Community Outreach
Mission Statement
Our mission is to establish a balance of inspiration, artistry and discipline with our students. Our methods are designed to help dancers thrive in every aspect of their physical and psychological development: from strength and coordination to self-esteem, self-worth and respect for others. At the Los Alamitos Ballet, we believe that we are in service to something greater than ourselves and we strive to give back to the community.
About LABT
Los Alamitos Ballet Theatre (LABT) is a non-profit Ballet Company in the heart of Los Alamitos, CA, founded by professional ballet dancers Renée & David Kim. Having worked closely with legendary ballet influencers Arthur Mitchell and Lois Ellyn, LABT’s Founders and Artistic Directors Renée & David Kim’s mission for the Company goes beyond providing Southern California dancers access to high quality training and performance opportunities. Like Arthur Mitchell, they also believe that “The Arts Ignite the Mind.”
The aim of LABT is to (1) present a ballet Company of racially diverse pre-professional and professional artists who perform demanding repertory at the highest level of quality, (2) maintain a world-class school that trains dancers of all ages in classical and Neo-classical ballet as well as other genres of dance, and (3) provide arts education, community outreach programs, a safe and nurturing environment to grow and be supported, and to foster positive role models.
Since The Company’s founding on June 27th, 2022, dancers have had the opportunity to perform innovative new work and classic repertoire in various performance spaces and for an array of audiences. LABT looks forward to continuing to invite choreographers, composers, artists, and designers to collaborate and give access to the arts and to enriching the community through regular In-Studio performances and educational outreach programming in schools.
Current Endeavors
Precious Lamb Preschool: Precious Lamb Preschool is an organization that provides full-day, quality education to children experiencing homelessness. We have partnered with Precious Lamb to teach ballet classes weekly as a part of the childrens’ performing arts education.
Long Beach Symphony: LABT was invited by the Long Beach Symphony to perform alongside their orchestra for 12,000 children in the Long Beach and surrounding school districts. LABT was able to partner with the Long Beach Symphony in their long-standing outreach mission to introduce and inspire elementary schoolers with a lively infusion of culture, art, and live music. In the words of Issy Farris, the Vice President of Operations & Education at the Long Beach Symphony, having LABT and other performing arts organizations partner with the Long Beach Symphony for this outreach program “… makes the concerts so much more engaging for the kids. It’s because of generous artists like you that students have the opportunity to experience live performances and learn that arts and culture enrich their lives."
LABS presents “Demonstrations”: As Renée & David Kim nurture the environment of the Los Alamitos Ballet School for their students to positively grow, LABS also seeks to take their mission outside of the studio. LABS presents “Demonstrations'' is a fun, engaging, and accessible introduction to the art of ballet! “Demonstrations” provides students in elementary, middle, or high school the opportunity to experience the beauty and athleticism of ballet through a narrated presentation of choreographic sequences, an excerpt from a classic story ballet, and/or thematic classical and contemporary ballet dancing.
