Ballet ignites passion at Alex

The Media City Ballet board of directors threw a gala reception an hour before curtain for the "Pasión de España" Saturday evening at the Alex Theatre in Glendale.

Major sponsors, Los Angeles cultural arts representatives and local members of the entertainment industry met company officials while sipping beverages and nibbling on hors d’oeuvres in the terrace lobby of the historic venue.

Ballet company Executive Director Natasha Middleton-Kettebekov mingled with guests along with her mother, Natalie Middleton; father, Andrei Tremaine, a renowned dancer, choreographer and dance coach and his wife, Hiroko. Board of Directors President Cindy Pease welcomed guests and her husband, Tom, was snapping pictures of dignitaries.

Major sponsor Scott Meeker of Fire King Security Group brought 28 people from his Mira Loma company to see the ballet, as well as his wife, Katherine, daughter Tracy Meeker and her escort, David Serpa.

Also attending were Steve Maradian, president of Los Angeles City College; Fred Fate, the college’s Theatre Academy chair and producing director, and his wife, Ginny; Adam Davis of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and his wife, actor Joy Osmanski of "The Loop" on Fox; and Heather Rigby of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and her escort, Rafael Ramos.

Several guests from the entertainment industry were also at the party. They were Bruce Kimmel, Grammy-nominated record producer; Paul Maure, renowned dancer and dance coach; and actor Adetokumboh M’Cormack from ABC-TV’s "Lost."

The pre-party energy continued during the show’s first half featuring George Bizet’s "Carmen" and building to the pulsating finale, Maurice Ravel’s "Bolero."

Principal dancer Askar Kettebekov and soloist Felicia Guzman closed the "Carmen" segment with a rousing "Adagio." An audience favorite was the flamenco-inspired "Castilla" by Issac Albeniz that completed Act I. Rocio Franco Salto of Burbank restaged the routine and danced the lead role while snapping castanets.

Excerpts from "Don Quixote" by Ludwig Minkus underscored the talents of Kettebekov and Guzman and showcased the capable athleticism of another company principal, Askar Alimbetov.A tango routine by soloists Sergei Tumas and Liz Lira left the audience breathless. It was truly a passion-induced production from beginning to end.

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