Armenian dance in Hollywood; Canadian ballet in Northridge; A.I. dances downtown; new contemporary choreography in Frogtown, Hollywood, Arts District, Long Beach, and downtown; ballet on tour in Glendale; more SoCal dance this week, plus a peek at next week.
A little help from friends
Under the banner, Encore Performance, Canadian contemporary ballet company Ballet BC gets some local help this visit as students from USC Kaufman School of Dance augment the company dancers for Shahar Binyamini’s highly praised take on Ravel’s Bolero that swells with dancers as the music builds to its crescendo. The program also includes Sway by Medhi Walerski and a new work from Sofia Nappi. The Soraya Center for the Arts, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat., Nov. 15, 8 pm, $46-$94. Ballet BC
Ballet BC, photo courtesy of the artists
Triptych of week 2
Dance from Gabriela Burdsall is one-third of the 22nd Annual New Original Works (NOW) Festival Week 2. Burdsall’s solo, Meneo, includes a nod to Caribbean social dance. She shares the evening with a comedy-horror play titled Mommy, and an opera Thresholds. Saturday’s show offers a streaming option. Details at the website. Disney Hall, REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., Downtown LA; Thurs.-Sat., Nov. 13-15, 8 pm, $25. REDCAT NOW
Gabriela Burdsall. Photo by Argel Rojo
Triptych of new week 3
With Week 3, this year’s REDCAT New Original Works (NOW) Festival wraps up. Lu Coy draws on movement to consider Tecciztecatl—a gender-expansive Mexica moon deity, jeremy de’jon guyton offers “autofiction” of his family’s move west, and Luna Izpisua Rodriguez presents a theatrical prism examining home and land ownership and dispossession. Saturday’s show offers a streaming option. Details at the website. Disney Hall, REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., Downtown LA; Thurs.-Sat., Nov. 20-22, 8 pm, $25. REDCAT NOW
jeremy de’jon guyton. Photo courtesy of the artist
Thank you for your service
Continuing its impressive work with military veterans, Diavolo offers performances of Escape. Vets and dancer/gymnasts move inside, outside, over and through the often outsized architectural structures that are signature elements of Jacques Heim’s choreography, this time up close and personal in the intimate studio setting. Proceeds support ongoing military and educational programs. L’Espace Diavolo Studios, 616 Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 6 pm, thru Sun., Nov. 23, 6 pm, $51.74-$93.14. Diavolo – Escape
Diavolo Veterans Project. Photo by George Simian.
When the time is ripe
Invertigo Dance Theatre follows up artistic director Laura Karlin’s highly praised Formulae & Fairy Tales with a preview of their current project, Siren Songs at the Harpy Café. The new work is described as exploring “a world where women reclaim their voices and find strength in vulnerability.” The company and Karlin are known for taking their time, Formulae incubated for several years during which the company previewed tantalizing segments as the work matured into its final polished product exploring the life of Alan Turing, the mathematical genius who led the WWII decoding of the Nazi ‘Enigma Machine’ only to be prosecuted for homosexuality. This sampling promises a similar early taste of what’s to come. Renberg Theatre, LA LGBT Center, 1125 N. McCadden Pl., Hollywood; Sat., Nov. 15, 7 pm, $20. Invertigo Dance Theatre
Invertigo Dance Theatre. Photo courtesy of the artists
Tech movement
Among the video and filmed dance offerings at The Music Center’s Innovation Social: Connection Through Movement, is a live performance of Rhythmic Wave by Aya Umoh that blends Nigerian dance with projected digital avatars. Free reservations and details on all the evening’s offerings are at Connection Through Movement. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Founder’s Room, Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Fri., Nov. 14, 6 – 9 pm, free w/reservation at Connection Through Movement
Know the story?
