The Mission

City Ballet of Los Angeles (CBLA) aspires to create a nationally recognized classical dance company that cultivates promising young dancers who would otherwise have limited opportunities to be introduced to ballet.

With the passion and belief that ballet should be accessible to all children, Robyn Gardenhire, a former dancer from Los Angeles, came to Community Partners in 1999 with little more than a name, a concept, and a vision. Today, City Ballet of Los Angeles works with more than 250 students enrolled in classes held in a donated space in the Pico/Union area west of Downtown. The group regularly adds new schools from diverse communities to its roster of partners.

Along the way, Community Partners staff has provided the ongoing fiscal support – payroll administration, accounting services, help with budgets and monthly financials – that have allowed her project to grow. “I could never have been able to do all that myself,” she says. “But what's really great is they also give you the ability to learn the proper way of setting up your own corporation. They don’t let you skip corners and they’re there to hold your hand in the process. It’s been great.”

How Community Partners Has Helped

Community Partners has worked closely with Project Leader Robyn Gardenhire to ensure that all financial details are managed so that she can focus on realizing her vision of a classical ballet for the children of Los Angeles that entertains as well as educates.

SOURCE: Community Partners 2003-2004 Biennial Report

PROJECT STATUS: City Ballet of Los Angeles has been a project of Community Partners since 1999. City Ballet now occupies a 4,000 sq. foot state-of-the-art ballet studio and has expanded to include a satellite program in South Central Los Angeles.

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