Carmen updates
Due to ongoing social distancing and an uncertain future for live performances we have decided to postpone our premiere of Carmen until 2021. We are in the process of developing virtual programming in the near future. Please check back for more information.
STEAM and Dance
[av_textblock size='' font_color='' color='' av-medium-font-size='' av-small-font-size='' av-mini-font-size='' av_uid='av-jrdxyrm9' admin_preview_bg=''] Dance- A healthy gateway to STEAM practice. Why is dance important? Dance is the physical manifestation of all that STEAM embodies Dance is a physical geometry, it is problem-solving, spatial awareness, physical intelligence, and mathematics encompassed in one activity. As we become more invested in analytical and creative jobs oftentimes we become less understanding of our physicality. The older we get this becomes a detriment to our overall health. It has been generally recognized that good health combines the wellness
My favorite dance
One of my adult students asked what my favorite dance to perform was. I didn't have many starring roles in my career, but the first dance that came to mind was Con Amore. It's a dance by Lew Christensen, one of the founding fathers of ballet in the West. It's a silly dance about Amazons, thieves, and a wife with too many suitors. I was fortunate to play two roles in this dance, the Sailor and the Thief. I received many compliments as the Sailor. Someone even
From dancer to choreographer part, 2
Part II To Read Part 1 click here. From dancer to choreographer, the leap can be made when you seize opportunities, when you overcome your hesitations and when you access your own artistry and creativity. In the second of this 2-part interview series with Kenneth Walker, we learn that collaborations make a choreographer. So when did I feel like I was a professional choreographer?? Turns out
From Dancer to choreographer, Part 1
From dancer to choreographer, the leap can be made when you seize opportunities, when you overcome your hesitations and when you access your own artistry and creativity. In this 2-part series, we learn how Kenneth Walker emerged as a choreographer… Part I – An emerging choreographer. The running joke is that I started choreographing because I couldn't learn any of the steps in class, so I'd just make it up as I went along. That's only partially true. I would often blank out in petite allegro, even though I loved
My thoughts on Kenneth Walker Dance Project
We just found this student review from the last time we performed at El Camino College. "El Camino College Center for the Arts presents Kenneth Walker Dance Project at the Marsee Auditorium. They were celebrating the 10th year anniversary as a company. My friend and I are taking a online dance class. We have to critique the the performances. I’m not really into style of ballet but their performances were fantastic. I think they did such an amazing job on their costumes, music and most important their dance." Read more
Ballet classes with Kenneth
Looking for an adult ballet class? Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30am Intermediate Adult Ballet Peninsula School of Performing Arts, Lunada Bay Studio 2325 Palos Verdes Dr. West, Palos Verdes Estate Fridays open Adult Ballet Drop in class, $16, Professional Rate $13, Cash or Venmo10am San Pedro City Ballet, 1231 S Pacific Ave Looking for private lessons for your aspiring professional or need a brush up on your skill? All of the KWDP artists are available for private lessons. Contact us for more details, ken@kennethwalkerdanceproject.org
What’s it all about?
I'm often asked what my works are about: That’s the $50,000 question. What’s the dance about? There is a deep need and desire to understand what we are witnessing. We want you to know that your perception of what you saw is as important as what we intended the dance to be. Your viewpoint is just as valid as the statement in any synopsis that you might read about a dance. So often with modern art, dance, etc. we want to be entertained and release our responsibility of understanding
Read a rare in-depth interview with the AD
Marisa Johnston a board member for Kenneth Walker Dance Project recently sat down with Kenneth to ask about his start as a choreographer and the start of the company. The result is this rare in-depth interview. When you were young, were you surrounded by a family that embraced dance? Kenneth: I think I was inadvertently surrounded by art when I was young. I come from a dancing family. They all danced at parties. Plus my aunts and uncles on my mom’s side were involved in local musical theater productions
You can make the difference!
