Mansion dancing in Beverly Hills; storybook ballet in Hollywood; bi-coastal dancers in Westwood; contemporary ballet in Beverly/Fairfax; park dancing in Echo Park; contemporary choreography in Los Alamitos, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Lincoln Heights; more SoCal dance this week, and a peek at what’s coming next week.
Live This Week
Choreographer trio
Led by artistic director Benjamin Millepied, the contemporary company LA Dance Project returns to this venue with its superb dancers in a triptych program. LADP artists-in-residence Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber reprise their Quartet for Five. Former New York City Ballet principal dancer and former LADP dancer Janie Taylor continues to expand her dancemaking with Sleepwalker’s Encyclopedia. Millepied contributes Triade, an homage to his mentor Jerome Robbins. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Fri., June 13, 7:30 pm, Sat., June 14, 2 & 7:30 pm, $53-86.90. LA Dance Project
Los Angeles Dance Project. Photo courtesy of the artists
On Gatsby’s centenary
Once an LA oil magnate’s estate, the elegant Greystone Mansion provides a pitch-perfect, luxe setting for Gatsby Redux, Janet Roston’s site specific consideration of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Roston and her Mixed eMotion Theatrix lead audiences through the mansion and grounds with music, text, and dancing that conjures up Gatsby’s world of jazz- age privilege, poverty, and tragic romantic entanglements. Appropriate dress and footwear are recommended for the mostly outside performance that involves walking and stairs. Greystone Mansion & Gardens, 905 Loma Vista Dr., Beverly Hills; Thurs.- Sun., June 5-8 & Wed.-Sat. June 12-14, 7 pm, $30. https://beverlyhills.org/1327/Gatsby-Redux
Mixed eMotion Theatrix “Gatsby Redux” – Photo by Barry Weiss.
Unblended family
Expect a shoeless heroine as Los Angeles Ballet unveils Edwaard Liang’s Cinderella, backed by a live orchestra. Liang, the incoming artistic director of DC’s Washington Ballet, created his version of the storybook ballet in 2015, during his time as artistic director of Columbus, Ohio’s BalletMet. Liang and LAB’s artistic director Melissa Barak danced together at New York City Ballet before launching their careers as choreographers and artistic directors. Dolby Theater, Hollywood & Highland, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Thurs.- Sat., June 12-14, 7:30 pm, Sat.-Sun., June 14-15, 2 pm, $62-$161 (w/fees but wo/taxes) LAB Cinderella
Los Angeles Ballet “Cinderella.” Photo by Cheryl Mann
Bi-Coastal
Local dancers Jay Carlon and Evelyn Sanchez join New York movers Justin Faircloth and Wendell Gray in Super Nothing from choreographer Miguel Gutierrez. The work has the quartet navigating shifting physical and emotional terrain. UCLA Freud Playhouse, McGowan Hall, 245 Charles E. Young Dr. East, Westwood; Fri.-St., June 13-14, 8 pm, $38.08. Miguel Gutierrez
Miguel Gutierrez. Photo courtesy of the artist
Consumerism
Fusing a variety of street dance genres, Tsiambwom M. Akucghu explores how a consumer-driven world defines race, masculinity and identity in Market Demographics. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., June 13-14, 8 pm, $30.75 (w/fees) Performance | Highways |
Tsiambwom M. Akucghu. Photo courtesy of the artist
Avoi-dance
In choreographer Zoe Rappaport’s A/VOID, an eclectic ensemble of dancers leads the audience through the ten-thousand foot light and sound installation Chromasonic Field, responding to the evolving light and sound frequencies. Chromasonic Field, 677 Imperial St., Downtown Arts District; Fri.-Sat., June 13-14, 7:30 & 9:30 pm, $35-$55. Zoe Rappaport
Zen Waterfold in Unspoken Words by Zoe Rappaport – Photo courtesy of the artist.
Out of bounds
Under the title Boundless, Kenneth Walker Dance Project offers its summer repertory concert with choreography by Walker for his athletic dancers. PDA Black Box, 4322 Katella Ave., 2nd Floor, Los Alamitos; Sun., June 15, $24.60 (w/fees). Kenneth Walker Dance Project
Kenneth Walker Dance Project. Photo by Scott Edwards
Family friendly
Under artistic director Adriana Astorga-Gainey, Pacifico Dance presents an hour-long, family-friendly presentation of traditional Mexican dance. Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre; Sat., June 14, 11 am, $12. Pacifico Dance Company
Pacifico Dance Company. Photo by Gennia Cui.
Tidal terpsichore
Tucked downtown where westbound 1st Street evolves into Glendale Blvd., Vista Hermosa Park provides the venue for this year’s edition of Ebb & Flow from the masterful site-specific performers at Heidi Duckler Dance. This free, family-friendly installment marks the first edition curated by incoming artistic director Raymond Ejiofor who selected this year’s movers, musicians and artists Tomoko Ozawa, Jeff Morical, Stephanie Kim and Zach Gold. Dress code is Park Casual. Vista Hermosa Park, 100 N. Toluca St., downtown; Sat., June 14, 2-4 pm, free w/reservation at Ebb & Flow
Heidi Duckler Dance’s “Ebb & Flow.” Photo courtesy of Heidi Duckler Dance
First of five
After matching 12 choreographers with 40 dancers for a two month residency sponsored by Deborah Brockus and her BrockusRed Dance Company, this weekend opens the first of five evenings showcasing what emerged. The opening event features choreographers Jill Gregory, Maryan Malmir, Moira Saxena, Charlotte Katherine, Summer Lee, and Chengyao Zhou. Brockus Project Studios Black Box Theater Space, Brewery Arts Complex, 618B Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; Sun., June 16, 22, & 29, 7 pm, Sat., June 21 & 28, $16. Zelle: 562-412-7429 ( Brockus Project Dance Company), Venmo@BrockusProjectStudios; Paypal www.BrockusProject.org.
