International visitors from China in East LA; Pacific Asia dancers in Downtown LA; Australian movers in Westwood; females in dance celebrated in El Sereno and Downtown LA, museum dancing in Little Tokyo; eclectic dance in Long Beach, Santa Monica, and Glendale; more SoCal dance this busy week, plus a peek at next week.
Live This Week
Pony up
Performing on treadmills (yes, treadmills), Pony Cam, Australia’s audacious, highly physical, and frenetically comedic troupe brings Burnout Paradise. The quartet accelerates through increasing challenges in a showdown on those treadmills. Is it dance? Is it exercise? Is it just fun? The group’s popularity argues for a yes to all three. UCLA Nimoy, 1262 Westwood Blvd., Westwood; Sat.-Sun., Nov. 1-2, 8 pm, $38.08-$48.67. Pony Cam
Pony Cam. Photo by Darren Gill
Thank you for your service
Continuing its impressive work with military veterans, Diavolo offers performances of Escape. Vets and dancer/gymnasts move inside, outside, over and through the often outsized architectural structures that are signature parts of Jacques Heim’s choreography. This time up close and personal in the intimate studio setting. Proceeds will support ongoing military and educational programs. L’Espace Diavolo Studios, 616 Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 6 pm, thru Sun., Nov. 23, 6 pm, $51.74-$93.14. Diavolo – Escape
Diavolo Veterans Project. Photo by George Simian.
Chinese warriors
Celebrated Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui launches 19 warrior monks from China’s Shaolin Temple onto a set by British sculptor Antony Gormley for the LA premiere of Sutra. Luckman Fine Arts Complex, CalState LA, 5151 State University Dr., East LA: Sun., Nov. 2, 7 pm, $49-$98. Ticketmaster
Warrior Monks of the Shaolin Temple. Photo courtesy of the artists
Marking 15
To celebrate its 15th anniversary, the female forward MashUp Contemporary Dance Company offers a one night only performance that reprises several significant works including nravel, Power, and Intrinsic Motivation. The celebratory show includes guests and surprises honoring the ensemble’s legacy. Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno; Sat., Nov. 1, 7:30 pm, $35. MashUp Contemporary Dance Company
MashUp Contemporary Dance Company – courtesy of the artist
Look and listen
The series See the Music, Hear the Dance invites significant figures for dance and talk. This time, New York City Ballet principal dancer Sara Mearns joins Dance Institute artistic director (and former NYCB principal dancer) Janie Taylor, with help from the Institute’s students, to dance and discuss Sonata for Saras. Created by Mearns and Taylor while in different cities, the result gets live music from the Colburn Conservatory. Trudi Zipper Dance Institute, Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Sat. Nov. 1, 7 pm, $35. Sara Mearns
Sara Mearns. Photo by Erin Baiano
Death and live music
It’s the final performances of American Contemporary Ballet’s season opener, choreographer Lincoln Jones’ Death and the Maiden and Burlesque: Variation IX. As always, the dances are accompanied by live music. ACB Studios, Bank of America Plaza, Co-150, 333 S. Hope St., Downtown; Fri.-Sat., Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 8 pm, $65-$140. ACB
American Contemporary Ballet. Photo by Anastasia Petukhova
Quickie Pacific tour
What do Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Mexico, Korea, and Thailand have in common? All are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group and their dancers are here before heading to an APEC summit in South Korea. The Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles plays host to dance companies from seven nations in APEC 2025 Korea Cultural Night. While Korea may host the trade talks, KCC is bringing the dancing to LA. Details at the website. Colburn School, Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Tues., Oct. 28, 5:30 pm, free w/reservation at APEC 2025
California dreaming
Under the banner Dreams and Diversity, artistic directors Chelsea Asman and Cihtil Ocampo bring a line up of faculty and guest choreographers covering a range of styles for the CSUDH Faculty Dance Concert. From the faculty: Amy Michele Allen, Cilecia Foster, Jeff Hendrix, Cihtli Ocampo, Doris Ressl, and Kenneth Walker. Guest choreographers Robert Laos and Rongna Su are joined by student choreographer Chamya Smith. University Theatre, Cal State University Dominguez Hills, 1000 E. Victoria St., Carson; Wed.-Sat., Nov. 5-8, 7 pm, Fri., Nov. 7, 1 pm, $20, $12 students/seniors. CSUDH Dreams & Diversity
Forever Flamenco’s Cihtli Ocampo. Photo by Elazar Harel.
Santa Monica dreaming
In this joint performance with the SMC Symphony Orchestra, Santa Monica College Dance Department presents Storytelling Through Sound and Motion. With choreography from SMC dance alumni April Torres and Layla Fowler, the orchestra and dancers evoke family friendly tales in this matinee concert. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Sun., Nov. 2, 4 pm, $15. SMC Dance Department
Volta Collective – L-R Raven Scott, Anne Kim, Bella Allen – Photo by Kacie Tomita.
Contagious?
