By Malini Nagpal, Ph.D., BC-DMT
Although I am sad that I missed the latest performance of “Ballet in Bloom” by the Los Alamitos Ballet Theater and School, I am grateful for the opportunity to get to interview David Kim, Artistic Director, and visit the studio.
Not only did I find the Los Alamitos Ballet (LAB) to be a beautiful dance space, I also found the vision of the organization to be admirable. At LAB, students of all ages (2years of age onwards) are nurtured to hold deep respect for the fine art of Ballet and Modern dance forms.
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According to Kim, over the past few decades, most dance studios focus their mission and teaching toward winning dance competitions. This has become the “bread and butter” for most dance studios. In doing so, the art of dance is lost over physical prowess. “It’s become a commercial endeavor” said Kim.
Whereas, at LAB, the students learn to: respect the human body and reach other; collaborate over compete; respect technique and creative expression. “Each dancer is unique and, at LAB, we nurture this uniqueness. We work with it rather than try to change it” commented Kim. Moreover, Kim noted that “LAB is founded “in service to the art form; to cultivate a lifelong love affair with this art form.” Indeed, the leadership of LAB, David and Renee Kim, is committed to teaching concert level dance rather than commercial level.
In fact, after a thirty (30) years hiatus from Ballet, I showed up to take a Ballet Class on Mother’s Day at LAB. Not only was I nervous and excited, I was also very body conscious. As soon as entered studio and my foot stepped on to the dance floor, I felt at home. For some reason I trusted the space and the feel. To my surprise the students ranged in age from possibly late high school age to 60s/70s.
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I found the teaching to be deeply focused on meeting everyone where they are. The focus of technique to meet every students need for me was impressive. Every moment of the 90min class was pure “JOY.” I quickly let go of feeling uncomfortable about my body and how it takes up space. Instead, David’s instructions guided me to the creative kinetic space within myself. I began to experience by spine and the graceful flow that is unique to ballet. It was thrilling! I left the class wanting more!
David Tai Kim and Renee Kim established, the Premier Dance Arts of Los Alamitos, the Los Alamitos Ballet School and the Los Alamitos Ballet Theatre approximately two years ago with the mission to ignite and / or re-ignite a passion for dance & in particular Ballet in Los Alamitos and surrounding areas for dancers of all ages. David and Renee come from a very strong and diverse pedagogy in the dance. Renee Kim began her dance training at the age of four with the Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) School.
She trained under the direction of the late Arthur Mitchell, founder of DTH and joined DTH, where she danced lead roles in many ballets including Concerto Barocco by George Balanchine, New Bach and Return by Robert Garland, Contested Space by Donald Byrd, and Arthur Mitchell’s signature piece The Greatest, among many others. David Kim spent his formative years training to be an elite golfer and equestrian who was sponsored by Samsung Corporation. David has danced professionally with the Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) under the Artistic Directorship of Arthur Mitchell, Ballet Met under Gerard Charles, Ballet West under the leadership of Adam Sklute, and much more.
The Premier Dance Arts of Los Alamitos, Los Alamitos Ballet School and the Los Alamitos Ballet Theatre are perfect place to experience the art of ballet in its purest form. Void of sense of commerciality, this organization is a place where one experiences the strong roots of Ballet at every moment.
Los Alamitos Ballet, Premier Dance Arts of Los Alamitos is located at 4322 Katella Ave; 2nd Floor. Los Alamitos, CA 90720. Their contact information is as follows: (562)588-3002 www.pdalosalamitos.com ; instagram: premierdanceartslosal; instagram: losalamitosballet