Developing and sustaining a ballet company is a Herculean task that is rarely achieved. Therefore, the twentieth anniversary of Los Angeles Ballet is something of a miracle. Celebrating this milestone the beautiful Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts will host the company from January 29 through the 31, 2026. The sterling program features works by George Balanchine, Hans Van Manen and a much-anticipated premier by LAB’s Artistic Director Melissa Barak.
Los Angeles Ballet was founded in 2004 by Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary who created a company with professional level productions and an ever popular “Nutcracker.” Now as we enter 2026 Melissa Barak former NYC and LAB dancer, is guiding the company forward.
Los Angeles Ballet – “The Nutcracker” – photo by Reed Hutchinson.
I was fortunate to communicate with Melissa Barak and Executive Producer Julia Rivera through email as they prepare for the upcoming show. Melissa’s work is always intriguing so I wanted to know what she might tell us about her new piece.
MB – The new work, titled Wavelength, is a music-driven piece. Purely abstract and my personal response to the score by David Lawrence. I was excited to collaborate with Italian fashion brand ETRO on the costumes. Their patterns and use of color are so vibrant, they immediately evoke mood and atmosphere.
JR – Melissa’s latest work is a hallmark of aspects of the Company’s mission that focus on collaborations with other artmakers in genres such as music, visual art and fashion.
Los Angeles Ballet in “Memoryhouse” choreography by Melissa Barak – Lilly Fife above and ensemble – Photo by Cheryl Mann.
Along with Melissa’s new work what repertory pieces can we anticipate seeing this season?
JR – The other pieces in the mixed rep have significance to LAB’s history. Rubies represents the Balanchine repertoire on which the Company was founded, and the encore of Frank Bridge Variations honors the late Hans Van Manen who approved for LAB to be the first American ballet company to perform his piece in the U.S.
20 Years of Los Angeles Ballet marks our first mixed rep program at The Wallis. Also, LAB will debut at The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre in the spring with Giselle.
Los Angele Ballet’s “Firebird” – Paige Wilkey as Firebird, Jonas Tutaj as Prince Ivan – Photo Cheryl Man 2024.
This season saw our inaugural sensory-friendly performance of The Nutcracker at Dolby Theatre. In collaboration with the Autism Society of Los Angeles we presented the performance as part of our mission to provide more access to such a beloved holiday tradition.
Melissa has brought in many professional level dancers as well as the works of noted choreographers. Not only does this elevate the company but working with these choreographers must be very exciting for everyone.
MB – Yes, I have introduced some new choreographers to the company repertoire — Hans Van Manen, Yuri Possokhov, Justin Peck, and I plan to continue to do so. I am eager to push the company’s artistic range. There are so many talented dance makers working right now, both well-known and up-and-coming. There is much more to come on that front!
JR – Melissa is expanding on LAB’s commitment to work with notable and new choreographers. Ballet is such a deeply expressive art form with so many incredible storytellers and Los Angeles has proven that it has an appetite for more so she has a broad landscape in which to work and collaborate.
LA Ballet – Belles-Lettres, Dancers Aviva Gelfer-Mundl, Jacob Soltero, and Cassidy Cocke – Photo by Cheryl Mann Productions.
To keep a ballet company up and running takes and intrepid spirit and constant hard work. From costumes to rehearsals and just keeping the lights on how do you do it?
MB – Well, it may sound typical but it all comes down to fundraising. Needing to be strategic and smart, yes, but there’s only so much innovation and talent you can bring if funds are limited. The more support we receive, the more we can offer as an arts organization.
JR – It takes nerves of steel and a vision! I say that with humor because it takes that too. This is an unusual business we are in. One that requires a lot of strategic planning and the ability to implement scalable plans while also preserving the humanity of it. We have amazing humans doing incredible things for the joy of other humans.
What is the vision for LAB in the short term and in the big picture?
MB – Short term is to establish programming that spans the full season, Fall, Holiday, Winter and Spring. Long term goals include permanent residencies in main LA venues, more performances per program, commissioning new ballets regularly, and taking the company on tour both nationally and internationally.
JR – The Company has a multi-year growth plan in place and we are in Year 1. Our short-term goals are to increase our programmatic season, employ more dancers, increase expertise on our staff, and expand the board of directors. These are steps towards larger goals of securing a permanent home, developing major original works, and launching a touring schedule. As we achieve these goals, education and outreach has broader reach, we can engage with more audiences and provide greater access to ballet.
Los Angeles Ballet – Santiago Paniagua and Sara Renda with ensemble in Melissa Barak’s “Cylindrical Forces” – Photo by Cheryl Mann.
Clearly there is a lot of work ahead but with Melissa Barak, Julia Rivera and their team at the helm I believe that LA Ballet is on the right path to becoming the preeminent company that Los Angeles so deserves.
Go see them at The Wallis on Jan. 29 through the 31, 2026, you’ll be glad you did.
I would like to thank David Barber, Julia Rivera and of course Melissa Barak for taking the time to answer my questions with such thoughtfulness.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit The Wallis website.
To learn more about the Los Angeles Ballet, please visit their website.
Written by Tam Warner for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: LA Ballet – Frank Bridge Variations – Dancers (L-R) Marco Biella, Jake Ray, Brigitte Edwards, Lilly Fife – Photo by Cheryl Mann Productions.
