Have you 'Hird'? in Los Angeles

Last weekend, I took the long trip to the west coast of the USA, visiting Los Angeles, where Rodeo Drive meets the Hollywood sign. Having not been there since I was eight years old, I was excited to visit the sunshine state again. I met Evelyn Cisneros-Legate, who was brought up in Huntington Beach, just south of LA, and the two of us held auditions for the Summer Dance Program at the Los Angeles Ballet and the Maple Conservatory in Irvine.

We were both very pleased to see so many students auditioning - in Irvine, the line was around the block when we arrived! One of the delightful parts of the audition process is reconnecting with students who have attended SDP or BBS in the past. I was happy to see a former BBS student who is now a Trainee at Los Angeles Ballet, as well as several SDP alumni who were keen to join us again this summer. Also nice to see energetic young boys all wanting to take their first step towards a professional career. We hope they will join us in Boston or Newton this summer.

Next up is across the border in Canada - Margaret Tracey and I will be in Toronto for the weekend, and I will be traveling to Calgary on Sunday. Check in with me next week to find out how cold it really was!

Photo of Christopher Hird following in Charlie Chaplin's steps at the Hollywood Walk of Fame.