KWDP has embarked on an incredible journey, to create our largest and most ambitious work to date, a re-imagining of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.This ballet is being created because of the incredible artists of KWDP. The company members get the remarkable experience of having a new work created on them. There is almost nothing more exciting for an artist! KWDP can't wait to perform The Seasons for you this summer at our annual performance. Be a part of the process! By contributing, YOU are creating a new ballet! Our
December News
December 15, we are performing in Temecula. The company will be performing at Old Town Temecula Community Theater. Tickets are only $5 and you get to see this up and coming company in Hum and the solo Tuesday. Come study with KWDP this December! Kenneth Walker Dance Project will be conducting its first ever Winter Intensive December 21. This event will be hosted by CSU, Dominguez Dance Department. Take classes in Ballet, Modern, Repertory, and more from the artists of Kenneth Walker Dance Project.
MTC -New Works Project 2014
MOVEMENT THEATRE COLAB NEW WORKS PROJECT 2014 "Spring, choreographed by Kenneth Walker II with music by Vivaldi and Max Richter was both literally and figuratively a splash of light and color upon the stage. Unified intricate hand gestures, technical balletic lines/movements combined with the dancers’ radiant smiles and fiery attire make this piece sear into the memory."
10 Famous Dancers named….Ken
We are famous! If you don't believe take our word for it, check out this blog. 10 Famous Dancers Named Ken
Movement Theatre CoLab Summer Intensive
Come to Dance Creations and enjoy a couple weeks of dance master classes with such notable teachers and choreographers: Wendi Baity, Ken Datugan, Beth Megill, Kenneth Walker II and more. Kenneth will be teaching ballet and creating new material at the Movement Theatre CoLab Summer Intensive in Simi Valley June 26th and July 3. Classes are open on a drop-in basis. Contact us at ken@kennethwalkerdanceproject or Movement Theatre CoLab for more information.
Dance History Project of Southern California
The Dance History Project’s goal is to observe and preserve the history of dance making and performing in Southern California. The focus is on those events and artists, past and present, whose work has been important to the field of live professional dance in Southern California. It includes the contributions of dancers, companies, educators, presenters, artistic collaborators, historians, and critics. Kenneth Walker and Kenneth Walker Dance Project have been added to this roster showing the company's importance to the advancement of ballet and dance in Southern California. To view
Tickets now onsale
Tickets are now onsale for our August 10, 2013 show. Kenneth Walker Dance Project presents Trajectorie Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theatre at 7:30PM. Trajectorie will feature world premieres, company premieres, and the return to repertoire of audience favorites. The dance "Savage Grace" will make its company premiere. Savage Grace was commissioned by South Bay Ballet and was the closing ballet at the Regional Dance America dance conference when it was performed. This highly regarded dance is finally making its way into our rep with the help of the Los Angeles
Donate to the new ballet
Come help us raise funds for the newest ballet. KWDP is creating a new ballet with costumes by Michael Pacciorini, music by Kena Rohi Custage (the composer of Focus on the Middle Distance), and choreography by Kenneth Walker. Your donations will help make the newest work happen.
Amber Ajluni
Amber began her training at Ballet San Jose with Donna Delcini, Lise LaCour, and Dalia Rawson, where she danced in various school and company performances. In Southern California she has danced for Anaheim Ballet, performing in the works of Laurence and Sarma Rosenberg, including The Nutcracker, The Awakening of the Flora, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She has also danced with Santa Monica Contemporary Ballet. This is her second season with Kenneth Walker Dance Project and her repertoire includes Groove Juice and Focus on the Middle Distance. Meet
Dominika Pietrzyk
Dominika Pietrzyk began her dance training at Steps in Rodeo, CA at the age of 3. At age 13, she decided to pursuit a professional ballet career. She joined Western Ballet where she trained under Eric Bourman, Alexi Zubiria, Linda Rickert, and Kai Davis. Here, she performed in many ballets, such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, as well as many original works by Yanis Pikieris. Dominika furthered her studies by attending summer sessions at American Ballet Theater, Alabama, City Ballet of San Diego,
Master Class
We have huge news for us! June 22, 2013 from 3-5:15pm in the rehearsal halls of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center of Los Angeles we will be having a master class taught by Arturo Fernandez, Ballet Master for the World Famous Alonzo King LINES Ballet. A native of California, Mr. Fernandez has choreographed for James Sewell Ballet, Inland Pacific Ballet, among others. For more than two decades he has been an integral and part of Alonzo King LINES Dance Center. He has staged Mr.
