This week live dance tilts toward West LA where a festival adds a second theater; Thousand Oaks hosts a fairytale ballet; plus a peek at next week as more dance returns to LA stages.
Live This Week
It’s nice to share
Opening the 9th year of Dance at the Odyssey, founder Barbara Műller-Wittmann, expands the festival to a second theater, with the two theaters simultaneously presenting dance for six weeks to February 15. Sharing the opening show, Neaz Kohani and Owen Scarlett offer two different takes on contemporary dance. Kohani draws on dance, spoken word, and live music to consider female wisdom keepers and traditional healers in SHE IS MY SISTER. In his world premiere GASP, Scarlett evokes a pastoral setting where two creatures find mutual understanding and self discovery. Full line up at the website. 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 – GASP – Photo by Katie Rose Nartker
Together again
Opening the second theater for this year’s Dance at the Odyssey festival, choreographer Teresa Toogie Barcelo reunites with composer Joe Berry (of electronic band M83) for the world premiere of their duet, SOUNDBODY. The artists describe the work as merging ‘movement, breath, and sound.’ With the festival expanding to two theaters simultaneously presenting dance, an avid dance fan can enjoy two shows in one trip. Complete festival line up at the website. 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
White out
The Grimm Brothers fairy tale about an ousted princess, her jealous stepmother, seven friends who help make things right, and a kissing prince is the latest offering as the Grand Kyiv Ballet tours its Snow White to two SoCal venues. From its base in Washington state, this touring company is home to dancers with Ukrainian connections who sought US refuge after the Soviet Invasion. Fred Kavli Theatre, Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, Fri., Jan. 2, 7 pm, $64.65-$152.85. Grand Kyiv-Thousand Oaks. Also at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. 8th St., Hancock Park; Thurs., Feb. 26, 7 pm, $49-$79. Grand Kyiv-Wilshire Ebell
Grand Kyiv Ballet in Snow White. Photo courtesy of the artists
A Peek at Next Week (Jan. 9-15)
Hunter Wayne Foster and Camila Arana – Dance at the Odyssey at Odyssey Theatre 2, 2955 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Thurs.-Sat., Jan. 15-17, 8 pm, Sun., Jan. 18, 2 pm, $25 (+$3 for credit cards). Dance At the Odyssey
Kevin Williamson – Dance at the Odyssey at Odyssey Theatre 3, 2955 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Thurs.-Sat., Jan. 15-17, 8 pm, $25 (+$3 for credit cards). Dance At the Odyssey
Hao Huang and Kevin Williamson – blue and beast – Photo by Taso Papadakis
Elevation Studios & Off the Floor – Dreamscapes at the Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno; Sat., Jan. 10, 7:30 pm, Sun., Jan. 11, 6:30 pm, $33.85, $28.52 student Elevation Studios
The Wiz at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; opens Tues., Jan 13, 7:30 pm, then Tues.-Fri., Jan. 13-16 & 20-23, Sat., Jan. 17 & 24, 2 & 7:30 pm, Sun., Jan. 18 & 25, 1 & 6:30 pm, $44-$159. The Wiz
Featured image: Neaz Kohani – Dance at the Odyssey – photo by Hanako Doerr
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
