Multi-media dance in Brentwood; contemporary choreography in Koreatown and Thousand Oaks; dance infiltrates a play in Pasadena and a theater fest in North Hollywood; Latin dance downtown; Mexican folkloric in Costa Mesa; dancers back a guitarist in Cerritos, Santa Barbara, Riverside, and Thousand Oaks; more SoCal dance this week, plus a peek at next week.
For the art
Movement, music, and ritual are braided together by multi-media artist Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons with sounds from Kamaal Malak & The Funk. Announced performers include Dell Hamilton, Helina Metaferia, Coco Villa, Temeka Gaither-Brown, Peyton Brown, and LaTasha Diggs, with musicians Samuel Alexandre, Kevin Jackson, KayShyne, and Calvin Rodgers. Getty Center, Harold J. Williams Auditorium, 1200 Getty Center Dr., Brentwood; Sat., March 22, 5 pm, free w/reservation at https://www.getty.edu/calendar/campos-pons-performance/
Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons. Photo courtesy of the artist
Femme fatale redux
Since its premiere in 1875, Bizet’s tale of ill-fated firebrand Carmen has fascinated opera-goers and spawned dance and film versions. On Carmen’s 150th anniversary, Ballet Hispánico brings choreographer Gustavo Ramírez Sansano’s reimagined version that takes inspiration from artist Pablo Picasso and his imagery of the bull. Fred Kavli Theatre, Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; Thurs., March 20, 7:30 pm, $60.25 – $75.65. https://bapacthousandoaks.com/show-details/ballet-hispanico-carmenmaquia
Ballet Hispanico Photo courtesy of the artists
Something new, something familiar
The excellent contemporary company BODYTRAFFIC opens its studios for three evenings, performing the newest work from company member Joan Rodriguez along with dances from the repertory. At press time, Tuesday night is full; tickets remain available for the other two shows. BODYTRAFFIC Studios, 3435 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200, Koreatown; Tues.-Thurs., March 18-20, 7 pm, free with reservation at https://www.bodytraffic.com/performances/home-season
BODYTRAFFIC. Photo courtesy of the artists
A welcome border crossing
Mexican folkloric dance is so prevalent today, it is hard to capture the impact when Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández first appeared and presented regional Mexican dances in a concert setting. The name was expanded to reference the visionary founder and distinguish it from the plethora of folkloric efforts it spawned. The celebrated company stops off this week at the last of three local venues with a repertoire that includes its consideration of ancient Aztecan movement in the audience-pleasing Deer Dance. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., March 22, 7:30 pm, $32.77-$77.97. https://www.scfta.org/events/2025/ballet-folklorico-de-mexico
Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández – Fiesta en Jalisco – Photo courtesy of The Music Center
The stage calls
Presented by the LA Women’s Theatre Festival, the 32nd Annual Solo Festival features a lot of dance solos among the theater offerings. The kickoff is a champagne gala and awards ceremony that includes a performance by Vannia Ibarguen. Among the five shows that follow, Maggie Cee, Mayuri Bhandari, Laura Elaine Ellis, and Sona Lewis present dance and the Saturday matinee is co-hosted by Lula Washington and Rosie Lee Hooks. Theatre 68, 5112 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood; Thurs.-Fri., March 27-28, 8 pm, Sat., March 29, 3 & 8 pm, Sun., March 30, 3 & 7 pm, $20-$150. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stronger-together-lawtfs-32nd-annual-solo-festival-tickets-1123330484719
L.A. Women’s Theatre Festival (LAWTF)’s Vannia Ibarguen. Photo by Prin Rodriguez.
Another stage calls
Choreographer Paul McGill provides the movement in John Anthony Loffredo’s Frou-Frou: A Menagerie of Sorts, a reconstructed/deconstructed/skewed view of Tennessee Wiliams’ The Glass Menagerie. Reviews of the new work praised McGill’s moves for Patrick Reilly as the son, reinvisioned as an aspiring ballerina, with a culminating male duet in the play’s last act. Boston Court, 70 N. Mentor Dr., Pasadena; Fri.-Sat., March 21-22 & Thurs.-Sat., March 27-29, 7:30 pm, Sun., March 23 & 30, 2 pm, $20-$67. https://bostoncourtpasadena.org/events/froufrou/
Patrick Reilly in Frou-Frou: A Menagerie of Sorts. Photo by Brian Hashimoto
Jazzy homecoming
Over four weekends, American Contemporary Ballet alternates two works from its repertory. Jazz music and its world are the subject of Jazz, while Homecoming pays tribute to high school and marching bands. In addition to the choreography from artistic director Lincoln Jones, each evening involves refreshments and live music. ACB Studios, Bank of America Plaza, 333 S Hope St, Suite C-150, downtown; Jazz – Fri., March 21, & Thurs., March 20, 8 pm, Homecoming – Thurs.-Sat., March 27-29, 8 pm, $65-$140. https://www.acbdances.com/
American Contemporary Ballet – “Jazz”, created by Lincoln Jones – Photo by Anastasia Petukhova.
