On the Town: Stepping out to remember the British Invasion

There was no need to “ferry cross the Mersey” or even take a trip “across the pond” to enjoy the classic music of the British Invasion this past Saturday evening.

For Burbankers, just a short drive over Mount Lee to the Ford Amphitheatre provided them with an evening of outstanding entertainment as the Pacific Ballet Dance Company danced to the sounds that dominated and defined popular culture during the 1960s and ‘70s.

Billed as “The British Beat,” Saturday’s performance, under the direction of Artistic Director Natasha Middleton and Assistant Director Edward Arno, showcased the talent of dancers from the Burbank-based company formerly known as the Media City Ballet.

Serving as an homage to such legendary British imports as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Queen, David Bowie, the Who and Led Zeppelin, the performance was headlined by Chris Trousdale of the popular boy band Dream Street who currently appears in Disney’s new television show “Shake it Up,” Alexander Fost from “So You Think You Can Dance,” and Allan McCormick who has most recently been performing in “La Rêve” in Las Vegas. Rounding out Saturday’s principals were Tatiana A’Virmond, Dale Jordan, Jekyns Pelaez and Arsen Serobian in the role of Bond… James Bond.

With almost every seat in the Cahuenga Pass amphitheater filled, notables in attendance included many supporters who have embraced the dance company from its 2001 formation including Tom and Cindy Pease, Natalie Middleton, Andre van Niekerk, Roland Armstorff, Andrew Garsten, Helen McDonagh, Ken Applegate, George and Cheryl Khoury and Richard and Lynda Wilner.

Rounding out the cast of dancers who performed in Saturday’s show under the stage management of Stephanie Pease were soloists Amara Baptist, Sarah D’Elia, Albertossy Esponosa, Kristine Gregorian, Elen Haruyunyan and Robson Tadeu Freire; demi soloists Juliet Applegate, Andrew Claus and Jennifer Sherry; corps de ballet Ruzanna Avetisyan, Jackson Bradshaw, Irena Gharibyan, Charlotte Harrop, Hannah Hart, Ani Hovhannisyna, Raymond Meadows, Pamela Ortega, Oscar Reyna, Natalya Shoaf, Madeline Weerts and Alexandria Wong; and apprentices Francis Belandres, Lizzy Briggs, Melissa Gonzales, Lianna Ramirez, Alicia Ross, Chloe Tilton-Sheldon, Laurel Weber, Maddie Williams and Lana Yount.

For more information about the Pacific Ballet Dance Company and their future performances, log on www.pacificballetdancetheatre.org.

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DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.