Over 125 Westside Ballet local dancers share the stage with New York City Ballet Principals Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia from new hit show Étoile to honor local first responders

A rare confluence of dance legends and rising stars will grace The Broad Stage next weekend when Westside Ballet presents its "Masters of Movement" performances. The event brings together New York City Ballet principals Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia-both featured in Prime Video's hit ballet series *Étoile*-alongside local dancers in a program honoring the Los Angeles and Santa Monica Fire & Police First Responders.

The Saturday evening Gala on May 31 will pay tribute to first responders with the Huntley Santa Monica Beach Community Arts Award, recognizing their service during the recent Palisades and Altadena fires that affected over 55 families within the Westside Ballet community.

"These performances carry special significance this year," explained Artistic Director Martine Harley. "Many of our dancers and their families were directly impacted by the fires, yet they continued to show up for rehearsals, finding solace in the structure and community that ballet provides."

Erin Baiano for New York City Ballet

A highlight of the evening, "Other Dances," originally choreographed by Robbins for Natalia Makarova and Mikhail Baryshnikov, will be performed by Westside Ballet alumna Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia, principal dancers of the New York City Ballet

A highlight of the Gala will be Jerome Robbins' celebrated *Other Dances*, performed by Peck and Mejia with live piano accompaniment. Originally created for ballet legends Natalia Makarova and Mikhail Baryshnikov, this poignant duet explores themes of love through movement set to Chopin's mazurkas.

Another standout in the Gala program, Robbins' whimsical *Circus Polka*, brings Westside's youngest dancers into the spotlight in a lively tribute to circus arts. Originally conceived by George Balanchine for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1942-with a cast of fifty girls and fifty elephants-this short ballet was later adapted by Robbins for New York City Ballet.

Staged by former NYCB soloist Zippora Karz on behalf of the Jerome Robbins Trust, this rarely performed work emphasizes musical precision, ensemble timing, and theatrical flair. The ballet immerses young dancers in an experience that blends structure and spontaneity-bringing the organized chaos of the circus to life.

"It's a wonderful piece that brings young dancers into the magic of a live artform-with the music, the audience, and the group energy lifting everyone into something greater," says Karz. "It rises us all to the best of humanity."

Sarah Madison Photography

Gabriella Calderon rehearses the "GRAND DÉFILÉ: A Presentation of the Full Company," staged by Artistic Director Martine Harley to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

For Karz, the production marks a full-circle moment: "When I was 11 years old, I danced *Circus Polka* with my sister in Los Angeles, not realizing until years later that I had performed with New York City Ballet in a production led by Jerome Robbins himself. I was a pink elephant, running on my tiptoes. That moment stayed with me-and now, to pass it on as a stager for the Jerome Robbins Trust is incredibly meaningful."

Led by Westside alumnus Zane Tahvildaran-Jesswein of Ballet San Antonio, *Circus Polka* showcases the community's commitment to developing young talent. Tahvildaran-Jesswein, a Santa Monica native, began his ballet training at age 4 at Westside under founder Yvonne Mounsey. After training with American Ballet Theatre and performing in China with Santa Monica College's Global Motion Dance Company, he graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and now returns to inspire the next generation. Tahvildaran-Jesswein also performs the lead in "Cabaret," reprising his 2019 role as a student at Westside.

Another standout performer in the Gala is 12-year-old Spencer Collins, who recently won the prestigious Hope Award at the 2025 Youth America Grand Prix Finals-the competition's highest honor-ranking him as the top dancer in his age group worldwide. Collins will perform a solo in August Bournonville's *Le Conservatoire* and appear in Michele Bachar Mendicelli's jazz arrangement of *Cabaret*.

Sarah Madison Photography

Spencer Collins, recipient of the prestigious 2025 Youth America Grand Prix Hope Award, will perform in Westside Ballet's Masters of Movement Gala and Spring Showcase. The award-YAGP's highest honor-recognizes exceptional artistry, technique, and promise, ranking Spencer as the top dancer in his age category worldwide.

"It was such an honor to stand in the wings and watch Roman Mejia perform in last year's Nutcracker," Collins reflected. "His turns and jumps were so big and so precise, it was inspiring. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to perform alongside these incredible artists again this spring."

The production underscores the company's local impact, with approximately 40 Santa Monica residents participating in the showcase, representing neighborhoods from Ocean Park to North of Montana. For these young performers, the Spring Gala and Showcase represent both a culmination of their work and a stepping stone toward professional careers.

The performances launch Westside's summer programs, which include advanced workshops with special guests Sofiane Sylve and Patricia Neary, as well as children's themed camps for ages 4-7. These educational offerings continue the legacy of Westside Ballet, which has been a cultural cornerstone in Santa Monica since its founding in 1973.

Eric Williams

Karson St. Claire , Lauren Gordon,, and Aina Joergensen pose in their Circus Polka costumes. The Gala program will feature Jerome Robbins' whimsical Circus Polka set to Stravinsky's score-which was originally created for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus by George Balanchine.

Performances take place Saturday, May 31 at 1:00 PM (Showcase) and 7:00 PM (Gala), and Sunday, June 1 at 1:00 PM at The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica. Tickets are available online at westsideballet.com/SpringTix or by phone at (800) 595-4849 (4TIX).

Special Discount code for local patrons of the arts for $70 off Saturday night's Gala: "SAMO25". The evening begins with cocktails and canapés at 5:30PM, followed by the special Gala Performance at 7PM, and concluding with lite fare and desserts at 8PM.