Latest news with #SegerstromCenter
Forbes
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Q & A with ABT Ballerina Chloe Messeldine on Performing Giselle This Saturday July 26, 2PM At The Segerstrom
Chloe Misseldine, principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre Photo by Kyle Froman, Courtesy American Ballet Theatre This week American Ballet Theater is coming to Orange Country's Segerstrom Center for the Arts July 24-27 to perform the classic romantic ballet Giselle . For the evening performances, the role of Giselle will be performed by Hee Seo, Christine Shevchenko, Devon Teuscher, and Sunday's matinee by Skyler Brandt – all amazing dancers. Saturday's matinee performance, however, will feature rising star Chloe Misseldine, who became a principal dancer in July 2024, and first danced the lead role of Giselle this April. I interviewed Misseldine by phone to hear her thoughts on the character of Giselle, her performance of the role, and what the audience should look for in the production. This conversation has been edited for concision and clarity. Tickets to the upcoming performances are available from the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Tom Teicholz: Giselle is one of the oldest story ballets. Why do you think it remains so popular and so compelling both for the audience and for dancers? Chloe Misseldine: Giselle is such a beautiful story for the audience and for the dancer because it's about forgiveness, about resilience, and about love. So that's what I think the audience feels [particularly from] that connection between the two dancers on stage when you have a great relationship with your partner, which I have. [ Misseldine has performed Giselle only twice before ]. I'm so happy to be able to perform it again next week in Orange County. There's so many things I wanted to fix. I want it to feel different. I'm happy to approach it in a new light and find my light in it; and just to be more comfortable on stage because it's such a difficult ballet, technically and emotionally. I'm really grateful to have another opportunity to dive deeper and explore more in the role of Giselle. Tom Teicholz: I know you had the opportunity to discuss the ballet and the role with ABT Artistic Director and former prima ballerina Susan Jaffe and Ballet legend Alessandra Ferri. What did they impart to you and how did that impact how you think about the role? Chloe Misseldine: When I was first starting out in the role of Giselle, learning it and working on it, I worked very closely with Susan Jaffe. Both her and Alessandra were glorious, gorgeous Giselles with different approaches to [the role]…. Alessandra came to New York and coached me for three weeks straight. We worked every day, day in, day out. She wasn't telling me: I need to do this [or] this. She said, yes, this is the step, but the way you approach the step, the way you do it, can be free – [your own]. You're not tied down to one certain version…. My internal dialogue is so important for a role like this, because if you really feel intact with what you're saying, you don't have to act. It's not acting. It's just being yourself. If you have [that] internal dialogue, it will come out naturally, and the audience will feel that connection, and that you're telling the story truthfully. Tom Teicholz: Susan Jaffe is one of the legendary performers of Swan Lake, how, how was that moment for her to come on stage at the Met and tell you you're now a principal after your own debut as Odette / Odile in Swan Lake? Chloe Misseldine: I never expected that would happen after my New York debut in Swan Lake. [Susan Jaffe] was with me every step of the way, from the very beginning. Just to have her by my side helping me and guiding me was just so incredible. It felt very special when she promoted me. Tom Teicholz: It must have been an out of body experience. Chloe Misseldine: It was insane. It was the last thing I expected because I was so emotionally fulfilled from the audience, from my partner, from the whole company. I was so loved in that moment. And then to have this special promotion on stage and [to] include the audience to be a part of it. The feeling was just incredible. I had my family in the audience. It was so joyous, and I was so grateful to [Susan Jaffe] that she believed in me and continues to believe in me, not only by providing me with these amazing roles to challenge me, but to dance and work with her day in, day out. I'm just extremely grateful for her, for pushing me, and for being such a guiding light for my career, which is so important, especially as a young dancer finding her way. Tom Teicholz: What are your thoughts about your upcoming performance as Giselle at the Segerstrom? Chloe Misseldine: When I perform it at the Segerstrom, I definitely will