California Contemporary Ballet

The California Contemporary Ballet is a not-for-profit corporation based in La Cañada, California, whose mission is: to improve conditions in the local community and surrounding areas through innovative dance/music/voice productions. This is accomplished by creating and performing richly diverse and entertaining productions for audiences ranging from the general public and student bodies in theatre-size venues to scaled-down performances for hospital patients and rest home residents.

Erin Holt is the founder, choreographer and creative director of the California Contemporary Ballet. During her 28 year career, she has appeared in numerous ballets, concerts, and in a series of special dance educational films for syndicated television.

Erin's education background includes scholarship training in dance and theater at the University of New Mexico; special choreography and teachers training from Charles Russell of the Joffrey Ballet; studies and performance with choreographers from the Martha Graham Company, the Joffrey Ballet, the Utah Repertory Ballet and the Rire-Woodbury Company.

Her performance credits include television commercials, video, dinner theater, cruise lines and frequent performances for Disney and Universal Studios. Erin was a member of the original cast of dancers appearing in Andrew Lloyd Webber's opera "Requiem."

For her efforts in choreographing and directing hundreds of children's shows, talent shows, dance competitions and stage productions, Erin has garnered numerous awards.

In 1987 her success in working with children developed into her dance school called Dance Now Academy and in 1995 she developed a professional children's troupe called the Dance Street Performers. The names were changed in 2004 to more accurately reflect their artistic contributions to the community.

Besides children's dance and performance instruction, Erin also teaches adults and is a private coach for performers in the music and movie industry. Additionally, she gives of her time to teach dance at many schools in the Los Angeles area.

Erin is also an actress and a singer and incorporates the communicative aspects of those skills to her students.

More About the California Contemporary Ballet

Sometimes called the "troupe," Dance Street Performers received their name while performing in the streets of Santa Monica, California. Since then the troupe has performed before hundreds in concerts, street fairs, theme parks/promenades such as Universal City Walk and Magic Mountain, and performed shows for benefit groups and community outreach projects. The troupe's continued growth and community involvement led to the name change to the California Contemporary Ballet.

Their hit show, Voices of the Future, demonstrated ethics and morality. The voices of the young dancers themselves spoke out against drug use, psychiatric abuses, and war, while also supporting moral topics about love and friendship, family, education, patriotism, religious freedom and their dreams as artists for the future. Featuring the choreography of Artistic Director and studio owner Erin Holt, the performers dance in a variety of styles including full ballet productions, modern dance, hip-hop and acrobatics.

The California Theatrical Youth Ballet are best known for their classic and theatrical production of The Snow Queen , performed during the winter holidays. A beautiful story by Hans Christian Andersen that demonstrates friendship, persistence towards one's goals, and that love can overcome all barriers. This production is beautifully staged, costumed and beautifully enhanced by brilliant lighting and set design as well as featuring a memorable and moving musical score.

Members of the California Contemporary Ballet vary in ages from 14 to 22. Principal dancers are Ryan Morrison, Kamissa Marshall, Gioel Enriquez, Rebecca Eberhard, Nick Zerman, Jesse Wilson, Chantelle Cichon, Kelsey Glidewell and Jacob Bonham.

Contact Erin Holt at: erin@CalDanceArts.com
or visit the California Contemporary Ballet Web site