Folkloric Christmas celebration in East LA, five local dance ensembles share the stage downtown, snowglobe dances in Santa Monica, Nutcracker ballets explode across the city, more live SoCal dance to the year’s end, and a peek at what’s coming next year.
Live This Week
Holiday hosting in a new home
Celebrating its first Christmas in its new home, Danza Floricanto/USA pays tribute to Mexican holiday traditions with Navidad en el Barrio. This is the 17th year for the company’s seasonal performance, the first at Casa del Mexicano, 2900 Calle Pedro Infante, E.LA; Sat., Dec. 18, 7 pm, $10, $15 at door. www.danzafloricantousa.org/store-1 or 213-466-2611.
Danza Floricanto/USA. Photo by Frank Sandoval.
LA dances at the Music Center
Five SoCal dance ensembles are among the 20 musical groups performing live in this year’s three-hour Music Center Holiday Celebration. Dembrebrah West African Drum and Dance, contributes Koredjuga, from the border of Mali and Guinea. Directed by Riverdance alum Maeve Croke, the Celtic Irish Dance Academy brings quick stepping Irish dance and Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy returns with Geom-mu, a Korean sword dance. Kathak dance from North India is the offered by Leela Youth Dance Company while Pacifico Dance Company brings folkloric dance and music that reflects the Peruvian influences evident in the Mexican state of Guerrero. At the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., Dec. 24, 3-6 pm, free (and free parking!). Details and Covid protocols at https://www.musiccenter.org/tickets/events-by-the-music-center/holidaycelebration/ Also simulcast and live streamed, details at pbssocal.org/holidaycelebration and kcet.org/holidaycelebration.
Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy. Photo by Gennia Cui.
Globe dancing
Shoppers can enjoy some seasonal dance with the high-kicking ladies of The Beach Belles & a Ballerina in a Snow Globe, both performing at Santa Monica Place, 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica; daily, Fri., Dec. 17 to Fri., Dec. 24, 3 to 7:30 pm, free. Details and Covid protocols at Santa Monica Place.
The Beach Belles. Photo by Mathew Tucciarone
A touch of Irish for the season
Irish dance is part of the music and song-filled Celtic Angels Christmas. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Dr., Cerritos; Wed., Dec. 22, 8 pm, $40-$60. Details, tickets & Covid protocols at https://www.cerritoscenter.com/
Last to roll out
In January 2021, LA choreographer Jacob Jonas and his Jacob Jonas/The Company began a weekly roll out of 15 short dance films with artists from around the world under the banner Films.Dance. The project earned boasting rights with many of the films later winning film festival awards. This past September, a second edition Films.Dance Round Two began, again with dance, dancers, and filmmakers from around the world rolled out one week at a time. The last of original films premiere on Dec., 20, but the entire roster continues to be available for viewing at Films.Dance.
“Films.Dance Round 2.” Photo courtesy of the artists.
Post-modern rituals
The first-ever retrospective of the work of choreographer and video artist Blondell Cummings: Dance as Moving Pictures includes videos, interviews, and photographs continue at Art+Practice, 3401 W. 43rd Pl., Leimert Park; Wed.-Sat., noon-6 pm, to Feb. 19, 2022, free. Research guide at Getty Research Institute, exhibition at Art+Practice.
Photo by Blondell Cummings.
Museum moves
Performance and dance are the metier of several artists in both of this museum’s big fall exhibits, Witch Hunt and No Humans Involved at UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; Tues.-Sun., 11 am-6 pm to Jan. 22, 2022, free no reservation required. Details and Covid protocols at Hammer Museum.
This Week’s Major Nutcrackers
(See https://w3.ladancechronicle.com/the-nuts-are-back/ for full list of 2021 Nutcrackers)
Los Angeles Ballet at UCLA Royce Hall, 10745 Dickson Ct., Westwood; Fri., Dec. 17, 8 p.m., Sat.-Sun., Dec. 18-19, noon & 5 p.m. Also at Dolby Theater, Hollywood & Highland, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Thurs., Dec. 23, 8 pm, Fri., Dec. 24, noon, Sun., Dec. 26, 11 am & 4 pm. Details, tickets and Covid protocols at Los Angeles Ballet
Los Angeles Ballet’s “Nutcracker”. Photo by Reed Hutchinson
American Ballet Theatre at Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts, 600 Town Center Dr.,Costa Mesa; Wed.-Fri., Dec. 15-17, 7 pm, Sat., Dec. 18, 2 pm & 7 pm, Sun., Dec 12 & 19, 12:30 & 5:30 pm, Wed.-Thurs., Dec. 15-16, 7 pm. Details, tickets and Covid protocols at https://scfta.org/
American Ballet Theatre. Photo by Gene Schiavone.
A Peek at Next Year
Dance Camera West at Theatre Raymond Kabbaz, W.LA; Thurs.-Sat., Jan.6-8 https://trkdcwintldance.eventive.org/welcome
Shade Théret – Dance at the Odyssey – Photo courtesy of the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
Shade Théret opens Dance at the Odyssey at Odyssey Theatre, W.LA, Sat., Jan. 8. https://odysseytheatre.com/
Shen Yun at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa; Sat., Jan. 1, 1 & 6 pm. https://www.shenyun.com/tickets
Salute to Vienna. Photo courtesy of the artists
Salute to Vienna at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., Jan. 1, 7 pm. Also at Disney Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown; Sun., Jan. 2, 2:30 pm. https://www.salutetovienna.com/concerts2
