Los Alamitos Ballet Theatre (LABT) is a non-profit pre-professional ballet company in the heart of Los Alamitos, CA, founded by professional ballet dancers Renée and David Kim. Having worked closely with legendary ballet influencers Arthur Mitchell and Lois Ellyn, Los Alamitos Ballet Theatre’s founders and artistic directors, Renée and David Kim, aim to go 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.”
Their aim is to…
present a ballet company of racially diverse pre-professional and professional artists who perform demanding repertory at the highest level of quality,
maintain a world-class school that trains dancers of all ages in classical and Neo-classical ballet as well as other genres of dance,
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. To date, the company has performed The Joplin Variations, accompanied by live piano and choreographed by Robert Garland, Artistic Director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, noted choreographer Thang Dao’s riveting ´Etudes, and Swan Lake Pas De Trois, after Mr. Petipa, restaged by Renée and David Kim.
LABT’s captivating winter season includes a standing invitation to perform for The Youth Center of Los Alamitos’ annual awards and newly acquired invitation to participate in the Pasadena Arts walk in October. In December, LABT presents an original and exciting take on the classic Nutcracker, entitled Sugar Plum’s Realm. Conceptualized and curated by Renée and David Kim and performed in our very own space, the PDA Black Box Theatre, Sugar Plum’s Realm is a beautifully orchestrated immersive spectacle that takes you on a magical journey from the holiday terrace to the stage.
Springtime is especially exciting with LABT’s Ballet in Bloom event. Since 2023, LABT began collaborating with other professional artists to bring thrilling world premieres and timeless classics to Southern California audiences. In 2024, LABT welcomed incredible guest artists, including Principal dancers, Tigran Sargsyan and Preston Swovelin, Ballet Project OC’s A.D., Ally Hellman, former Ballet Austin artist, Nicole Voris, and fellow Raiford Roger’s Modern Ballet alum, Josh Brown. The company also debuted a new work in progress entitled Fathom with music by Paul Colomb and the Bleue Quintet with choreography by Renée and David Kim. The piece was met with a standing ovation followed by a passionate desire to see more.
The future is bright for LABT as we look forward to continuing to invite choreographers, composers, artists, and designers to collaborate by giving access to the arts through enriching the community with regular PDA Blackbox Theatre performances and educational outreach programming in schools. If you would like to support the endeavors of this new and electrifying company, please visit our Sponsorship page for more information.