be much more comfortable [in the role]… At the Met, the stage was so vast, [and it was] a sold-out performance. New York [is] where I dance, where I work. So, the stress level was definitely different. I was very nervous for my performance in New York, but now having done that performance, I have a better gauge on what to expect… I have a better understanding on how to approach this role... with my partner [Aran Bell], who I danced with in New York, who's an exceptional partner, fabulous dancer. I'm so lucky to be on stage with him. Tom Teicholz: Last question. What should we, as an audience, be looking for in this performance coming up on Saturday? Chloe Misseldine: There's so much to look for… the storytelling is just as important as the dancing. If you can really just engulf yourself in the story [being told by] my partner and I, and the corps de ballet, the other character artists on stage, I think you will find so much enjoyment in watching the production. The first act is completely different [from] the second Act. [In the First Act], we're humans, peasants in this era [The Renaissance Period in German]. And then in the second act, we're Willis , we're these spirit-like beings. I hope the audience can just sit back and relax and just take in every moment because it's so beautiful. Tickets to the performances are available from the Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Los Angeles Times
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Miami City Ballet brings ‘Swan Lake' to Segerstrom
The origins of 'Swan Lake' are difficult to trace, though most audiences accept the story has roots in Russian and German folktales and most ballet companies base their productions on the 1895 revival of it. From June 20 to 22, Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa presents a particularly captivating version of it performed by Miami City Ballet. The ballet is choreographed by renowned dancemaker Alexei Ratmansky. He reconstructed this version of 'Swan Lake' using historical notations and archival material that dates back to that 1895 revival performed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov at Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, creating an 'historically informed' presentation of the iconic ballet. Miami City Ballet premiered this staging of 'Swan Lake' in 2022 under longtime artistic director Lourdes Lopez. 'Every major ballet company performs a version of 'Swan Lake' as it is truly considered the epitome of classical ballet,' Lopez said in a statement about the original run. 'Add Ratmansky's genius and being witness to the genuine love and dedication he put into restoring the ballet's original intent, we are simply honored and extremely excited for our audiences to experience the greatest of all classical ballets.' Ratmansky specializes in revising 19th- and early 20th-century ballet repertoire and Segerstrom Center has presented his versions of 'The Sleeping Beauty,' 'Whipped Cream' and 'Giselle' on its stage. 'Swan Lake' depicts themes of love, romance and betrayal while following the doomed love of Prince Siegfried and Princess Odette, as they thwart the evil Baron Von Rothbart, who has placed a curse on young women, making them swans by day and human by night. Ratmansky's version with the the Miami City Ballet premiered to much acclaim and executive director Juan José Escalante expressed his excitement about bringing the production to Costa Mesa in a statement. 'Miami City Ballet is honored to share Alexei Ratmansky's magnificent 'Swan Lake' with audiences beyond Florida for the first time since its creation in 2022,' said Escalante. 'This production has been a labor of love and performing it at the Segerstrom Center is a thrilling milestone for the company.' Founded in 1985 by Miami philanthropist Toby Lerner Ansin and headquartered in Miami Beach, Miami City Ballet is one of the country's most renowned dance companies, recognized for its artists' athleticism and vibrancy. The five performances this weekend will also feature support from Orange County's own Pacific Symphony, performing the music of Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Lopez, who established herself as a cultural figure at the New York City Ballet, ends her 13-year tenure at Miami City Ballet at the end of the current season, making this limited performance even more essential. 'Over the past 13 seasons with the company, I have watched our dancers grow artistically and technically and it is a thrill to see them take on this challenging ballet,' said Lopez. Miami City Ballet's 'Swan Lake' runs at Segerstrom Center for the Arts at 600 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa June 20 to June 22. Tickets, which start at $55.37, are available at
Los Angeles Times
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
