News about Alumni Dancers
Tanner Schwartz joins Joffrey Ballet
Tanner Schwartz joined the Joffrey Ballet for the Fall 2009 season.
Tanner trained at Westside School of Ballet. He played the role of Fritz in Westside Ballet's 2000 production of The Nutcracker, and danced in the 2001 Spring Show.
He continued his training at the School of American Ballet where he performed in numerous productions with New York City Ballet. From 2006 to 2008 Tanner danced with Pennsylvania Ballet II.
Melissa Barak choregraphs A Simple Symphony
A Simple Symphony - a new ballet 
choreographed by Westside alumna Melissa Barak - debuted with the New York City Ballet on Feb. 17, 2009. Alastair Macaulay's New York Times review calls it an "immediately attractive work," praising its ebullience and energy. The title comes from the 1934 score by a young Benjamin Britten.
More praise for the ballet comes from the blog Oberon's Grove, which calls it "one of the most perfect things I have ever seen." The same blog offers an interview with Melissa, who mentions doing The Nutcracker and Spring Show at Westside Ballet.
A Simple Symphony reappeared during the New York City Ballet Spring Season on May 20, 23 and 24.
To find out about other Westside Ballet alumni, click on a dancer's name in the column at right.