Two for the toe shoes
The latest from American Contemporary Ballet is a shared bill with George Balanchine’s luminous Serenade and the premiere of The Euterpides with choreography by artistic director Lincoln Jones to music composed by 20-year old Alma Deutscher. Both works have live music. American Contemporary Ballet at Television City, 7800 Beverly Blvd., Stage 33, Beverly-Fairfax District; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, thru Sat., June 28, $65-$140. https://www.acbdances.com/sxiii-balanchine
American Contemporary Ballet. Photo by Will Davidson.
Coming from the fringe
From June 12 to 29, Hollywood Fringe Festival 2025 takes to various venues within a short radius, with performances that include dance and dance-influenced physical theater. Many of the performers are scheduled for multiple performances at different times on different days. The long list of performers, venues, days and times are at the website, and allows for a search that links to “dance/physical theater.” Various venues in Hollywood; Thurs., June 12 -Sun., June 29, various times. Hollywood Fringe Dance & Physical Theater
Shakespeare moves
Adapter, director and choreographer John Farmanesh–Bocca returns with Lear Redux: A Quantum Fantasia, the latest in his “Redux” series boldly reconsidering the classics. The event also reunites him with choreographic collaborators Not Man Apart-Physical Theatre Ensemble along with New American Theatre and the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble. Jack Stehlin tackles the part of King Lear, surrounded by Eve Danzeisen, Dennis Gersten, Dash Pepin, Jade Sealey, Ahkei Togun, and Emily Yetter. The Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., WLA; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm, Wed. June 25, 8 pm, thru Sun., July 13, $20-$43. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
LA Opera’s “Rigoletto” – Photo by Kyle Flubacker.
Dancers and clowns
When the LA Opera opened Verdi’s Rigoletto last week for six Music Center performances, it more closely resembled the 2023 Atlanta Opera production than the original 2019 and 2022 performances in Houston and Dallas, Texas, all directed by Tomer Zvulun. After the Texas shows, the director Zvulun tasked Atlanta-based choreographer Ricardo Aponte with lightening the dark tale of lust, revenge, and privileged cruelty with dancers and clowns. In addition to the dance moves, Aponte’s assignment included choreographing banana juggling into the opera. Music Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Thurs., June 12, Sun., June 15, 2 pm, Wed., June 18, & Sat., June 21, 7:30 pm. $37.50-$450. https://laopera.org/performances/2025/rigoletto
Life of Pi. Photo courtesy of the artists
Who needs CGI?
Jaw-dropping puppetry anchors The Life of Pi, the award-winning theatrical retelling of Yann Martel’s best-selling novel about a 16-year old shipwreck survivor adrift in a lifeboat with four animals, notably a Bengal tiger. Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell created the puppetry for the original, Olivier award-winning British production that went on to Broadway and won several Tony awards. Anyone who sniffs that puppetry isn’t dance or choreography should watch the multiple actors’ tightly orchestrated manipulations as well as the puppet’s choreographed moves, and then just shush up. Everyone else can sit back and marvel. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Thurs.-Fri., June 12-13, 7:30 pm, Sat., June 14, 2 & 7:30 pm, Sun., June 15, 1 & 6:30 pm, $44.07-$157.07. https://www.scfta.org/events/2025/life-of-pi
A Peek at Next Week (June 20-26)
Boston Ballet – Swan Lake at Music Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Thurs.-Fri., June 26-27, 7:30 pm, St., June 28, 1 & 7:30 pm, Sun., June 29, 2 pm, $49-$163. Boston Ballet
Miami City Ballet – Swan Lake at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Fri., June 20, 7:30 pm, Sat., June 21, 2 & 7:30 pm, Sun., June 22, 1 & 6 pm, $55.37-$236.17. https://www.scfta.org/
KAIROS Movement Collective – Dance at the Odyssey at Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Sat., June 21, 8 pm, $25, $60 festival pass. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
Kairos. Photo by Annie Kahane
Felicia St. Cyr – The Chronic Caucasian (Dance at the Odyssey) at Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Sun., June 22, 7 pm, $25, $60 festival pass. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
Yamini Kalluri & Vijay Gupta – When the Violin at Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre; Sat., June 21, 7:30 pm, $12-$35. www.sierramadreplayhouse.org
Little Women Ballet at Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena; Sat., June 22, 2 & 7 pm, Sun., June 23, 2 pm, $42-$42. Little Women-Pasadena Playhouse
Little Women Ballet – Photo courtesy of the company.
TRIN Dance Theatre – The Greatest Show on Earth (Dance at the Odyssey) at Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Thurs., June 26, 8 pm, $25, $60 festival pass. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
Contemporary Dance Stories at Korean Cultural Center of LA (KCCLA), LA Consulate General of the Republic of Korea, 5505 Wilshire Blvd., Hancock Park; Thurs., June 22, 7 pm, info at LADanceFestival@gmail.com
TOCApalooza at James Armstrong Theater, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance; Sat., June 21, 11 am – 5 pm, free with registration at TOCApalooza
Dance DTLA – Bollywood at the Music Center, Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., June 26, 7 pm, free. Music Center | Dance DTLA.
Featured image of Chengyao Zhou – photo courtesy of the artist
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
