Luminario Ballet's "Le Ballet Jazz Noir" Celebrates Jazz, Ballet, and Aerial Performance
Luminario Ballet
Hollywood, California, USA. 18th October, 2026. Luminario Ballet of Los Angeles celebrated its seventeeth year with "Le Ballet Jazz Noir" at Avalon Hollywood in Hollywood, California with an evening of in ballet, jazz, aerial performance. Luminario Ballet is an award-winning repertory ballet and aerial dance company reflecting the vibrancy, brilliance, and diversity of the creative dance community in Southern California.
Each year the gala has a focus on fundraising and includes a silent auction and Fund-a-Need campaign where attendees can contribute to specific needs including dance shoes, travel, stage backgrounds, aerial equipment, costumes, and other expenses. TV host Joey Zhou, founder of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA), artist Clara Lobel, Robert Lobel, and LABA coordinator Natalie Chen.
Damien Diaz, co-artistic director, dancer Precious Gilbert, and Judith FLEX Heelle, artistic director, and founder of Luminario Ballet
The gala honored Allen Walls, executive director of the World Choreography Awards and a choreographer, director, and producer who is best known for his work in film and television, and Anita Mann, Emmy Award-winning choreographer, dancer, and beloved patron of the arts. There was a video tribute to Mann highlighting her career, featuring material from her "Dance Hall of Fame" and a sizzle reel showcasing her jazz dance and choreography. They both have had significant careers that have helped bring choreography and dance to audiences worldwide and across a range styles and genres.
Allen Walls gives an acceptance speech for his award
Judith FLEX Heelle, Jackie Sleight, and Adrian Hoffman premiered new works, and the performances brought a range of dancers and creative voices together onto a shared stage including: Diego Altamirano, Sadie Black, Precious Gilbert, Brandon Hanson, Johnathan Hart, Misha Hill, Adrian Hoffman, Marlon Pelayo, Jaime Reid, Jackie Sleight, Vanessa Trevino, with additional aerial choreography by Vanessa Nichole.
Luminario Ballet
Luminario Ballet
Damien Diaz premiered "Nighthawks," a dramatic dance theater immersive into the insomniac hours of night via Edward Hopper's famous noir paintings, "Nighthawks," "Room in New York," and "Manhattan Bridge Loop." The work brought cinematic intrigue to the stage with the dancers playing character roles accompanied by Igor Stravinsky’s music. The background established the stage as an urban setting and brought to life Hopper's paintings in the late night hours of a downtown night.
Luminario Ballet
Luminario Ballet
Luminario Ballet
Luminario Ballet
Luminario Ballet
Luminario performers
TV host Joey Zhou, founder of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA), artist Clara Lobel, and Robert Lobel
Artist Clara Lobel and Robert Lobel
Dancer
Dancer Adrian Hoffman and TV host Joey Zhou, founder of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA)
Dancer Sadie Black and Karla Gordy Bristol, City of Beverly Hills Arts and Culture Commission
About Luminario Ballet
Luminario Ballet of Los Angeles is a repertory contemporary ballet, modern dance, and aerial dance company based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2008 by artistic director Judith FLEX Helle and the Charles Evans Foundation, the company has been honored with many awards and has received grants from the US Department of State, State of California, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and the Los Angeles City Department of Cultural Affairs. They are supported by the Charles Evans Foundation, the Aileen Getty Foundation, the Tutu Foundation, The Charitable Foundation, and many others.
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