LAX Dance Takes Flight

Ballet breaking boundaries in Westwood, a contemporary troupe’s homecoming in E.L.A., a tap troupe in Beverly Hills, site specific dance in a West Hollywood library; mixing ballet and Andy Warhol in East Hollywood, two early Halloween entries downtown and in La Cañada Flintridge, a festival dancing everywhere except LAX and much more SoCal dance.

5. Tip tap

Recently seen in a cameo at the Music Center, the award winning Michelle Dorrance brings her tap troupe Dorrance Dance to town. The troupe won accolades from N.Y. critics for Myelination, an extended version of which is the calling card for this visit along with Jungle Blues and Three to One. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Arts, Bram Goldsmith Theater, 9390 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Thurs.-Fri., Oct. 12-13, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Oct. 14, 2 & 7:30 p.m., $45-125. http://thewallis.org.

4. By any other name

In the west it’s known as Les Sylphides, but in Russia where choreographer Michel Fokine originally choreographed it, the plotless romantic ballet set to music by Frédéric Chopin is known as Chopiana. That and three other Fokine ballets complete the bill for this visit by the Mariinsky Ballet and Orchestra. Originally the Tsar’s Imperial Russian Ballet and later known as the Kirov Ballet, the celebrated company now bears the name of its home theatre, the Mariinsky. The other three ballets on the mixed bill are The Swan, a solo originally choreographed for ballerina Anna Pavlova, Le Spectre de la Rose with its signature giant leap through a window originally danced by Vaslav Nijinsky, and Schéhérazade capturing all the 19th century Russian fascination with the exotic foreign lands. While the Bolshoi Ballet is known for its larger than life dancing, the Mariinsky is celebrated for its faithful continuation of that original imperial Russian ballet tradition, well exemplified by this quartet of ballets.The conductor for all shows is Gavriel Heine. Complete casting at http://scfta.org.  Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Thurs.-Fri., Oct. 12-13, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Oct. 14, 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun., Oct. 15, 1 & 6:30 p.m., $29-$159. 714-556-2121, http://scfta.org.

3. Choreographer magnet

One of the breakout local dance companies, BODYTRAFFIC has gained glowing reviews in NYC and national attention (and belatedly here) for its superb dancers and uncanny ability to attract internationally acclaimed choreographers. Launching its 10th season, the troupe struts its stuff for the home fans with some of its most popular and critically acclaimed repertoire including Barak Marshall’s And At Midnight, The Green Bride Floated Through the Village Square…, Victor Quijada’s Once Again, Before You Go, and Richard Siegel’s o2Joy. Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Cal State University Los Angeles, 5151 State University Dr., E.L.A.; Sat., Oct. 7, 8 p.m., $30-$50, $25 students. 323-343-6600, http://luckmanarts.org.

2. Boundary breakers in pointe shoes

A world premiere from Chinese choreographer Menghan Lou, an L.A. premiere from Alejandro Cerrudo, and the timeless Balanchine classic Four Temperaments are the opening salvo in Los Angeles Ballet’s 12th season. Later in 2017-2018 LAB goes classical with The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, but starts the season with a more contemporary flair under the banner Pushing Dance Boundaries. Keeping its promise to bring great professional ballet to all of this metropolis, the company continues to tour among home theaters throughout L.A. UCLA, Royce Hall, 340 Royce Dr., Westwood; Sat., Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m. Also at the Alex Theater, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, Sat., Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m. Also at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach; Sat., Oct. 28, 7:30 p.m., $29.50-$104. http://losangelesballet.org.

1. A festival takes flight

The truly dedicated will need to attend more than four shows per day to see all of the 44 performances over the ten days of the 5th edition of the Los Angeles Exchange (LAX) Festival. Just concentrating on the promising passel of dance events from a raft of mostly contemporary dance artists should provide a deep taste of the fest’s cutting edge flavors. The Bob Baker Marionette Theater hosts Milka Djordjevich (Oct.11-13, $20). Bootleg Theater line-up includes.Szalt Dance Company (Oct 6-8, $20), Jessica Emmanuel (Oct. 7, $12), No)one. Art House + Amie Cota and Anna B. Scott (Oct. 8, $20), and d. Sabela grimes (Oct. 13-15, $20). L.A. Theater Center’s line up includesTamara Cubas + Teatro Línea de Sombra (Oct. 12-15, $25). Full descriptions of the dance and other LAX events, times and tickets at http://performancepractice.la/festival. Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W 1st Street,. downtown; Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Boulevard, Echo Park; Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S Spring Street, downtown; LAX Festival Fri.-Sun., Oct. 6-15, http://performancepractice.la/festival.

Other dance of note:

All proceeds from this concert by Rosanna Gamson/WorldWide go to earthquake relief in Mexico City. The dancers take the stage to share and perform an original improvisational investigation based on a game system that Gamson has been developing for several years. One of L.A.’s most original and inventive artists, Gamson is always worth viewing. Diavolo Space, 616 Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; Sun., Oct. 8, 7 p.m., $20. Reservations at tsarina.rgww@gmail.com.

