MarlaLewinGFV

by Marla Lewin

This Sunday is Independence Day a time for backyard BBQs, friends, and fireworks. Next Sunday, July 11,  is time for the Bastille Day Los Angeles Festival. As an homage to the French holiday and to France’s major significance in the formation of classical ballet, the American Ballet of Los Angeles (ABLA) will make its official L.A. debut performing "flirtatious and fun dance vignettes" set to the musical styling of Brigitte Bardot at the Elysian Park event.

The Bastille Day Los Angeles Festival promotes the French heritage and culture, and celebrates the undying ties between French and American citizens. In France, Bastille Day commemorates the storming of the Bastille in 1789, marking the beginning of the French revolution. In Los Angeles, the event is one of the most attended community festivals and has been since its inception. The idea of great French food, music, art, dance, people, and the summer’s sun all together for one day to celebrate France’s Independence is a beautiful idea… and Angelenos agree, eight years and growing.

Besides the American Ballet of Los Angeles, live performers at Bastille Day Los Angeles Festival will include Destenee and her band ensemble "2Morrow" Destenee has opened for acts ranging from Stevie Wonder and Brian McKnight to The Chi-Lites and The Eagles. Also on stage throughout he day: Tahitian dancers Fetia Rangi, singer-tap dancer Ginger-Ann de Paris, R&B artist Tim James, alternative singer-songwriter Astrid Chevalier, Franco-American singer Xavier Nathan, and young composer Yael .

The ABLA was founded in Spring 2010 with twelve professional dancers who have worked with the internationally recognized  Hamburg Ballet, Lines Contemporary Ballet and Moscow Classical Ballet.  It is led by Artistic Director Eddy Hawks and Associate Director Kat Hawks, whose goal is "infusing classical ballet with touches of sexy, fun, and excitement while melding contemporary, raw and avant-garde beauty to the structured art form". ABLA’s first offering in May 2010,  re-imagined “Alice in Wonderland” into a twist and turn full-length ballet performed in Thousand Oaks, California.

“We are quite excited to welcome ABLA’s dancers to the ninth edition of the Bastille Day Los Angeles Festival,” comments Faz Brahimi, Bastille Day Los Angeles Festival’s Entertainment Producer. “ABLA will be premiering “A French Love Story,” with music by Brigitte Bardot, “Lady Muse,” with music by Edith Piaf, and who knows maybe a special rendition of “The Can Can!” Faz adds.

The 9th Annual Bastille Day Los Angeles Festival will be held Sunday, July 11, 2010 at the Elysian Park (Monticello Old Lodge – De Leo Politi), Los Angeles, California from Noon to 9 PM. The Event is FREE for kids. Adults: $5.  To purchase tickets, please visit: www.bastilledaylosangeles.com

WARNING: The city of LA is extremely vigilant at enforcing parking restrictions at at the Elysian Park. Please arrive early to find parking spaces and be warned tickets are issued at dusk in many locations. This may be a French holiday but the LAPD treats it as parking violators hunting season and fines run a minimum of $85.