In The Loneliness Triptych, choreographer Leilah Weinraub and the dancers of Volta Collective explore whether loneliness is an epidemic. Everyday objects, including a mattress, rug, and office chair, emerge as potential symbols of longing, sexuality, and power. New Theater Hollywood, 6500 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood; Fri. -Sun., Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 8 pm, $25-$35. Volta Collective
Day of the Dead dancing
A free performance by Pacifico Dance Company highlights the Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Family Fest. Activities include a dance workshop as well as the show. Led by Adriana A. Gainey, this LA-based company has established itself among SoCal’s notable folkloric ensembles. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Sat., Nov. 1, 11 am, free. Pacifico Dance Company
Will Rawls – Photo by Sara Golonka
Made where?
As part of the biennial Made in LA, choreographer Will Rawls stages monthly site-specific performances under the banner Unmade. The work draws visitors into, around, and outside the museum’s galleries. Dancers include Gurmukhi Bevli, Maya Billig, Ajani Brannum, Jeremy De’jon Guyton, Tiara Jackson, and Kensaku Shinohara. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; Sat., Nov. 1, Sat., Dec. 6, Sat., Jan. 17, 2026, Sat., Feb. 7 & 28, 2026, noon to 4 pm, free. Hammer Museum
Mixed bill
Always delivering an eclectic mix of genres, LA Unbound returns with its latest collection of dance and dancers. This time the program offers 27 works covering the spectrum from ballet, tap, lyrical, hip hop, contemporary, jazz, contemporary Chinese, heels, pom, and more. Glendale Community College, 1500 N. Verdugo Rd., Glendale; Sun., Nov. 2, 4 & 7:30 pm, $24-$30. LA Unbound
LA Unbound. Photo courtesy of the artists
Making progress
For its fourth season, the series Works in Progress (WIP) Season 4 continues to provide a showcase for choreographers developing new danceworks. This month, it is Kirsten Schnittker and Shoji Yamasaki offering previews. Wende Museum, Glorya Kaufman Community Center, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City; Mon., Nov. 3, 7:30 pm, free w/reservation at WIP
Last chances for how little?
Choreographer turned playwright Rudi Goblen’s Little Boy/Little Man includes moves from choreographer Christopher Scott. Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood; Wed.-Thurs., 7:30 pm, Fri., 8 pm, Sat., 3 & 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm, thru Sun., Nov. 2, $45-$139. Little Boy/Little Man
Max 10. Photo courtesy of the artists.
It’s a ten
Ten performers, including dancers, each with ten minutes to win over the audience. It’s the mostly monthly, first Monday series Max 10. Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Mon., Nov. 3, 8 pm, $15. Max10
A Peek at Next Week (November 7 to 13)
Alonzo King LINES at Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Cal State University Long Beach, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach; Sat., Nov. 8, 8 pm, $38.75-$78.75. Alonzo King LINES
Lenio Kaklea – The Birds, 2025 at Wonmi Warehouse, Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, 152 N. Central Ave., Little Tokyo; Fri., Nov. 7, 8 pm, Sat., Nov. 8, 7:30 pm, Sun., Nov. 9, 3:30 pm, $12. Lenio Kaklea-The Birds 2025
Donna Sternberg & Dancers – Thriving at Helms Bakery Complex, 8745 Washington Blvd., Culver City; Sat., Nov. 8, 8 pm, Sun., Nov. 9, 3 pm, $25, $20 students/seniors. Donna Sternberg
Danza Floricanto/USA’s “Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead”. Photo by Frank Sandoval
Danza Floricanto/USA – Fiesta del Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead Festival) at The Floricanto Center for the Performing Arts, 2900 Calle Pedro Infante, East LA; Sun., Nov. 9, 6 pm, $15 pre-sale, $20 at door, $30 VIP, $10 children (at door only). Danza Floricanto/USA
Palm Desert Choreography Festival at McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert; Sat., Nov. 8, 7 pm (professionals), $32.99-$47.99; Sun., Nov. 9, 4 pm, $27.99-62.99 Palm Desert Choreography Festival
22nd Annual New Original Works (NOW) Festival at Disney Hall, REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., Downtown LA; Thurs.-Sat., Nov. 13-15, 8 pm, $25. REDCAT NOW
RUKHMANI MEHTA – Sandhi at Wende Museum, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City; Thurs., Nov. 13, 7:30 pm, free w/reservation at Rukhmani Mehta
Rukhmani Mehta. Photo courtesy of the artist
Santa Monica College Global Motion World Dance Company at The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Sat.-Sun., Nov. 8-9, 7:30 pm, $21. Global Motion World Dance Company
HomeLA – Redrawing the Rancho at Rowland Museum, 16021 Gale Ave., City of Industry; Sat.-Sun., Nov. 8-9, 1-4 pm, $15-$35. HomeLA-Redrawing the Rancho
Juchéti Uarhán (Our Dance) Festival v.2 at 1611 S. Hope St., Downtown LA; Sat., Nov. 8, 1:30 pm & 2 pm. $8.50-$20. Juchéti Uarhán (Our Dance) Festival
Featured image: Sara Mearns – courtesy of the artist
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
