Westside Ballet Dancers Hit the Beach for Coastal Cleanup Day: Making Waves On and Off the Stage

9/28/24: On National Dance Day, 36 ballerinas from Westside Ballet swapped pointe shoes for gloves and bags, dedicating their Saturday morning to environmental stewardship at Santa Monica's Coastal Cleanup Day. Joining forces with over a thousand volunteers, including divers from the Eco Dive Center, the dancers helped remove more than 400 pounds of trash from the shores, including unusual finds like electric scooters and even wedding dresses.

Martine Harley, Westside Ballet's Artistic Director, reflected on the impact of the event: "This cleanup is more than just a community service; it's a chance for our dancers to connect with their environment and realize the positive difference we can make beyond the stage."

The event, coordinated by Heal the Bay, was part of a global initiative that brings together communities to protect marine life and reduce pollution. The Westside Ballet dancers, balancing rehearsals for their upcoming Nutcracker performances, took a moment to give back, demonstrating that their dedication extends far beyond their craft.

"Spending the morning cleaning up the beach with my fellow dancers felt empowering," shared Westside Ballet Level 5 dancer Luna Alatorre (13) a resident of Marina del Rey and an 8th grader at Crossroads School in Santa Monica. " We're not just performing for the audience; we're also supporting our community and environment. It's incredible to think our actions today can help protect the ocean."

Having participated in Coastal Cleanup Day since 2018, Westside Ballet continues to embrace opportunities that instill values of service and environmental care in their dancers. The commitment shown by these young artists highlights the powerful role that dance companies can play in broader community initiatives.

"It was inspiring to see our dancers stepping up to serve," Harley added. "We often talk about discipline and dedication in ballet, and today, they brought that same focus to the shore. It's a beautiful reminder of the positive difference we can all make."

As the dancers returned to the studio to continue their Nutcracker rehearsals, the message was clear: whether on the stage or at the beach, these young artists are committed to making a difference.

Anne Slattery

What better way to celebrate #NationalDanceDay than a group of 36 Westside Ballet dancers in service for Heal The Bay? (From Left) Violette Marie Rice, Angelina Di Bari , Archer Anderson, Ella Williams, Luna Alatorre (behind), Maya Kurc, Delilah Ahmadi, Delilah Stoddard, Nadia Hofer, Ella Abramson, Klyer Sziraki, Serena Klipfell, Sachi Hiromura (behind), Sophie Wilson, Spencer Collins, Lyla Brugger, Eleanor Smith (behind), Koko Miyamoto, Willa Cross (behind), Grace Schroeder (behind), Isabelle Choy, Sorcha Cinadr, Iina_Coulter-Bracey, Kali Solomon, Eema Kaye (behind), Drew Cortez, Naya Farrell, Olivia Moccia, Bella Shriver (behind), Zola Maksimovic, Elle Shim, Ezra Galambos (behind), Zoe White, Sofia Strauser (behind), Ilyssa Freedland, Antonia Cytrynowicz.

Anne Slattery

"We often talk about discipline and dedication in ballet, and today, they brought that same focus to the shore. It's a beautiful reminder of the positive difference we can all make." - Westside Ballet Artistic Director Martine Harley.

Anne Slattery

Westside Ballet Level 6+ student Koko Miyamoto, a eleventh grader at Geffen Academy, shows off her "penchés" whilst collecting trash!

Anne Slattery

Writing in the sand: Westside Ballet Dancers Luna Alatorre, Ella Williams, Maya Kurc, Klyer Sziraki, Delilah Ahmadi, and Delilah Stoddard share their love of dance whilst beautifying the beach with over a thousand other volunteers for Heal the Bay Beach Cleanup Day last weekend.

Anne Slattery

Eleanor Smith and Willa Cross

Anne Slattery

Dancers Spencer Collins and Eema Kaye raise their legs-and toes-for Beach Clean up day with fellow Westside Ballet dancers Bella Shriver, Grace Schroeder, Sofia Strauser, Ezra Galambos, and Sachi Hiromura.

Westside Ballet of Santa Monica, a nonprofit organization, is one of the nation's premier ballet training companies. This pre-professional company was created by Yvonne Mounsey (New York City Ballet) and Rosemary Valaire (Royal Ballet) in 1973.

The company provides the promising young dancers of the Westside School of Ballet, the performance opportunities that are so vital to their growth - and makes dance more accessible to local children and families. Based in Santa Monica, California, Westside Ballet of Santa Monica comprises approximately 125 dancers, ages 8 to 18.

For more information, visit westsideballet.com