New York contemporary company visits in Irvine; improvisational performance downtown; AIDS’ impact considered in University Park; rooting for the Greeks in Hollywood; more SoCal dance this week, plus a peek at next week.
Improvising for real
Can a rehearsal be a performance? Find out at Jacklean (in rehearsal) as Mariana Valencia brings gesture, social dance, freestyle, and postmodern dance to improvise with musician Jazmin “Jazzy” Romero’s polyvocal repertoire of cumbia, punk, jazz, and electronic music. REDCAT, Disney Hall, 631 2nd St., downtown; Thurs.-Fri., April 24-25, 8:30 pm, $27, $22 students. https://www.redcat.org/events/2025/mariana-valencia
Mariana Valencia. Photo courtesy of the artist
Contemporary with wry
Since founding his New York-based Parsons Dance Company in 1985, David Parson has choreographed an array of highly praised contemporary dances. Ironically, one of the most popular and inventive, captures airborne stillness, not movement. In Parson’s Caught, a solo dancer has a series of leaps in the dark, each momentarily illuminated in strobe light, as if the dancer is suspended in mid-air, an effect that invariably delights the audience. Parsons has shared that the effect involves timing and technology. That same blend of technique, theatricality, and often a wry sense of humor has become the popular company’s distinguishing characteristics. Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Thurs., April 17, 8 pm, $34-$130. https://www.thebarclay.org/Online/default.asp
Parsons Dance Company. Photo by Lois Greenfield
Impactful
Spanish dancer/choreographer Aimar Pérez Galí teams with Venezuelan dancer Daniel Méndez Piña to focus on AIDS’ impact on the queer dance world. Performance of A System in Collapse Is a System Moving Forward is followed by a discussion and reception. USC, Joyce J Cammilleri Hall, 3620 McClintock Ave., University Park; Wed., April 16, 7 pm, free w/reservation at https://visionsandvoices.usc.edu/events/46668983991694
Aimar Pérez Galí & Daniel Méndez Piña. Photo courtesy of the artists
Greek roots
Choreographer/dancer Esther Mira is part of the creative team and also dances in the cast of Hellas, written and directed by Christopher William Johnson. This new play surveys the Greek roots of western civilization, complete with dance and fight choreography. The saga is present in part on Fridays, while Saturday and Sunday offer the full marathon production. The Broadwater Mainstage, 1076 Lillian Way, Hollywood; Fri., 7:30 pm, Sat.-Sun, 2 pm, thru May 11, $25-$30, $20-$25 students. https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/school-of-night/hellas
Hellas. Photo courtesy of the artists
A Peek at Next Week 4-25 to 05-01
Chester Whitmore & Del Atkins at Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre; Sun., April 27, 7:30 pm, $12-$35. https://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org/
Dance & Dialogue – Celebrate LA at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. 8th St., Hancock Park; Wed., April 30, 7:30 pm, free w/reservation at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dance-and-dialogue-presents-celebrate-la-tickets-1055395268659
Louise Reichlin & Dancers/ Los Angeles Choreographers & Dancers at Taxco Theatre, 7242 Owensmouth Ave., Canoga Park; Sat., April 26, 2 & 4 pm, $30, $20 seniors. https://joyousandmoving.brownpapertickets.com
LA Dances Graham 100 at the Soraya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat., April 26, 8 pm, only $60 tickets available at press time. https://thesoraya.org/whats-on/en/la-dances-graham100/
Lula Washington Dance Theatre – photo by Asiko
Lynn Modell/Making Dances – Interesting Women at Lineage Performing Arts Center, 920 E. Mountain St., Pasadena; Sat., April 26, 8 pm, Sun., April 27, 3 pm, $26 presale, $30 at door. https://interestingwomen.brownpapertickets.com/
Louise Reichlin & Dancers/ Los Angeles Choreographers & Dancers at Taxco Theatre, 7242 Owensmouth Ave., Canoga Park; Sat., April 26, 2 & 4 pm, $30, $20 seniors. https://joyousandmoving.brownpapertickets.com
Herman Conejo/MUSIQUE – Welcome to the Dream Factory at The Huntington, 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino; Wed., April 30, 7:30 pm. Also at The Wallis, 9390 N Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Sat., May 3, 7:30 pm, Sun., May 4, 2:30 & 7:30 pm, $75 donation for single admission, trial and season membership at https://www.muse-ique.com
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana – Quinto Elemento (Fifth Element) at Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Thurs., May 1, 8 pm, $34-$130. Get Seats!
LA Opera – Ainadamar at Music Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Sat., April 26 & May 3, 7:30 pm, Sun., May 4 & 18, 2 pm, Wed., May 7 & Thurs., May 15, 7:30 pm, $32.50- $296. Ainadamar – LA Opera
Astrologia – Eden Sunset, 6521 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; Fri.-Sat., May 2-3, 8 pm, Thurs.-Fri., May 8-9, 8 pm, Sat., May 10, 3 & 7 pm, $50-$1,500. Astrologia | Feel The Universe In Every Beat
Featured image: Parsons Dance Company – photo by Lois Greenfield
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
