PDT, under the artistic direction of Cynthia Young, was led for these performances by Artistic Associate Laurence Blake. Deanna Beasom, Seth Belliston, Alissa Halpin & Michael Waldrop joined Laurence in Newport for two weeks of creative time and rehearsal, plus performances for new audiences at the Great Friends Dance Festival. During the residency, Laurence worked with four Island Moving Co. dancers on a fresh duet he hopes will premiere when PDT hosts the Island Moving Co. in Pasadena in the spring of 2012. Associate Director Laurence Blake Laurence Blake, who will bring Pasadena Dance Theatre to the Great Friends Dance Festival, graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts and danced with Joffrey II, then the Joffrey Ballet, working with choreographers such as Gerald Arpino, Sir Frederick Ashton, Glen Tetley and Twyla Tharp.

Laurence Blake Laurence Blake Laurence Blake Assistant Dean Laurence Blake Assistant Dean Laurence is a native of Virginia and attended the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, NC. During his senior year, he toured nationally with the Agnes DeMille Heritage Dance Theater and upon graduation was asked to join the North Carolina Dance Theater. After two seasons with NCDT, Laurence joined The Joffrey II Dancers under the direction of Sally Bliss and Maria Grandy. Laurence has been a member of the faculty of the Sharon Disney Lund School of Dance at CalArts since 1980, where he has taught ballet and contemporary dance technique as well as, dance composition. He has taught both nationally and internationally, most notably at the BalletKadiem in Stockholm, Sweden; Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA; Governors Magnet School of the Arts, Norfolk, VA; Orange County High School of the Arts, Los Alamitos, CA; Academy of the Inland Pacific Ballet, Montclair, CA; Westside Ballet School, Santa Monica, CA; Regional Danced America/ Pacific Festival, Bremerton, WA and the Conservatory of Performing Arts, Pasadena, CA. Laurence works in both classical and contemporary styles and he has choreographed work for Inland Pacific Ballet, California State University, Long Beach, Loyola Marymount University, Orange County High School of the Arts, Governors Magnet School of the Arts, Long Beach Ballet Theater and the CalArts Dance Ensemble. Laurence became a founding member of the Los Angeles Chamber Ballet and later served as Resident Choreographer. He received nominations for the Lester Horton Award for Outstanding Choreography for his ballets "TUNNEL", "BLACK ANGELS" and "THE NUTCRACKER". Laurence has also served as Resident Choreographer for the Hawaii Ballet Theater in Honolulu, HI. He choreographed "ALICE IN WONDERLAND", "A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM" and "THE NUTCRACKER" during his residency. Laurence has served as Associate Director of the Pasadena Dance Theater. He choreographed several ballets for the company, of which many have been selected to participate in the Regional Dance America/Pacific Festivals. His ballet "HOLBERG SUITE" was awarded the National Choreography Plan Award. Most recently, the Regional Dance America/Pacific region presented his ballet "ORIGINS" at the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS. Program: Administration Member for 1 year 34 weeks Home » Dance » Faculty » Laurence Blake

Laurence Blake Associate Director Laurence Blake graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts and joined Joffrey II and then the Joffrey Ballet, working with notable choreographers Glen Tetley, Sir Frederick Ashton, Gerald Arpino, Robert Joffrey and Twyla Tharp. Mr. Blake has set original works throughout the West and has been resident choreographer for the Los Angeles Chamber Ballet, Hawaii Ballet Theatre and Pasadena Dance Theatre. His choreography has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Lester Horton Dance Award in 1992, 1993, 1995 and 1997. In 1998 he received the Regional Dance America National Choreography Plan Award for his ballet Holberg Suite. Mr. Blake has appeared in several television dance specials, and has been on the dance faculty of the California Institute of the Arts since 1982.

Laurence Blake, Associate Director

Laurence Blake Laurence Blake Laurence Blake Assistant Dean