01 & 14 (151)Public Comment
From: Katherine <
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2021 12:11 AM
To: Public Comment
Subject: Anaheim Cultural Arts Center
Dear Mayor Sidhu and Council Members,
I am writing to you today from a unique perspective. I lived in Anaheim until the early 1990's and then moved to
Riverside County and finally to the high desert area/Victorville/Apple Valley. Still spent a lot of time traveling to
Anaheim after that since both of my parents and in- laws lived in Anaheim and now for the past three years have driven
down weekly so my son can take dance class at Anaheim Ballet.
When I was growing up in Anaheim I started taking dance from a local dance studio. This then sparked a love for dance
and for the arts in which has not stopped some 50 years later. I was very fortunate since my parents were able to afford
to send me but had many friends that were unable to do so because there were not programs available to help with
underserved youth. This is where Anaheim Ballet has stepped in to serve the community for over 20 years. Not only
does it provide outstanding and professional training for its students but it also provides free community based after
school programs, workforce and recreational training, as well as bus- in presentations, lectures and demonstrations, and
concert performances which are well known to not just Anaheim but internationally as well, which should be something
that Anaheim is proud of.
I can tell you as a dance teacher for 40 years that children who take dance are not only learning technique but life skills
such as discipline, work ethic, how to handle disappointment, as well as achievement, how to work towards a goal,
things take time and not overnight, how to handle stress, and so much more. It translates to children doing better in
school and life in general. During the present Covid crisis that hit everyone in 2020 and is still effecting all of us, dance
was a lifeline for many kids and adults. Anaheim Ballet was able to utilize Zoom to hold virtual dance classes for its
students. This was not only a way for them to relieve some stress by moving their bodies, but also mental stress. For
quite some time, children were not attending school and did not have any social interaction with kids their own age.
Anaheim Ballet provided familiar faces and friends for these kids. Again, dance is not just about the body, it is also about
the mind and the mental health of the students, which is important to Anaheim Ballet.
I drive almost a hundred miles one way to take my son to Anaheim Ballet. The local studio I teach at provides great all
around training but he needed more to attain his goal of becoming a professional dancer as well as preparing him for
college. I drive past several ballet studios on my way to Anaheim, but I have chosen Anaheim Ballet as the place to take
him. Larry Rosenberg was my ballet professor at Chapman College now called Chapman University. Little did I know
that some 30 years later my son would be taking class from him. This is the right place for him and that's why I drive
back to my home town of Anaheim every week as well as taking several other students from my local studio with me to
take class. Both Larry and Sarma, want to give the best dance training to their students and make sure that it is available
for all youth.
The Anaheim Cultural Arts Center which is the current home of the Anaheim Ballet is a building that I grew up looking at
as I traveled throughout Anaheim. I would hate for this unique building to be demolished for housing. Anaheim, from
the time I can remember has always had a lot of traffic. Throughout the years I have only seen it increase and get worse,
which more housing would definitely add to this. By demolishing the building you would be displacing the City's arts
organization, since there are no plans for a new Cultural Arts Center, so no new place for Anaheim Ballet. The current
location works best for the community and especially for the underserved youth.
Please vote in support of the Cooperative Agreement with Anaheim Ballet. Thank you for your consideration.
Thank you,
Katherine Page