Ford Amphitheatre (Hollywood, CA)
City Ballet of Los Angeles presents Peter and the Wolf Jump Cool, a jazz ballet with bite, at the Ford Amphitheatre. This sly, swinging '60s adaptation of Prokofiev's score, made famous by legendary jazz organist Jimmy Smith, features 12 dancers of City Ballet and live narration by actress Sloan Robinson.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
* Additional fees apply.
All offers for Peter and the Wolf Jump Cool have expired.
Tell me when more tickets / dates are added
The last date listed for Peter and the Wolf Jump Cool was Monday July 6, 2009 / 8:30pm. (view all dates)
Most Popular Performing Arts Event Nearby:
Cirque du Soleil presents its hit touring show, KOOZA, the story of an innocent who enters a world of kings, thieves and other archetypal characters. KOOZA is a return to Cirque du Soleil's roots, combining classic circus acrobatics and broad slapstick clowning. Learn More
The Ford Theatre was quite a pleasant surprise all the way from the front entrance into the main seating area. Our preference is typically for small intimate theatres so wasn't expecting the Ford's 1241 seat capactiy to be as intimate as it felt! The small cafe-like areas 'outside' the main theatre are a fantastic boon and most pleasant to interact with.
The ballet performances for us were disappointing. It felt as if the troupe was unfamiliar with the stage, i.e., each dancer's 'space' was unfamiliar to each other - even to the point of almost bumping in to another dancer. We're guessing that'll change with more performances.
All in all we were glad we went.
The Ford Amphittheatre was a charming locale for the talented Los Angeles Ballet Company dancers. I really enjoyed their performances. From the audience's response, it appeared everyone else enjoyed as well. Jazz played by the four-piece combo preceding the ballet was a cool bonus. We will certainly go see LA Ballet Company again and will definately go to other events at the Ford!
Sandra
OUTSTANDING performances! I'd sing praises if I could sing. Wonderful adaptation of Peter and the Wolf. Performances prior to intermission equally as wonderful. Took my whole family ages 10-66 and everyone enjoyed it!
Tips are provided by Goldstar members and City Ballet of Los Angeles. Goldstar is not responsible for their content or accuracy.
The 1241-seat outdoor Ford Amphitheatre is set against a backdrop of cypresses and chaparral in the Hollywood Hills. It is relatively intimate: no patron is more than 96 feet away from the stage. Music, dance, film, theatre and family events are presented during the summer months. The Ford Amphitheatre Season is a program of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.
<p>Influenced by the likes of Pina Bausch, Matthew Bourne and George Balanchine, Artistic Director/Choreographer Robyn Gardenhire turns this classical ballet into a slick 1960s revue, transporting us to swinging 60s London on a hunt for the Wolf himself. This hip translation of the 1936 classical Russian ballet, set to the 1966 Verve label adaptation arranged by Oliver Nelson and featuring the nimble genius of Hammond organist “The Incredible Jimmy Smith,” is choreographed by company Artistic Director Robyn Gardenhire. Gardenhire and her ensemble strive to present ballet in bold and engaging ways for eclectic Los Angeles audiences.</p> <p>This psychedelic whirlwind presents a unique merging of precise, classical ballet and popular culture, where dancers in high heels and pointe shoes also skank and glide to 1960s London ska in this jazz improvisation of the original score. The dances run the gamut from ecstatic, fast-paced numbers and hard bop to tender lyrical ballads with a cool modern twist.</p> <p>At sixteen, after training in Compton and Los Angeles with Irina Kovsmaska and Tatiana Lichine at Los Angeles Ballet, Robyn Gardenhire was offered a position with Joffrey Ballet II in New York City - one of the youngest African-Americans ever to be offered a contract with the Joffrey apprentice company. She went on to dance with the White Oak Project and American Ballet Theatre, Mark Morris, Karole Armitage and the Cleveland Ballet. With her wealth of experience as a dancer and these maverick choreographic influences, Robyn Gardenhire has carved out a mission for City Ballet of Los Angeles: to create cutting-edge classical ballet.</p>
The mission of the City Ballet of Los Angeles is to sustain a dance institution that reflects the economic and racial diversity of Los Angeles, by presenting quality artistic programming and training to all dancers and audience members from different cultural and ethic backgrounds.