When the Westside School of Ballet was founded by Yvonne Mounsey and Rosemary Valaire in 1970, it wasn’t hard to predict that it would soon become “one of Southern California’s most prominent ballet schools” (as described by the LA Times).” Mounsey, a six-foot-tall ballerina and native of South Africa, had been principal dancer of the New York City Ballet under George Balanchine (referred to as the father of American ballet) from 1949 to 1958. After starting the Santa Monica-based school in her retirement, she became one of the first New York City Ballet alumni to establish roots in Southern California. Over the decades, the school trained many local dancers who went on to professional careers.
When Mounsey passed away in 2012 at the age of 93, her daughter Allegra Clegg, executive director of the school, was uncertain that they would be able to find anyone to replace her.
In 2013, their search ended when they appointed Malibu native and current resident Martine Harley, an alumna of the school and a ballerina legend in her own right, to take over as artistic director of both the Westside School of Ballet (a for-profit school teaching children’s and adult classes) and Westside Ballet of Santa Monica (a nonprofit company that brings in guest artists for performances).
At the age of 16, Harley was the youngest member of the American team to compete at the International Ballet Competition in Moscow. Shortly after, she joined the Houston Ballet, the fourth largest in the U.S., where she was a critically acclaimed soloist for 13 years and performed around the world. After retiring, she taught ballet at several important schools and venues before returning to Houston Ballet as ballet mistress and artistic coordinator for 12 years. She then returned to Malibu and Westside Ballet in 2006.
Clegg need not have worried whether Harley could fill her mother’s big shoes — in just three short years, Harley has added more student matinee performances, produced sold-out “Nutcracker” performances in 2013 and 2014, added new ballets, started a boy’s division, brought physical therapy and wellness workshops on site, brought in renowned guest teachers and lecturers, and coordinated dance programs with Santa Monica College.
In an interview, Clegg said her mother would be very proud of the direction Harley is taking Westside.
“Martine has ‘raised the barre’ in so many ways, not only with ‘The Nutcracker,’ but also our spring performances,” Clegg said. “She knows the enormous legacy she inherited and continues to challenge and push the dancers to achieve more and be the best they can be.”
After having worked with so many ballet students, The Malibu Times asked Harley what parents can do to help children taking ballet.
“Children often don’t realize the incredible drive, ambition and commitment it takes to be a professional dancer — giving 100 percent every day,” Harley said. “This generation, where every child gets a trophy, has dampened children’s healthy competitive spirit. When a child makes excuses, parents can step in.
“Ironically, I find the greatest challenge is parents’ instinct to protect their children — they often feel the need to ‘rescue’ them when the going gets tough,” Harley said. “They confront the teachers if their child feels disappointment, rather than helping their child find the silver lining or ‘get back on the horse.’”
Harley has sometimes been disappointed when talented dancers opted for other career choices.
“People don’t necessarily see ballet as a ‘real job’ — ballet is a young career that cannot take place after college. One of my dearest friends was a professional ballerina for 10 years, retired at age 27, and then became a doctor,” she pointed out.
The Westside Ballet Company’s annual production of “The Nutcracker” began in 1972, making it the longest-running “The Nutcracker” in Los Angeles. Special effects in the show include a growing Christmas tree, a firing cannon and falling snow. Harley said she manages to keep the production exciting each year by using different dancers in different roles, updating sets and designing new costumes.
“I’ve also updated the snow scene this year to have a more featured Snow Queen and corps de ballet,” she said.
Several of the performers in this year’s production are from Malibu, including Summer Kent and Daisy Kohner.
For information about upcoming shows, visit westsideballet.com.