For Immediate Release
Aug. 5, 2019
Contact:
Olga Gallardo
(424) 646-5260
(Los Angeles, CA) Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) surprised airport guests at Tom Bradley International Terminal and Terminal 4 with ballet, contemporary and hip-hop performances as well as ethnic dances by Ballet Beyond Borders' dancers from Brazil, Italy, Mexico and the U.S. Dancers from 25 countries will also be flying in to LAX to take part of a global cultural dance challenge and diplomacy conference, which will be held in Los Angeles for the first time.
"As we transform Los Angeles International Airport, we're enthusiastically improving our guests' experience with inclusive programming reflecting the cultural diversity of our city," said Barbara Yamamoto, Director of Guest Experience and Innovation, LAWA. “Ballet Beyond Borders’ performance at LAX reflects the rich traditions of the millions of guests who travel through LAX each year.”
Ballet Beyond Borders, which is part of the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre, embraces the changing landscapes of our global dance art form. While excellence is their goal, they also seek to preserve the heritage all participants passionately share. They strive to protect, inspire, and connect the next generation of young artists with professionals of the highest caliber and with mentors who align with these ideals. Dance is a cultural phenomenon and dancers are natural diplomats. Ballet Beyond Borders is a ballet nation that serves as a catalyst for promoting cooperation and easing conflict by creating mutual understanding and using dance to advocate for human rights, justice, and global peace.
“Our mission is to promote the role of the arts in human communication across the world and give dancers performance opportunities,” said Ballet Beyond Borders Director Charlene Carey. “Given that international dancers and conference attendees from around the world will be flying into LAX the same day of the performances, their fellow dancers were honored to welcome them to Los Angeles with a performance while also bringing airport guests a moment of cultural enjoyment."
Following their performances at LAX, Ballet Beyond Borders local events include an international dance challenge and cultural diplomacy conference at Loyola Marymount University, and will wrap up at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center with the Ballet Beyond Borders Gala Finale as the celebration and culmination of four days of global cultural exchange. International stars and Ballet Beyond Borders winners are coming together for the fifth world-class event to perform in styles ranging from classical ballet to hip hop.
LAX, the fourth-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States, was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX. LAX served more than 87.5 million passengers in 2018 and offers an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 109 cities in the U.S. and 1,281 weekly nonstop flights to 93 markets in 47 countries on 69 commercial airlines. LAX ranks 10th in the world in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.4 million tons of air cargo. LAX handled 707,883 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2018.
LAX generated 620,600 jobs in Southern California, with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion, according to an economic study based on 2014 operations. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues. The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion; $966 million in state and local taxes; and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.
LAX was honored as having the “Best Overall Customer Service Program” by Airports Council International-North America; named the “Best Airport for Breastfeeding Moms” by Mamava; selected for the Top 10 “Best of the U.S.’s Big Airports” (Wall Street Journal) and “Most Pet-Friendly Airports in the U.S. (Mental Floss); named the second-most improved airport in the U.S. by JD Power; received an “Innovation Award” from the L.A. Better Business Challenge for its Central Utility Plant; and named a “Business Leader in Air Quality” by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
LAX is also the second-most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram, according to wego.com. LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.
