Dance and drumming celebrate Kwanzaa in Baldwin Hills; Austrian visitors mark the new year with waltzes and ballet in Costa Mesa and Downtown LA; a ballet about Santa’s enforcer in Venice Beach; the parade of Nutcracker ballets continue; plus a peek at next week (January 2-8).
Live This Week
Kwanzaa time
Three chances to enjoy the annual Kwanzaa celebrations with live jazz, drumming, and dance from Lula Washington Dance Theatre. On Sunday and Monday, the 45th Anniversary Kwanzaa Celebration has two family-friendly shows. On Saturday, the higher ticket Umoja Circle additionally includes a reception and sneak peek film screening of Los Angeles African Drum and Dance Legacy by Marcus L. Miller. Lula Washington Dance Theatre, 3773 Crenshaw Blvd., Baldwin Hills; Umoja Circle – Sat., Dec. 27, 5 pm, $250+, LWDT-Umoja Circle. Also 45th Anniversary Kwanzaa Celebration – Sun., Dec. 28, 3 pm, & Mon., Dec. 29, 6 pm, $49.87, $39.19 students/seniors, $17.85 children under 12 years. 45th Anniversary Kwanzaa Celebration
Lula Washington Dance Theatre – Photo courtesy of the artists.
Mit schlag and champagne
Vienna’s famous Neujahrskonzert (New Year’s Concert) with dancers performing in one of Vienna’s elaborate palaces evokes an era when the Hapsburgs ruled the Austro-Hungarian empire, setting the European standard for celebratory concerts. Even today, the dancing, along with music and opera selections, are performed for a live (and presumably shivering) Viennese audience and also broadcast nationally, easily vying with New York City’s crystal-ball countdown. Offering a taste of the Neujahrskonzert, Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert tours annually with waltzes, polka, ballet, singing and lots of music provided by the Strauss Symphony of America. This year, the dancers are from San Diego Ballet, not Austria. Like Vienna pastry, the concert is definitely mit schlag, but a fun way to stretch the season with a post-concert glass of champagne before committing to those resolutions. Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Sun., Dec. 28, 2:30 pm, $61-$171. Salute to Vienna Los Angeles Also at Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Tues., Dec. 30, 8 pm, $55.37 – $157.07. Salute to Vienna-Segerstrom
Salute to Vienna. Photo courtesy of the artists
A different seasoning
For those who want a bit of fright to spice their seasonal eggnog, The Realm Company returns with artistic director Chasen Greenwood’s Krampus. Better known in Eastern Europe, the rather demonic Krampus allegedly follows St. Nick to deliver distress to children not the ‘good’ list. Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Sat., Dec. 27, 7 pm, Sun., Dec. 28, 3 pm, $58.90-$106.17. The Realm Company-Krampus.
The Realm Company – photo by Hannah Cox Photography.
Find this week’s Nutcrackers here: Link to Nutcrackers 2025
A Peek at Next Week (January 2 to 8)
Neaz Kohani and Owen Scarlett – Dance at the Odyssey at Odyssey Theatre 2, 2955 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Thurs.-Sat., Jan. 8-10, 8 pm, Sun., Jan. 11, 2 pm, $25 (+$3 for credit cards). Dance At the Odyssey
Owen Scarlett at Dance at the Odyssey Festival – photo by Katie Rose Nartker
Teresa Toogie Barcelo – Dance at the Odyssey at Odyssey Theatre 3, 2955 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Fri.-Sat., Jan. 9-10, 8 pm, Sun., Jan. 11, 2 pm, $25 (+$3 for credit cards). Dance At the Odyssey
Teresa Toogie Barcelo in Dance at the Odyssey Festival. Photo by McCal Olsen
Featured photo: Salute to Vienna – photo courtesy of the artists
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
