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Gina Baffo: An Encounter at the Playhouse

Imagine having just come off an exciting time working with famous dancer/producer Debbie Allen at a non-profit dance academy. Wondering what comes next. Trying to remain open to whatever may wait for you down the road. You take some time off to relax by attending a show at Pasadena Playhouse. Minutes later, you find sitting next to you a friend that you haven't seen in quite a while. You strike up a conversation, and gradually you see your future taking shape.

This scenario is just what happened with Gina Baffo about six weeks ago. And that friend was none other than our own Katie Brandon. Gina and Katie first met years earlier at the Pasadena Museum of History. A little later they spent time collaborating through programs at the Arboretum. So it is not surprising that the chance meeting at the Playhouse sparked another opportunity for them to share their skills. Katie hired Gina to work on marketing and programming for two Village events – a fire relief concert series called Centering Sounds and the upcoming OntheGo Expo transportation resource fair. 

Gina grew up in the Palo Alto area, where she built her career in the advertising business. But dance has always been her personal passion, especially ballet. She took dance lessons and began her nonprofit work with Pasadena Civic Ballet, the Dance Resource Center, and Debbie Allen's Dance Academy and Performing Arts Center. Her past experience equips her well to perform her tasks here at Pasadena Village. Not only is she putting together the fire relief concert series in September and October, but she is also working with the Village to launch the transportation resource fair on November 13.

Gina is married to Chris, a landscape architect. She and Chris have formed a company called Blue Sky Outdoor Environments. They have two children - a daughter who has ballet training and now attends PCC as an English Lit major, and a son who works in the restaurant business. Other activities that have attracted Gina are hula lessons, concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, and hiking. She and Chris have actually hiked in Norway!

Looking ahead, Gina just wants to keep an open mind and see what comes next. Who knows… maybe someone else like Katie waits in the wings. Meanwhile, we can all look forward to the extension of the concert series from September into October. The performances will be held weekly 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at locations across Sierra Madre, Pasadena and South Pasadena. For that and more, we can all send Gina a big THANK YOU in advance!