Mixing elements of a charismatic ballet star and the world of Andy Warhol, Freddy marks a new dance theater venture for The Fountain Theatre and its producer Deborah Lawlor. In addition to the sterling reputation for the venue’s productions, Lawlor also is the producer behind the long-running, mostly monthly Sunday flamenco series Forever Flamenco that has gone on, essentially forever. Now Lawlor takes on playwright duties as the Fountain Theatre partners with LACC’s Theatre Academy to explore new dance and theater possibilities. Carminito Theatre, L.A. City College, 855 N. Vermont Ave., E.Hollywood; opens Wed. & Fri., 8 p.m., Thurs. & Sat., 3 & 8 p.m., through Oct. 14. $25. 323-633-1525, http://FountainTheatre.com.

A dancer clad in a white dress swirling yards beyond her feet has become the signature image for Jessica Lang Dance, but that is just one of several works the contemporary dance company brings to the stage in this visit. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach; Sat., Oct. 7, 8 p.m., $50. http://carpenterarts.org.

The stage crew upstages the dancers, literally, in choreographer Karen Sherman’s Soft Goods receiving its West Coast premiere. Freud Playhouse, Macgowen Hall, UCLA, 405 Hilgard Ave., Westwood; Sat., Oct. 7, 8 p.m., $29-$49.  310-825-2101  http://cap.ucla.edu.

First staged at the Santa Monica Civic Library in 1993 and this past August in Glendale, Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre continues to reprise Back in Circulation. This time the setting is a West Hollywood library. The site specific work is revised to reflect both the architecture of the each site along with information era developments in the decades since its original premiere. Dancers include Micah ‘Jamz’ Abbrey, Teresa Barcelo, and Lenin Fernandez, visual designer, Mimi Haddon, and composer, percussionist and multimedia artist Andrea Centazzo, plus the books. West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood; Sat., Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m., $25, $20 seniors, students & WeHo residents. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/yb3whcx4 http://heididuckler.org.

Under the banner Variance, this concert presents works by BFA candidates and a restaging of legendary choreographer Charles Weidman’s 1936 Lynchtown. Contributing choreographers include Alice Amano, Tanner Miranda, Justin Morris, Haley Richartz, Katelyn Sanchez, and Maili Schlosser. Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theater, Cal State University Campus, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach; Thurs.-Fri., Oct. 12-13, 8 p.m., Sat., Oct. 14, 2 & 8 p.m., $20, $16 seniors & students. 562-985-7000, http://csulb.edu/dance.

Just ahead of Halloween, American Contemporary Ballet takes a page from Dante with Inferno, choreography by artistic director Lincoln Jones set to composer Charles Wuorinen’s piece for two pianos. The new work opens ACB’s seventh season with a fundraiser followed by more performances. ACB Studios, 700 S. Flower St., Suite 3200, downtown; Fri., Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m., $250, Sat., Oct. 14, 7:30 8 p.m., then Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m., thru Sat., Oct. 28, $40-$80. http://acbdances.com.

With another Halloween-themed ballet, Leigh Purtill Ballet Company and choreographer Leigh Purtill consider what might have happened after Romeo and Juliet’s mutual suicide in Sweet Sorrow, A Zombie Ballet. The amateur adult dancers aren’t just dancing zombies, the show promises vampires and witches too. Lanterman Auditorium, 4491 Cornishon Ave., La Cañada Flintridge; Sun., Oct. 8, 4 & 7 p.m., $25 in advance, $30 at door. http://LeighPurtillBallet.com.

The contemporary dance company Re:borN Dance Interactive offers One, an interactive performance blending dance, music, and projection in a gallery setting. SAVANT NoBo, 835 N. Broadway, downtown; Sat., Oct. 7, 8 p.m., $20, $15 students & seniors. https://artful.ly/store/events/13554.

Deliberately geared to coincide with Abbot Kinney Blvd.’s First Fridays, High Voltage offers an entertaining alternative usually with a lot of dance. When the food trucks and crowds on Abbot Kinney get tiring head over to see Toni Pasion, Barry Brannum, Rasika Mathur, Mario Flores, Mr. E aka Black Lit, and Cheryl Fidelman with Josh Berkowitz who also hosts. Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Fri., Oct. 6, 8:30 p.m., $10. http://electriclodge.org.

Hosted at a private home, the Lineage Gala supports Pasadena’s Lineage Dance and includes a performance, dinner and a silent auction. Private residence, address provided upon reservation; Sat., Oct. 7, 6:30 p.m., $150. https://lineagedance.secure.force.com/ticket/#sections_a0F1600000mVtivEAC.

This Side Door Soirée offers hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a first look at the latest from Jacob Jonas The Company. Marc Selwyn Fine Art, 9953 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Thurs., Oct. 12, 6:30 p.m., $150. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/side-door-soiree-tickets-37320320082.

Come watch or join in as the free Dance Sundays series returns, opening with Salsa Sunday taught by Debbie Allen and Lyrik Cruz. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Sun., Oct. 8, noon, free. http://thewallis.org.

The story of a dancer with Batsheva Dance Company who left Israel to return to the U.S. and found a new definition of herself and of dance, Elvira Lind’s documentary Bobbi Jene won multiple awards at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and now opens in L.A. Royal Theater, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., W.L.A.; opens Fri. Oct. 6, 1, 3:20, 5:40, 8 & 10:15 p.m., $13, $10 seniors & children under 11. https://www.laemmle.com/films/42876.

Ann Haskins‘ blog appears at CulturalWeekly.com