A ballet anniversary marked in Beverly Hills; six of OC’s best dance companies together in Irvine; contemporary dance in Sylmar and West LA; South Asian dance in Orange; dance film fests in West LA, Downtown LA, and Los Feliz; musical theater dances into Costa Mesa; more SoCal dance this week, plus a peek at next week.
Live This Week (thru January 29)
Terpsichorean tasting menu
Anytime a dance fan can sample multiple, significant dance companies in one show, attention must be paid. The vitality and variety of dance in Orange County is celebrated at one of its most dance supportive venues. With the banner Ignite Dance, more than a half dozen notable companies take the stage in A Celebration of 35 Years of Dance in Orange County. Announced participants reflect the wide spectrum of OC dance genres, including contemporary dance from Backhausdance and the nationally known National Choreographers Initiative, Bharata Natyam from Arpana Dance Company, the Chinese Dance Company of Southern California, Festival Ballet Theatre plus the UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts dance department. Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine., Fri., Jan. 23, 8 pm, $34-$125. Official Website | Irvine Barclay Theatre
National Choreographers Institute – Photo by Dave Friedman
A ballet anniversary
Marking two decades, Los Angeles Ballet brings a triple bill of contemporary ballets under the banner Celebrating Our Past, Present and Future: 20 Years of Los Angeles Ballet. Noting how George Balanchine’s ballets have been a hallmark of most LAB seasons, from his full length ballet Jewels, this program includes Rubies, part of the company’s inaugural season. Current artistic director Melissa Barak (only the company’s second leader) brings her latest untitled work reflecting the company’s current direction. Completing the triptych, choreographer Hans Van Manen’s setting of Benjamin Britten’s Frank Bridge Variations, reprised from LAB’s 2023-2024 season. The Wallis Center for the Performing Arts, 390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Thurs.-Sun., Jan. 29-31, 7:30 pm, $64.90-$119.90. Los Angeles Ballet.
Los Angeles Ballet. Photo by Reed Hutchinson
Dance film fest #1
Regarded by many as the premiere West Coast dance film festival, Dance Camera West opens its 2026 Festival with six selected short dance films from the US and the UK, but the real focus of the opening is a celebration of LA-based choreographer David Roussève. Four films he directed will screen, followed by a Q&A, then a separately ticketed, gala celebration honoring Roussève. The fest moves among three venues in West LA, Downtown LA, and Los Feliz, with international submissions, films from LA-filmmakers, films scanning a spectrum of dance genres, and experimental filmmaking. For full details on all the programs see Dance Camera West by Jeff Slayton and for more info and tickets go to the festival website Dance Camera West. Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, Thurs.-Fri., Jan. 22-23, 7:30 pm, Sat., Jan. 24, 2 pm, $27.10 (w/fees), Gala honoring David Roussève-Thurs., Jan. 22, 8:45 pm, $158.35 (w/fees) Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz. Also at Colburn Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Sat., Jan. 24, 7 pm, $25. Colburn. Also workshop and films at Philosophical Research Society, 3910 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Feliz; Sun., Jan. 25, Dance Camera West.
David Rousseve – photo by Rachel Keane
Dance film fest #2
Incubated by LA’s Cultural Weekly (now Cultural Daily), Dare to Dance in Public Festival (D2D) founder Sarah Elgart struck a nerve with her challenge, and submissions poured in from professional and amateur filmmakers. Now celebrating its tenth season, Elgart and D2D return for three days as part of the Dance at the Odyssey festival with three different programs of international dance films. The opener is D2D Presents Sasha Waltz: A Portrait surveying the innovative German choreographer known for her site specific, audience involving events. Saturday brings Embattled Territories, international D2D award winners that include films from Iran, Belarus, and the Congo. Sunday offers short dance films–winners and honorable mentions–selected by the D2D 10th anniversary judges Jasmine Albuquerque, Rick Tjia, Kyle Abraham, and Paul Lightfoot. Odyssey Theatre 2, 2955 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Fri.-Sat., Jan. 23-24, 8 pm, Sun., Jan. 25, 2 pm, $25 (+$3 for credit cards). Dance At the Odyssey.
Dare to Dance in Public – HEARTACHE (Spain, 2023) choreographed by Iker Karrera – Photo by Ilker Karerra
In rehearsal
Another addition to the Dance at the Odyssey festival this week is dance theater ensemble TAQ Dance led by Sasha Marlan-Librett. She’s a busy woman at this festival, returning with her own work Cue, just days after performing in choreographer Kevin Williamson’s festival entry. Cue takes the audience inside a rehearsal room where four dancers capture the ups and downs of the sometimes fraught process that precedes performance. Odyssey Theatre 3, 2955 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Thurs.-Sat., Jan. 22-24, 8 pm, $25 (+$3 for credit cards). Dance At the Odyssey.
