that brought Adrian Blake Mitchell to this moment: a sports-minded family whose child pivots to ballet; a devoted single mother nurturing an improbable dream; Los Angeles leads to Houston, Houston to New York, New York to Russia, and Russia ultimately back to L.A.
Along the way, Adrian absorbed lessons from some of the world’s great ballet institutions. Yet what remains most striking is not his résumé, but his love for dance and his sense of purpose clearly recognized by those who saw his inspiration and talent and insisted on nurturing it.
In an era increasingly dominated by technology, he continues to place his faith in something profoundly human: discipline, storytelling, beauty, and connection.
Equally important, he is committed to ensuring that the next generation of dancers includes children who may never have imagined ballet was meant for them.
Through Dance to Dreams, Westside’s expanding outreach, and his example as a teacher and leader is helping create pathways for those who will follow.
For Adrian Blake Mitchell, ballet is more than a profession. It is more than a tradition.
It is, as he says, sacred.
For more information about Westside School of Ballet, please visit their website.
Written by Joanne DiVito for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Andrea Laššáková and Adrian Blake Mitchell in Barbers Adagio – Slovakia performance – Photo by Zdenko Hanout.