Upcoming Performances
KWDP is back at the Pasadena Dance Festival. We are performing our latest work, Soft Ambient Pulse, on February 16 at Lineage Performing Arts Center at 7pm. For tickets visit, http://lineagedance.org/festival/feb-16/
KWDP as shot by Rey Leal
Catch a glimpse of this beautiful black and white photo set by Rey.
Michael Pacciorini
Michael Pacciorini, Costume Designer As both an educational and professional designer, Michael’s award-winning work including Film, Television and Dance has been seen throughout California, Texas, Illinois, and Washington. Local credits include: South Coast Repertory, Laguna Playhouse, West Coast Ensemble, California Repertory Company, Long Beach Playhouse, International City Theatre, Ballet Pacifica, Alternative Repertory Theatre, Tiffany Theatre, and the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Additionally, he has worked as a consulting Designer for such companies as Six Flags in California, Texas and Illinois, Disney in Japan and Sea World in California and
Steve Ellis
Steve Ellis, Lighting Designer is the Technical director for Laxson Auditorium, California State University, Chico. He has worked with Bella Lewitzky, Chico Community Ballet, and Kenneth Walker on several projects. He has created lighting for each ballet of Kenneth's Chico Community Ballet has in their repertoire. This is his fourth season lighting for KWDP.
Alumni Stories
Kenneth was just interviewed by UCLA's alumni department. Read about his decision to start KWDP and his favorite day at UCLA.
New Photos
We have lots of new photos on our Facebook page for you to enjoy. One set is from a photo shoot with dance photographer Paul Antico. The remaining new photos were taken at the dress rehearsal for the show Little by Little, AKA Poco a Poco.
KWDP presents: Little by little, AKA Poco a Poco
LOS ANGELES, CA: July 5, 2011— Kenneth Walker Dance Project (KWDP), a contemporary ballet company, premieres new work along with audience favorites for the seventh season in a row in an evening entitled "Little by Little, AKA Poco a Poco" one night only on Saturday, August 13, 2011, 7:30 pm at Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theatre, California State University Long Beach, 6200 East Atherton, Street, Long Beach CA 90840. Tickets are $13 presale, $18 at the door, $10 for students/seniors/DRC Members. All purchases at the door are cash/check only. DRC, student, and senior tickets, please contact us for a discount code at ken@kennethwalkerdanceproject.org. Tickets are available at www.kennethwalkerdanceproject.org/tickets.
Performances
Kenneth Walker Dance Project is pleased to announce its 2012 and 2012 seasons are supported in part by a grant from the Los Angeles County Arts Council.
Experience KWDP
While there's no better way to experience Kenneth Walker Dance Project than to attend a live performance, we invite you to browse quotes from many of the dance community's most respected professionals and critics. We are delighted to share with you here a selection of what others are saying about Kenneth Walker's choreography.
Pay Our Rent Party!
Let's Party! June 25 from 6:30pm-9:30pm at the home of one our fantastic board members, we will be hosting one of our famous pay our rent cocktail parties. This is a great opportunity to meet the dancers, talk to fellow patrons, and show your support for the company. We're suggesting a donation of $11 to help fund programming for our 2012 season. We will be making a special announcement at the party, so don't miss it. We ask that you RSVP at ken@kennethwalkerdanceproject to receive the address.
Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theater
The Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theater is located on the south side of Atherton Street, between Meriam Way and Palo Verde Avenue. The building itself is located between the Carpenter Center and the Pyramid. Parking is available in lots #12 and #13, on the East and West sides of the building. There is some street parking.
Book Fair
We’re exited announce that we’re partnering with Barnes &Noble for a Book Fair. On Sunday May 1, 2011
Audience Comments
It was great! ...this is so wonderful. You are great! Absolutely amazing!! Variety + very enjoyable Fabulous! Very great show a lot of fun.
Kenneth Walker Dance Project’s, “From the Ground Up”
Kenneth Walker Dance Project, a southern California contemporary ballet company, premieres new works on August 14, 2010 at California State University, Long Beach.
Kenneth Walker Dance Project’s “Mortgaged Dreams”
Long Beach, CA, July 06, 2009 -- Kenneth Walker Dance Project (KWDP), a contemporary ballet company and Lester Horton Award nominee, based in Southern California , premieres new works along with audience favorites for the fifth season in a row.
VIDEO: KWDP Reel
For a quick glimpse of the work that we do, check out Kenneth Walker Dance Project's reel.
VIDEO: “Gate” (January, 2009)
Set to the avant-garde music of Italian composer, Mario Salvucci, Gate is one of the newest works by choreographer Kenneth Walker.
Patronizing and Supporting Dance
The climate that art lives in is a difficult one at best. For years we've all dealt with repeated cuts in arts funding for our artists and for arts education by our government. I think it is safe to assume that this course will not be altered soon by either political party. Our European counterparts
VIDEO: “Savage Grace” (2005)
2005 - Choreography by: Kenneth Walker; Performed by: South Bay Ballet
Kenneth Walker Dance Project 4th Season Premieres in San Pedro
LOS ANGELES, CA: July 25, 2008 - Kenneth Walker Dance Project (KWDP), a contemporary ballet company and Lester Horton Award nominee, based in Southern California, premieres new works along with audience favorites for the fourth season in a row.
Kenneth Walker Dance Project nominated for Lester Horton Award
LOS ANGELES, CA: March 1, 2008 - Kenneth Walker Dance Project (KWDP), a contemporary ballet company based in southern California has been nominated for the prestigious Lester Horton Dance Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Performance by a Company
Kenneth Walker Dance Project appears in New York City
LOS ANGELES , CA : August 7th, 2007 - Kenneth Walker Dance Project (KWDP), a contemporary ballet company based in Southern California has been selected by the American Dance Guild to perform Focus on the Middle Distance, Thursday September 6th, 2007, 8:00 pm,
Kenneth Walker Dance Project Premieres “Sheer Force of Will”
LOS ANGELES, CA: July 30th, 2007 - Kenneth Walker Dance Project (KWDP), a contemporary ballet company based in Southern California, premieres new works in Los Angeles on Friday, August 31st and Saturday, September 1st, both at 8:00 pm at the Diavolo Dance Space,
Kenneth Walker Dance Project returns to Piccolo Spoleto for a 2nd season
LOS ANGELES, CA: May 14, 2007 - Kenneth Walker Dance Project (KWDP), a contemporary ballet company based in Southern California, returns to the prestigious Piccolo Spoleto festival in Charleston, South Carolina for the second time in as many years.
Kenneth Walker Dance Project Showcases Highlights at a Gala Performance
LOS ANGELES, CA: January 1, 2007 - Kenneth Walker Dance Project, a contemporary ballet company based in Southern California, kicks off its 3rd season with a Gala performance. Experience highlights of the company’s best solos and duets including Someday, Maybe, Forever
Kenneth Walker Dance Project premieres new works for a second season
LOS ANGELES, CA: July 5, 2006 - Kenneth Walker Dance Project (KWDP), a contemporary ballet company based in Southern California, concludes their first national tour by performing at home to present a full evening including the audience favorite Groove Juice and the return of Flesh and Blood at Alva’s Performing Arts Gallery in San Pedro.