Sasha Marlan/Librett – TAQ Dance Theatre – Cue – Photo by Sasha-Marian-Librett
Scientific dance
As part of Science of Dance Weekend, Benita Bike DanceArt performs at The Discovery Cube LA, 11800 Foothill Blvd., Sylmar; Sat.,-Sun., Jan. 24-25, 1 pm, free with reservation at benita@danceart.org.
Benita Bike DanceArt. Photo by Dean Walraff
Moving up
The Sikh arts platform, Sikhlens showcases contemporary South Asian dance from Sa Dance Company. Led by founder Payal Kadakia, the dancers perform Rise. Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, 216 N. Glassell, Orange; Sat., Jan. 24, 7 pm, $25-$253.Sa Dance Company. Also at the Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Fri., March 6, 8 pm, $35-$45. Sa Dance Company
Sa Dance Company. Photo courtesy of the artists
Cautionary return
Presenting itself as “China before communism,” the touring company Shen Yun built its reputation on the athleticism, flexibility, and group precision of its dancers, but dodged questions about its connections with China’s banned Falun Gong. More recently, the organization has faced accusations of dancer abuse and a lawsuit alleging child labor violations. In that context, the company tours local venues from now through early February. At the Music Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Thurs., Jan. 22, 2 pm, Fri., Jan., 23, 7:30 pm, Sat.-Sun., Jan. 24-25, 1 pm, $91-$231. Also at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; Fri., Jan. 30, 7:30 pm, Sat.-Sun., Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 1 pm, $94.40-$196.95. Also at Long Beach Terrace Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach; Fri., Feb. 6, 7:30 pm, Sat.-Sun., Feb. 7-8, 1 pm, $89-$218. Shen Yun.
Shen Yun. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Ease on down the road
Before the cottage industry surrounding the musical and now two film versions of Wicked, Frank Baum’s book The Wizard of Oz fueled the musical theater and film versions of The Wiz. The musical’s latest revival of The Wiz arrives at the only SoCal stop on its North American tour. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; 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. SCFTA.
The Wiz. Photo by Jeremy Daniel
A Peek at Next Week (January 30 to February 5)
RGWW (Rosanna Gamson/World Wide) – Clever Ideas for Smaller Rooms at Dance at the Odyssey, Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Fri.-Sat., Jan. 30-31, 8 pm, Sun., Feb. 1, 2 pm, $28. RGWW
Diavolo / Architecture in Motion – Trust at Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre; Sat., Jan. 31, 11 am, $25. Diavolo
Ogemdi Ude – Major at USC Bovard Auditorium, 3551 Trousdale Pkwy., University Park; Wed., Feb. 4, 7 pm, free with reservation at Ogemdi Ude
Ogemdi Ude. Photo by Maria Baranova
Compagnie Hervé Koubi – Sol Invictus at San Diego Balboa Theatre, Fri., Jan. 30, 7:30 pm, $45-$112. Ticketmaster. Also at McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert; Sun., Feb. 1, 3 pm, $47-$107. McCallum Theatre Palm Desert. Also at The Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 19-20, 7:30 pm, Sat., Feb. 21, 2 pm, The Wallis
Long Beach Opera – Crash Out Queens at Altar Society, 230 Pine Ave., Long Beach; Sat., Jan. 31, 7:30 pm, Sun., Feb. 1, 4 pm, $95-$150. Long Beach Opera.
Tanzanite African Acrobats at Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Sat., Jan. 31, 1 & 5 pm, $25-$52. Tanzanite African Acrobats
Backhausdance at Old Town Temecula Community Theater, 42051 Main St., Temecula; Sat., Jan. 31, 8 pm, $25, $20 seniors & military, $15 students. Backhausdance
Ailey II at Pepperdine University, Smothers Theater, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu; Sun., Feb. 1, 7 pm, $30-$58. Ailey II
Kristen Schaal – The Legend of Crystal Shell at Dynasty Typewriter, 2511 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown; Fri.-Sat., Jan. 30-31, $33.99. Kristen Schaal
Max 10 at Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Mon., Feb. 2, 8 pm, $15. Max10
Stomp – Let’s Make Some Noise at Cerritos Center for the Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Dr., Cerritos; Wed.-Thurs., Feb. 4-5, 7:30 pm, $48-$132. Stomp
Featured image: Backhaus Dance – photo courtesy by Shawna Sarnowski
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