Led by Janet Roston, the contemporary dance company Mixed eMotion Theatrix partners with the LA LGBT Center for So You Know, Stories in Motion, The Queer Community. Performers draw from dance and theater to capture the life, loves and sorrows drawn from real individuals’ personal stories. Renberg Theatre, 1125 N. McCadden Pl., Hollywood; Thurs., Nov. 13, 7 pm, $24.98-$71.99. Mixed e-Motion
Mixed eMotion Theatrix (MeMT). Photo by Barry Weiss
Quorum and in session
The latest installment of the salon-style platform Congress: Volume XII showcases Jasmine Albuquerque, Rubberlegz/Kynetiqs, Tracy Phillips, Lucas Debiasi, Maria Bermudéz, Tyrik Patterson, Darrel ‘Friidom’ Dunn, Chaz Buzan + Genna Carey. Cocktail hour at 6:30 pm precedes the show. 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Downtown LA Arts District; Fri.-Sun., Nov. 14-16, 8 pm, $55-$85. Congress
Darrel “Friidom” Dunn’s “Mosaic” with Alyse Rockett. Photo by Steven Vargas
Shall they dance?
The 1910’s social dance culture epitomized by Irene and Vernon Castle is the starting point for VULGAR, Mizrahi Moves‘ critique of the era’s rigid moral and gender norms. EVERYTHING, 500 S. Victory Blvd., Burbank; Fri-Sat., Nov. 14-15, 8 pm, $23.18-$49.87. Mizrahi Moves
They also “do”
Choreography from Cal State University Long Beach faculty members is danced by students in CSULB Dance in Concert. Dances from Rebecca Bryant, Lorin Johnson, Rebecca Lemme, Andrew Vaca, Tsiambwom M. Akuchu & Danzel Thompson-Stout are featured plus a contribution by guest Tashara Gavin-Moorehead. Cal State University Long Beach, Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theater, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach; Thurs.-Fri., Nov. 20-21, 8 pm, Sat., Nov. 22, 2 & 8 pm, $30, $20 students. CSULB Dance in Concert
Rebecca Lemme, part of CSULB Dance in Concert Photo courtesy of the artists
Dance into the mic
Continuing its commitment to showcase new work from LA-based choreographers, MashUp Contemporary Dance offers a new edition of Choreography Open Mic Night. This time, choreographers offering a taste of their work include Brigitte Smeza, Effie Spence, Jayde Spiegel, Kaite Mcculia, Marissa Mahoney, Nathan Makolandra, Sierra Tanji, and Patti Yankosky. Pickle Factory, 2828 Gilroy St., Frogtown; Sat., Nov. 15, 7:30 pm, $15. MashUp Open Mic
Another lost shoe
The touring company World Ballet Company stops off with its Cinderella. No info on the choreographer or casting. Music is recorded. The Alex Theater, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Sat., Nov. 15, 7 pm, $53-$182. https://www.thealex.com/shows
Barekamutiun Dance. Photo courtesy of the artists
Hooray for 25
With dancers ranging from youth to adult, Barekamutiun Dance celebrates its 25th Anniversary with a concert ranging from traditional Armenian dance to contemporary moves. Dolby Theatre, Hollywood & Highland, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Sun., Nov. 16, 6:30 pm, $77-$255. Ticketmaster
A Peek at Next Week (November 21-27)
LA Contemporary Dance Company – Story (Un)Structured at LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Downtown Arts District; Fri.,-Sat., Nov. 21-22, 7:30 pm, Sun., Nov. 23, 2 & 6 pm, $20-$60. LA Contemporary Dance Company
Maya Billig & Camila Arana at Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Nov. 21-22, 8 pm, $25.63. Maya Billig & Camila Arana
Momix – Alice at the Soraya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat., Nov. 22, 3 pm, $46-$94. Momix – Alice
MOMIX – Alice – Photo courtesy of The Carpenter Center
Kenny Endo – 50 Years of Taiko at Aratani Theatre, 244 San Pedro St., Little Tokyo; Sat., Nov. 22, 7:30 pm, $35-$55 (plus $3.50 – $5.50 fee). Kenny Endo
World Ballet Company – The Great Gatsby at the Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara; Sun., Nov. 23, 6 pm, $54-$129. https://ticketing.granadasb.org/20771/20772
Featured Image: Ballet BC – photo by Marcus Eriksson
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
