The Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center recently announced its 20th season featuring the Paul Taylor Dance Company, MOMIX, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and the Dutch National Ballet. Three of the four will perform at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The fourth, MOMIX’s full-length work Alice will make its Music Center’s debut at the Ahmanson Theatre.
Devon Louis and Maria Ambrose in Paul Taylor’s “Company B” – Photo by Steven PIsano
The New York based Paul Taylor Dance Company is one of the most well-known modern dance company around the world. Founded in 1954 by Paul Taylor (1930-2018) the company continues under the leadership of former company member Michael Novak, only the second Artistic Director following Taylor’s death. During his time as a dancer with the company, Novak performed fifty-six roles in fifty Taylor dances, thirteen of which were made on him, and new roles in several works by other leading choreographers.
Paul Taylor Dance Company in Kurt Jooss’ “The Green Table” – Photo by Ron Thiele
The Taylor Company will perform at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion April 28 – 30, 2023 presenting Taylor’s Company B (1991) set to the hit songs of the Andrews Sisters; the iconic work The Green Table (1932), the most popular work by German choreographer Kurt Jooss, “created between world wars, it is one of the most iconic and celebrated anti-war dances of all time; and a world premiere by the Taylor Company’s current resident choreographer Lauren Lovette, former principal dancer with New York City Ballet.
The Music Center is partnering with Zócalo Public Square to enhance this residency with a special exploration of the intersections of art and war during a panel discussion on Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center.
MOMIX: Alice – Photo by Equilibre Monaco
MOMIX: Alice will perform at the Ahmanson Theatre May 19 – 21, 2023. According to their press release “MOMIX sends audiences flying down the rabbit hole in Moses Pendleton’s newest creation, Alice, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland.” Carroll’s characters featured in MOMIX: Alice include the undulating Caterpillar, a lobster quadrille, frenzied White Rabbits, a mad Queen of Hearts, and a variety of other surprises.
The MOMIX residency will include an opportunity for the public to submit an image and write an accompanying description of a place in Los Angeles where they find wonderment. Their submissions will be shared with the public on the LED screens on Jerry Moss Plaza. More details will be announced at a later date.
Complexions Contemporary Ballet – Photo courtesy of the company
Returning again to Los Angeles, Complexions Contemporary Ballet performs at the Dorothy Chandler June 16 – 18, 2023 with a mixed program featuring Dwight Rhoden’s Woke, set to music by Kendrick Lamar, Logic, Drake, Diplo and others, and Rhoden’s Love Rocks with music by GRAMMY® Award-winning singer-songwriter Lenny Kravitz. Complexions was founded in 1994 by Rhoden and Desmond Richardson
During the Complexions residency, The Music Center will collaborate with Co-founders Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, along with spoken word artist Terrell Lewis, to co-host a poetry slam and dance event on Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center. More information will be announced at a later date.
Dutch National Ballet in “Frida” choreography by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa – Photo by Hans Gerritsen
The Dutch National Ballet brings the U.S. Premiere of Frida by Colombian-Belgian choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion July 14 – 16, 2023. Frida was inspired by the life story of Mexican-born and legendary painter Frida Kahlo set to music by British composer Peter Salem and performed by a live orchestra. Ochoa has been quoted as stating that her goal in creating this work was to give substance to the “expressive surrealism that dance — by analogy to Kahlo’s paintings — can embody.”
As part of this residency, The Music Center will launch its second dance film festival in collaboration with Dance Camera West, inviting Southern California dance filmmakers to submit films that reflect themes of self-portraiture and autobiographical dance inspired by Ochoa’s Frida. More information will be announced at a later date.
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WHAT: 20th season of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center featuring:
Paul Taylor Dance Company (April 28 – 30, 2023 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion)
MOMIX: Alice (May 19 – 21, 2023 at the Ahmanson Theatre)
Complexions Contemporary Ballet (June 16 – 18, 2023 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion)
Dutch National Ballet (July 14 – 16, 2023 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion)
For more information, performance times, and to purchase tickets, please the Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center’s website.
For more information about what else is happening at The Music Center, please visit their website.
Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Dutch National Ballet in Frida – Photo courtesy of The Music Center
