A step to consider

LEWIS SEGAL is absolutely correct about needing to build a bigger and more loyal dance audience in Los Angeles and the Southland [“Hard Truths About Ballet in Southland,” April 3]. Not only to support at least one major Los Angeles ballet company, as there ought to be room for multiple companies, but to support all the dance that is both generated locally and brought in. Goodness knows, those in the dance community are always looking for ways to grow a loyal audience.

There is one other way, however, that might help at least maintain the existing audience, encouraging them to support dance more often. That way would be to have more positive, encouraging reviews and articles written about dance in the Southland. Like it or not, we live in an area that is very critical about how and where we spend our time. This is Hollywood, after all, and we tend to follow the trends, follow the pack. When nearly all that is written about dance in the Southland is negative, lamenting lack of skill, creativity and artistry, what is the incentive to make the effort to go see it, unless you have an inside connection to the company?

I’m certainly not saying that reviewers should lie just to lure an audience, but perhaps an effort needs to be made to focus on the positive elements of a performance, instead of a laundry list of what didn’t work. There is good dance happening in the Southland; we just need to know more about it.

ANNE GERMAINE SLATTERY

Los Angeles