Inland Pacific Ballet on Sure Footing in Lively ‘Coppelia’

Like individuals, a dance company has a life cycle. Founded in 1994, Victoria Koenig’s Inland Pacific Ballet already has shot past the fledgling stage.

With its production of “Coppelia” over the weekend at Bridges Auditorium in Claremont, it revels in a confident, exciting, robust youth.

For all its diversity in body type, the ensemble Friday looked like a real company. It had a unified style and danced with a shared impulse, even when pushed by the fast tempos of the prerecorded music.

The candy-cane “Coppelia” production, modeled after Ninette de Valois’ for London’s Royal Ballet, suits the company to a T.

It was directed by Koenig and Stanley Holden, one of the Royal Ballet’s great performers of the Dr. Coppelius role and a beloved Southland teacher for more than 30 years. At 73, he was persuaded to play the part here as well.

His touch is everywhere, not only in his own refined, comic portrayal, with its multitude of details and exquisite timing. The villagers, too, have become individuals with distinct, credible characterizations. Holden also has reintroduced an abundance of mime passages that proved delightful in themselves as well as functioning to advance and deepen the plot.

Besides Holden, guest principals included Tina LeBlanc of the San Francisco Ballet as Swanilda and Jordi Ribera of the Royal Danish Ballet as Franz.

LeBlanc was a pert, sweet, easily hurt but resourceful Swanilda. She met the marathon demands of the role with sunny and seemingly tireless ease. (Patricia Tomlinson of the Houston Ballet will take over this weekend.)

Ribera offered far less character detail as Franz, but he led the Czardas strongly, partnered conscientiously and bounded through his variation with high-flying elan.

Soloists included Kelly Lamoureux as a poised Dawn and Samantha Mason as a cautious Prayer.

The corps displayed a highly pleasing combination of well-drilled discipline and freedom of spirit.

* Inland Pacific Ballet will repeat “Coppelia” Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Cal State Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, L.A. $15 to $30. (323) 343-6600.