Diverse Dancing
Known for his prowess on the guitar, Benise is also known as a consummate showman with dancers playing a central role with music from Spanish flamenco, salsa, samba, and the waltz. A frequent SoCal visitor, this tour’s banner is 25 Years of Passion with stops now, and later this fall. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Dr., Cerritos; Sat., March 22, 7:30 pm, $54-$94. https://am.ticketmaster.com/cerritos/buy. Also at Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Ave., Riverside; Sat., Sept. 13, 7:30 pm, $57-$123. https://www.bandsintown.com/e/1033584986. Also at Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara; Fri., Oct. 10, 7:30 pm, $46.50-$102.50. https://www.lobero.org/events/benise-25-years-of-passion-2025/. Also at Fred Kavli Theatre, Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; Sat., Oct. 11, 7:30 pm, $33-$113. https://www.ticketmaster.com/benise-thousand-oaks-california-10-11-2025/event/0B006174D9C42537
Benise. Photo courtesy of the artists
Can’t wait for summer?
Celebrating LA’s resilience after the devastating wildfires and the power of dance for community and healing, the summer Friday night dance series Music Center Dance DTLA offers a Special Edition. With spring nites not always as welcoming as summer evenings, the event moves across the street from its summer Music Center Plaza venue to Disney Hall, offering a choice of indoor and outdoor locations to dance or watch. A lesson led by Latin dance troupe Contra Tiempo precedes the dance session. This summer’s dance genres will be previewed by DJs in both locations. Summer is coming. Walt Disney Concert Hall, BP Hall and Blue Ribbon Garden, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., March 28, 7 pm, free w/reservation at musiccenter.org/dancedtlaspecial
CONTRA-TIEMPO Urban Latin Dance. Photo courtesy of the artists.
DEI is alive and thriving
For its annual gala showcasing established and emerging dance troupes, TuTu Ballet presents eight diverse dance styles from across the dance spectrum. Announced performers include Claudio Otero & Anahi Barrios (Argentine tango), Ngā Ānahera Māori (traditional Māori), Powerhouse!!! Percussive Dance & the Bon Family Cloggers (clogging), Reverb Tap Company (Tap), The Rollettes (Wheelchair), Sadie Black & Co. (ballet), 3âm Dance (Vietnamese). and organization founder/host Mary Tu (ballet and Chinese dance). James R. Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance; Sat., March 22, 7:30 pm, $15. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lipstick-shoes-fancy-moves-2025-an-evening-of-dance-tickets-1252283085419
Sadie Black & Co. Photo courtesy of the artists
Influential events
Originally commissioned for the Egyptian Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale, the film installation Drama 1882 from Wael Shawky considers the events that countered a revolt against European colonial influence, resulting in Britain cementing its control of Egypt for another seven decades. Adapting the storied events into the form of an opera and performed in classical Arabic, Shawky choreographed, wrote, scored, and directed. This event is the latest in the museum’s Wonmi’s WAREHOUSE Programs. WAREHOUSE, MOCA Geffen Contemporary, 152 N. Central Ave., Little Tokyo; Thurs. – Sun., thru March 16, 11 am, free w/reservation at https://moca.ticketapp.org/portal/product/288/events
Wael Shawky. Photo courtesy of the artist
A Peek at Next Week
American Ballet Theatre – A Winter’s Tale at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Thurs.-Fri., April 3-4, 7:30 pm, Sat., April 5, 2 & 7:30 pm, Sun., April 6, 1 pm, $44.07-$157.07. https://www.scfta.org/events/2025/the-winter-s-tale
Adanza – Show Me Your Dreams at Eastwood Performing Arts Center, 1089 N. Oxford Ave., Hollywood; Fri., March 21 & 28, April 4, 7 pm, Sat., March 22 & 29, April 5, 3 & 7 pm, Sun., March 23 & 30, 2 & 6 pm, thru April 5. $46. https://www.adanzamusical.com/
Louise Reichlin & Dancers/ Los Angeles Choreographers & Dancers at Culver City Senior Center, 4095 Overland Ave., Culver City; Sat., March 29, 1:30 pm, free. https://www.lachoreographersanddancers.org/
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in “Revelations.” Photo courtesy of the artists
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at Music Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Wed.-Sun., April 2-6, 7:30 pm, Sat. & Sun., April 5-6, 2 pm, $49-$179. https://www.musiccenter.org/tickets-free-events/tmc-arts/dance/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater/
State Street Ballet – Evenings at Gail Towbes Center for Dance, 2285 Las Positas Road, Santa Barbara; Fri.-Sat., March 28-29, 7:30 pm, $30 in advance, $35 at door, space permitting. https://form.jotform.com/250695097785171
We Call it Ballet at Nocturne Theater, 324 N. Orange St., Glendale; Sat., March 29, 4 pm, $39. https://wecallitexperiences.com/ballet/
Featured image: BODYTRAFFIC – photo courtesy of the artists
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