First come, first served: Segerstrom Center to host free Earth Day Fix It Fair
Segerstrom Center for the Arts invites the public to come by next week and get some things fixed. If you have torn clothes, jeans that need patching, broken jewelry, busted lamps, wilted plants — or any other items that need fixing — head over to SCFTA's Julianne and George Argyros Plaza in Costa Mesa for some free repair help at the Earth Day Fix It Fair. 'Our fixers will try to fix anything, except electronics and relationships,' quipped Priscilla Reyes, SCFTA's community engagement coordinator. The Earth Day Fix It Fair, taking place on Saturday, April 19 starting at 1 p.m., is a partnership between Segerstrom Center and Eco Now, a zero-waste concept retailer with locations in Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, Anaheim and Garden Grove. The fair's services are free, and first come, first served. 'We have been active in our local, O.C. community for many years,' said Thea Pauley, owner of Eco Now. 'Eco Now's mission is to encourage people to live more sustainably. Our stores create a great place to consume responsibly and our events are an added bonus. We regularly host clothing swaps, compost classes and eco-friendly marketplace events. A Fix It Fair makes sense to include in our services by helping people think in terms of reuse and repair instead of buying new.' Though this is the first Fix It Fair at Segerstrom Center, Eco Now has held two others at Arvida Book Co. in Tustin. 'The center is committed to building community and spreading goodwill by partnering with local Orange County businesses to put on inclusive events,' Reyes said. 'We are so excited to partner with Eco Now for our first-ever Earth Day Fix It Fair to promote sustainability and zero-waste living.' Reyes said six local fixers will offer their services at the event — including seamstress Emily Wallace, eco-sewist and co-founder of Eco Now Upcycled, and seamstress Mary Colmar, upcycle designer and DIY decor maker at Salad Bowl Dress. There's also jewelry fixer Jackie Barrera from Made with Love by Jax and plant expert Matthew Payawal, owner of Plant Matter Shop at the LAB Anti-Mall in Costa Mesa. General fixer Jason Mount from Urban Workshop in Costa Mesa is a woodworker who enjoys fixing and making things. Bike repairer Paul Nagel, project manager at nonprofit community bike center the Bicycle Tree, will also offer services. 'I think it's important to recognize that the things we discard every day are still on this planet with us, they don't just disappear after the garbage truck comes. They may be out of sight and out of mind, but it's still taking up space somewhere else and at overwhelming amounts,' Reyes said. 'Extending the life of our belongings and taking better care of them can help us save us money in the long run, decrease overproduction and help us learn practical skills that benefit our ability to self-sustain. We all know the phrase 'reduce, reuse, recycle,' but it's about time we add and normalize 'repair' to that sentiment.' Other free activities include a community bike ride to the Fix It Fair, organized by Santa Ana Active Streets. A reservation is required and space is limited. Eco Now is hosting a compost workshop from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., when the public can learn composting basics. Attendees can bring their own bucket or container to convert into a compost kit. Eco Now is also offering a refill station stocked with hand and body soaps, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and laundry concentrate. Guests can bring their own refillable or recycled container to fill with 4 ounces of product of their choice. Reyes said glass containers will be available for those who don't bring their own. DIY Craft Club is hosting a workshop with all the materials needed to start a junk journal. Reyes said guests can participate in a scrap swap by bringing any unwanted crafts materials for communal junk journaling — think old music sheets, magazines, stickers, etc. Attendees can also bring their favorite materials and memorabilia for their own use. The first 50 people to arrive get a free composition book. Costa Mesa-based Liquid 4 Life will have juice samples and there will also be eco-friendly children's crafts. 'We live in a culture where people are so used to throwing things away at the moment that it gets a little dirty, or has a small hole in it, or has a slight break,' Pauley said. 'It's important that we bring back skills and mindsets that encourage repair. This way, the items will stay out of landfills, we will acquire new skills and ultimately we will save money.' Visit Segerstrom Center's website to sign up for a Plaza Pass for free event entry and to RSVP to the community bike ride:
