Friends of Film will present a sampling of this year’s Oscar picks in the short documentary category. Five of the final eight will be screened starting at 6 p.m. this Sunday, November 26 at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal. Admission is $10. Candidates for this year’s short documentary Oscar nominations include: THE BLOOD OF THE YINGZHOU DISTRICT Directed by Ruby Yang 39 minutes A year in the life of children in the remote villages of Anhui Province, China, who have lost their parents to AIDS. Traditional obligations to family and village collide with terror of the disease. PHOENIX DANCE Director/Producer: Karina Epperlein 16 minutes It seems impossible, but after losing a leg to cancer, accomplished dancer Homer Avila returns to the stage without crutches, performing with Andrea Flores a duet choreographed by Alonzo King. THE DIARY OF IMMACULEE Directed by Peter LeDonne This film reveals the horrific, yet inspiring story of a remarkable woman’s experiences in the tragic genocide in Rwanda. The filmmaker will be in attendance. DEAR TALULA Directed by Lori Benson 34 minutes Diagnosed with breast cancer 14 months after the birth of her daughter Talula, filmmaker Lori Benson finds courage, beauty and humor in the face of the unexpected. A REVOLVING DOOR Directed by Marilyn Braverman Chuck Braverman returns to the Friends Of Film Festival–this time as producer–with the story of 33-year-old Tommy Lennon, struggling to deal with the dual diagnosis of mental affliction and drug addiction. The filmmaker will be in attendance.
The Curtain Rises for L.A. Ballet
‘The Nutcracker’ couldn’t have been a better choice for Los Angeles Ballet’s debut on December 2. Like Tchaikovsky’s fairy ballet, the newly formed ensemble hopes to be irresistibly appealing to a broad audience by bringing the exquisite magic of world-class dance to our city. With fresh choreography for the popular Christmas tale and live music, Los Angeles’ first professional company in 20 years is fashioning a home-based sensibility in its productions and its talent. This ‘Nutcracker,’ created by L.A. Ballet Artistic Directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary, with original sets by Palisadian Catherine Kanner, will be performed in three theaters: The Wilshire Theatre on December 2 and 3; the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center on December 23 and 24, and the Alex Theatre in Glendale on December 30 and 31. This community approach fits the parameters of our sprawling city, with its challenging traffic conditions. Christensen and Neary, who are married with two children, each have enjoyed a robust professional career. Christensen’s is a familiar story: he started dancing in his native Denmark at age 6, wanting to follow his sister, he says. As it turned out, she was not accepted in the Royal Danish Ballet School, he was, and there he studied for 10 years until joining the company. He danced with the New York City Ballet and the Pacific Northwest Ballet, and returned to Denmark, where he was appointed artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet and its school in 1999. Neary performed with the New York City Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet, and is a repetiteur for The George Balanchine Trust, which allows her to stage and produce Balanchine ballets for professional companies around the world. After Christensen stepped down from his job in Copenhagen, he and Colleen moved to Santa Monica to raise their children, Erik, 11, and Helena, 9. ‘I’ve been coming to Los Angeles for the past 20 years; Colleen’s sister lives here,’ Christensen says, ‘and after Denmark I thought ‘Now is the time to do this.’ ‘The big difference in starting a company here in the United States is funding’it’s private and corporate. In Europe there is state support.’ While that might present an obstacle, Christensen recognizes its advantages, especially in building a ‘family’ of ballet support. ‘It’s nice to raise awareness in the community, and the task is to create a family that supports ballet with funding and volunteers,’ he says. In the last two years, the couple has developed a board of directors and found the kind of involvement that has allowed their vision to materialize. Kanner became involved through her long association with Westside Ballet, which is a pre-professional school that has produced 30 years of talented dancers and will serve as L.A. Ballet’s official school. Westside was founded by Yvonne Mounsey, who enjoyed a career with the New York City Ballet as a principal dancer for George Balanchine, and is now serving as the artistic advisor for L.A. Ballet. ‘It was Yvonne’s dream to start a company. She just thought the time was right, the audiences have grown,’ Kanner explains. ‘She has known Colleen from the time she was a girl and both share a common Balanchine background.’ Many attempts to establish a resident professional ballet company in Los Angeles– even by George Balanchine’had failed, until John Clifford established the Los Angeles Ballet in 1975, which remained in existence for 10 years. When asked to design the sets for the debut ‘Nutcracker,’ artist and illustrator Kanner conceived of an idea that situated the audiences in familiar territory. ‘I wanted to incorporate the Spanish roots of L.A., the city of the angels.’ With that concept in mind, Kanner set the action in 1912 California in a classic Spanish-style home with Mexican, Spanish and European influences. The great living room in Act I will evoke a Diego Rivera painting in palette and symbols. The Christmas tree will be decorated with tin ornaments, which adds a subtle flavor of Mexico. In keeping with the spirit of the company, there has been community-wide participation in mounting the first production. Walt Disney Imagineering set-painters have worked with high school student interns from the Ryman visual arts program in preparing the five complete sets. L.A. Ballet has also hired some 60 children who alternate in each of the 12 ‘Nutcracker’ performances. ‘The Nutcracker’ is undeniably a familiar and much-loved ballet standard, but it also showcases the scope of classical ballet. For Christensen, Tchaikovsky’s music carries it. ‘It’s so full, well-composed and well-put together,’ he says. ‘I’ve choreographed four different ‘Nutcrackers’ and I hear new things all the time. Choreography is different from creating opera, where there is a score and libretto. In ballet, you have to create the score with your imagination, in a sense.’ While both he and Colleen have danced many Balanchine works and have certainly been influenced by him, Christensen plans to create original works and commission other choreographers. The company’s 21 dancers bring a diverse artistic sensibility and experience. From auditions held both in New York and Los Angeles in early summer, a corps of principals and apprentices were hired for the 21-week contract from dance institutions in Europe, such as the Staatsballett Berlin and the Royal Ballet School, and from the states, including Dance Theatre of Harlem, New York City Ballet and Westside School of Ballet. In addition to the company dancers, guest artists will perform throughout the season. Last week, Neary was in New York rehearsing with the principals who will join the company in ‘The Nutcracker.’ Among them are Paloma Herrera of American Ballet Theatre; Artem Shpilevsky of Bolshoi Ballet and Yvonne Boree, Nikolaj Hubbe, Maria Kowroski, Nilas Martins and Benjamin Millepied of New York City Ballet. The inaugural season will continue in the spring with a program based on the works of George Balanchine and August Bourneville, and in the summer the company will introduce its program with ‘An Evening with Balanchine.’ Reflecting on the path ahead, the artistic directors are hopeful. ‘We hope that the audiences will embrace us and root for the hometown,’ Christiansen says. ‘Twenty years ago, there was no opera; now there is quite a vigorous season.’ For season and ticket information, contact 998-7782 or visit www.losangelesballet.org.
Calvary Volleyball Wins League
Calvary Christian School’s girls volleyball team defeated Harvard-Westlake 25-12, 17-25, 15-9, to clinch the Delphic League championship last Thursday. Shayne Kybartas used timely serving and clutch kills at outside hitter and Tara Robinson made acrobatic digs. Middle blockers Sara Bowman and Kristi Englekirk stymied Harvard-Westlake’s attack while the passing of Marie Helmy and Allison Van Konynenburg kept the Cougars in control. On its way to the championship, Calvary beat St. Matthew’s 25-19, 25-10 thanks to the accurate setting of Lauren Peddicord.
Local Gymnasts Score at State Championships
Several Palisadian girls excelled at the Level 4, 5 and 6 Southern California State Championships last weekend. Shelby Slutzker took third all-around in Level 6, placing second on the floor and third on the balance beam. Rachel Weston placed second on the beam in Level 5 and sixth in the all-around competition. Taylor Slutzker won the Level 4 all-around, taking first place on the beam and second in floor exercise. Fellow Palisadian Hayley McCormack placed eighth all-around in Level 4. All four girls compete and train for Broadway Gymnastics in Los Angeles. Shelby Slutzker and Weston are fifth graders and Taylor Slutzker is a second-grader at Calvary Christian School. McCormack attends Corpus Christi. With the help of these Palisadians, Broadway took second as a team in Level 5 and placed third as a team in Level 4. The Level 6 championships were held in Simi Valley, Level 5 championships took place in Laguna Hills and Level 4 championships were held in San Diego. Last year, Weston took first place in Level 4 and Shelby Slutzker placed fourth all-around in Level 5.
Pali Football One and Done
Things were looking good early in the second quarter for the Palisades High football team in last Thursday’s City Invitational playoff opener. The home crowd was on its feet after quarterback Raymond Elie’s dazzling 97-yard touchdown run gave the Dolphins a 7-0 lead. Marshall players, however, were unimpressed. The Barristers responded to Elie’s run by scoring 35 unanswered points on their way to a dominating 42-14 victory that ended Palisades’ season. It was the Dolphins’ first loss all season at Stadium by the Sea. “You don’t go 8-2 without being a pretty good team,” said PaliHi Head Coach Leo Castro, whose first trip to the playoffs in three seasons at Pali was short-lived. “We knew they were tough and they pretty much took it to us.” Aside from Elie’s big play there was little offense to speak of. The sixth-seeded Dolphins (5-6) gained one first down in the second half–on a 56-yard pass from Elie to Sudsy Dyke–and their lone score came on a 21-yard toss from Elie to Timmy Gonzales in garbage time. “I’ve learned so much from my teammates and my goal for next year is just to get stronger and be ready,” Gonzales said. “Whenever my name is called I want to make the play.” Eleventh-seeded Marshall (9-2), which had finished in a three-way tie for second in the Northern League, led 21-7 at halftime thanks to a pair of short touchdown runs and a 22-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Stephen Richart to Brian Aguilar. The Barristers racked up 19 first downs in the game and controlled the ball for 18 minutes in the second half. “I can’t thank you seniors enough for what you’ve done for our program,” PaliHi Offensive Coordinator Aaronn Castro said after the game. “I don’t know what we’ll do without you.” Many Palisades players were unable to hide their disappointment as the clock wound down in the fourth quarter. Elie was replaced by back up Michael Latt for Pali’s final two series. Senior tailback Dajuan Cofield was held to 31 yards in nine carries–his lowest rushing output of the season–and buried his head in his hands as the final whistle blew. “Man, I still thought we were going to win at halftime,” he said. “We just weren’t doing some of the things we should have done. It’s starting to hit me that there won’t be practice on Monday.”
Brentwood Volleyball Reaches Final
A trio of Palisadians helped Brentwood’s varsity volleyball team reach the CIF Southern Section Division III-A finals last Saturday at Cypress College. Despite strong play from startering outside hitter Drew Hargrave and libero Ashley Kenyon and contributions off the bench from fellow Palisadian Kelly teacher, the Eagles battled Hacienda Heights Wilson for five thrilling games before Wilson won 16-25, 25-21, 25-22, 26-28, 15-13. ‘These girls have reached every goal we set and grown as a team as much as I can remember any Brentwood team doing,’ Eagles coach Jeff Porter said. ‘I’m extremely proud of them and happy for them.’
Marymount Spikers Win Sixth Straight CIF Title
You can stick the Marymount High volleyball team in a higher division, but you can’t stop it from winning CIF championships. Led by five Palisadians, the Sailors swept Santa Barbara, 25-22, 25-14, 25-20, Saturday afternoon at Cypress College to win their sixth straight Southern Section title and first in Division I-A. Marymount won five straight Division IV-AA titles before jumping five divisions this season. The Sailors’ latest triumph is perhaps their most impressive given that they prevailed against schools with five times as many students as Marymount. Under the direction of Head Coach and Palisadian Cari Klein, Marymount overcame a slow start in the first game and never looked back. Locals Kelly Irvin, Michelle Barrett and Kendall Bird sparked a 6-3 run that tied the first game 13-13. Fellow Palisadians Madison Wojchiechowski and Ali Hoffman, both defensive specialists, were called on to serve in key rotations and dig out balls in the back row. “Every [CIF] title is great but this one means even more because we had an opportunity to show that we can play and win against the best competition,” Irvin said. “We accomplished that goal and now we want to win the state tournament.” Irvin finished with nine kills and six digs as the top-seeded Sailors stormed to an 8-2 lead in the second game against the unseeded Dons (21-9), who were playing in their first Section final since 2000. Since the state playoffs go strictly by enrollment, Marymount moved back down to Division IV and swept Fresno San Joaquin Memorial in the first-round Tuesday. Marymount (30-6) will host Solana Beach Santa Fe Christian (25-11) in the Southern Regional semifinals Saturday night.
Doebel-Hickok Second at Cross Country Finals
Ever since the cross country season began back in September, Kristabel Doebel-Hickok has been running with one goal in mind: to medal at the state meet. The Palisades High senior will get her chance to do just that on Saturday in Fresno after finishing second at last Saturday’s City Section finals in Woodland Hills. Despite being hampered by an upper left leg strain, Doebel-Hickok ran the three-mile course at Pierce College in 17:16–the fourth fastest finals time ever–and finished second to Hamilton’s Katja Goldring, who clocked a 17:07 to break the finals record by six seconds. “She [Goldring] went out harder and I never closed the gap,” Doebel-Hickok said. “I actually felt okay. The main thing was just to run my race and not injure myself because the state meet is a big priority.” The girls’ varsity race was the first of the day, starting at 8:15 a.m., but by that time the temperature was already above 80 degrees. As she typically does, Goldring set a blistering 5:42-per-mile pace and never let up. “I’m actually kind of surprised I won because Kristabel is such an amazing runner,” Goldring said. “I was sure she was going to pass me at the end but I kept running hard thinking that if I was tired she must be tired too.” Goldring and Doebel-Hickok will be two of the contenders in a field of over 200 runners in the girls’ Division I race Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno. “I’m really looking forward to the state meet,” Doebel-Hickok said. “Getting there has been my focus all year so hopefully I’ll be at my best.” Palisades’ varsity girls finished eighth out of 10 teams in the City finals. Senior Angel Perry-Spahn was Palisades’ second runner, finishing in 33rd place in 20:46. Next were freshmen Sarah Shores (36th place in 20:50), and Natalie Farnham (54th place in 21:29), sophomore Cecelia McGaughran (65th in 22:21), junior Etna Tiburcio (70th in 23:14) and senior Unique Shanklin (71st in 23:36). San Pedro swept the boys and girls team titles for the fourth time in five years. Pirates’ senior Steve Calise won the boys race for the second consecutive year with a time of 15:27. Palisades finished 10th in the team competition. Junior Marco Tringali was the Dolphins fastest runner, finishing 26th in 16:51. Another junior, Muhanad Elias, finished 41st in 17:27 followed by seniors Jann Stavro (48th in 17:42), Jeffrey Boone (55th in 17:53), Jason Haase (69th in 19:29) and Jeff Fujimoto (70th in 19:36). “I thought every guy would have to run 30 seconds faster than they did in the prelims for us to have a chance–and they are all capable of that,” said PaliHi Head Coach Ron Brumel, who announced he will not be back next fall. “It just didn’t happen today. The weather was definitely a factor. These conditions were much hotter than what we’re used to training in.”
Back Where She Started
Jorgensborg Raises Corpus Christi Volleyball Program to New Heights
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
If any coach knows what it takes to win it is Palisadian Haley Jorgensborg. If ever a group of players was willing to heed her advice it was 13 girls on the Corpus Christi volleyball team this fall. Together, coach and players formed a strong bond and lifted the program to a level it has never reached before. Corpus Christi took third place in the Catholic Youth Organization playoffs–its highest finish ever. The three-week long tournament involved 64 teams from throughout Southern California and Corpus rebounded from a semifinal loss to St. Thomas to beat St. Mark’s in a three-game thriller to capture the bronze medal earlier this month. “I remember how it was to be their age and I wanted to give something back,” says Jorgensborg, a 1998 Corpus Christi graduate who went on to enjoy a standout prep career at Marymount High and later played for two seasons at UCLA. “I miss playing but I’ve really enjoyed coaching. I’ve never seen a group of girls this good at this age.” Jorgensborg transferred to the University of Colorado in Boulder, where she graduated in May with a degree in Communications. Jorgensborg enjoyed her two years in Colorado, where she discovered her ‘other’ passion: snowboarding. “I went to three schools on Sunset [Corpus, Marymount and UCLA] so I needed a change,” she says. Back home in the Palisades Highlands for the summer, she began working with Corpus Christi’s team two hours a day in August and quickly developed a rapport with her players. “I have my own style, I don’t really model my coaching after one individual,” Jorgensborg confesses. “The main thing I stress in practice is just to work hard and have fun doing it.” Corpus Christi’s roster reads like a who’s who of local talent. Almost every girl plays club volleyball in the off-season and the most challenging job for Jorgensborg was finding ways to get each of her ‘all stars’ playing time. “What’s great about Haley is that she lets everyone play,” says seventh-grader Lanti Moye-McClaren, who plays outside hitter. “Even when we were up against a good team. She’s a tough coach but if we do something wrong she tells us how to fix it.” Fellow seventh-grader and hitter Christine Irvin agreed with her teammate about Jorgensborg: “She’s been our best coach so far. The drills she has us run really help us.” Eighth-grader Haley Tipton says the camaraderie the players enjoyed was a key to Corpus Christi’s success: “We’re all friends, we all know each other, most of us play together. This season was special and it also prepared us well for club.” Seventh-grader Lauren Waters, a middle blocker, was not certain the team would gel when the season began: “I honestly didn’t think we were going to be as good as we became. Everyone improved so much’not just on our own but as a team.” Eighth-grader Allie Hinds credits Jorgensborg with helping her hone her skills as a setter: “I like to handle the ball a lot and she showed me ways to improve my footwork and my hands, which are really important for my position.” Eighth-grade hitter Morgan Alessini recalls a timeout during the third-place match against St. Mark’s when her coach’s words of wisdom helped them pull out the decisive game 17-15. “She told us this is the last playoff game and we have nothing to lose so just play your hardest.” Rounding out Corpus Christi’s squad were eighth-graders Taylor Bantle (middle blocker), Katie Newell (setter) and Emma Castillo (defensive specialist) and seventh-graders Erica Wahlgren (right side hitter), Meghan Middleton (middle blocker), Sophie Zaloom (middle blocker) and Courtney Levan (defensive specialist). “They were awesome,” Jorgensborg says. “I’m so proud of them. They learned to trust each other, they worked towards one goal and they came together as a team. That’s all a coach can ask.”
Pali Tennis: 19 and Counting
Dolphins Edge Taft, 4-3, to Repeat as City Section Girls’ Tennis Champions
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
In danger of losing for the first time in over two months, the Palisades High girls tennis team dug deep and played its best when it needed to most. The top-seeded Dolphins had to sweep the final three matches in order to defend their City Section championship against third-seeded Taft last Friday and, one set at a time, that’s just what they did. Palisades’ Audrey Ashraf and Lauren Pugatch notched the clinching point with a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles that lifted the Dolphins (18-2) to a 4-3 victory at Balboa Tennis Center in Encino. It was Palisades’ 19th City title and the eighth time in 10 meetings that the Dolphins vanquished Taft in the final. Moments before Ashraf and Pugatch won, Pali’s No. 3 tandem of Rose Schlaff and Alex Kling beat Taft’s Lital Ruimy and Rachel Shlesinger 6-4, 6-2 to level the match. Kathryn Cullen and partner Erika Lee earned Palisades’ first point with a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles. Several days before, Palisades learned its No. 2 singles player was academically ineligible and would not play in the final. Lauren Pugatch, one of only two seniors in the Dolphins’ lineup, said the rest of the team rose to the challenge: “We were still confident we could win. One of the strengths of our team all season has been our depth.” Taft took a seemingly-insurmountable lead by winning three out of four singles matches, but the advantage was deceiving. “The 3-1 lead didn’t mean anything because those were the ones we were supposed to win,” Taft coach Tom Wright said. “The ones that were in the balance didn’t go our way.” The victory was the girls’ 13th City title under Coach Bud Kling, who not only took personal satisfaction in Pali’s latest victory but was doubly-rewarded watching his daughter Alex play a huge part in the team’s come-from-behind win. “It’s always hard when you have one of your own kids on the team,” he said. “You never want the other players feeling she’s getting preferential treatment, so if anything I was harder on her than anyone else. But she understood and played great under pressure today.” Despite losing seven starters from last year’s playoff roster and having to turn its lineup topsy turvy before the biggest match of the year, Palisades prevailed. “Considering what we lost, this one [title] ranks right up their,” Bud Kling said. “We’re not used to being behind in a match. The pressure was on each and every player to get it done and they stepped it up when they had to.” Fittingly, No. 1 singles player Katy Nikolova began Palisades’ comeback with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Sarah Cohen in a match between the top two seeds in the City Individuals tournament, which begins Monday. Nikolova admitted not having one of their best players only motivated the Dolphins more. “We’re coming to win no matter what… that was the mood of our team,” she said. “No second thoughts. No negativity.” The West Valley League champion Toreadors (13-3) took a commanding lead when Yuliya Maystruk beat Pali’s Genna Rochlin, 6-3, 6-1, at No. 2 singles, Amanda Spencer beat Yasamin Ghiasi, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 3 and Rebecca Mesropyan defeated Pali sophomore Marina Sterngold, 6-2, 6-0 at No. 4. “I was hoping for a sweep in singles,” Wright said. “Then when Sarah [Cohen] lost I thought our best shot was at No. 3 doubles but we lost that too.” Nikolova could not decide which was better–winning the City championship or successfully defending it. “Every title is great,” she said. “They’re all the best.”
