Live This Week
Avian mixed messenging
Seeking to deconstruct classical South Asian Bharatanatyam dance, Ashwini Ramaswamy draws on modern and traditional African dance as well as contemporary modern dance known as Gaga. The choreographer and a trio of dancers bring the result, Let the Crows Come, evoking the metaphor of crows as messengers to the living and guides after death. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., April 7-8, 7:30 pm, $40-$70. https://broadstage.org/
“Let the Crows Come” by Ashwini Ramaswamy – Photo by Jake Armour
Blending bodies and voices
Drawing on events following the death of an indigenous activist/farmer at the hands of Chilean police, Amor a la muerte (Love to Death) , Lemi Ponifasio’s new work combines the artistry of Chilean contemporary flamenco dancer Natalia Lemi Ponifasio and Mapuche artist/singer/composer Elisa Avendaño Curaqueo. The work is presented without subtitles in Spanish and Mapudungun (the language spoken by the Mapuche people of south-central Chile). REDCAT at Disney Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Fri.-Sat., April 7-8, 8:30 pm, Sun., April 9, 3 pm, $30, $25 students. https://www.redcat.org/
Lemi Ponifasio. Photo courtesy of the artist
Marking the decade
In a short ten years, Michelle Dorrance picked up a MacArthur Genius Award and built a tap dance company hailed as the future of the art form. The choreographer and her Dorrance Dance stop off on their 10th anniversary tour. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., April 8, 7:30 pm, $29-$109. https://seats.scfta.org/single?id=26333
Dorrance Dance. Photo by Hayim Heron.
Fast Feet
Mijal Natal and Irit Spector contribute choreography as flamenco dance and music from Spain’s Andalusia region take the stage in Un Pozo Chico. The Main, 24266 Main St., Santa Clarita; Fri., April 7, 8 pm, $25-$35. https://atthemain.org/
Irit Specktor. Photo by Ephrat Spector
If it’s Sunday, is it Belgium?
Two Brussels-based companies, Chaliwaté Company & Focus Company arrive on their first US tour, bringing Dimanche, a collaborative effort focused on neglected need for climate change. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Thurs.-Sat., April 13-15, 7:30 pm, Sat.-Sun., April 15-16, 2 pm., $40-$60. https://broadstage.org/
“Dimanche” – Chaliwaté Company and Focus Company – Photo by Alice Piemme, Arts Hub
A way to start the day
Set in a beautiful, circular chamber concert venue, Leela Dance brings classical South Asian dance to this concert with music ensemble Salastina. This concert initiates a planned, ongoing collaboration of the two organizations. There also is a livestreamed option. Doheny Mansion, Pompeian Room, 10 Chester Pl., University Park; Sat., April 8, 11 am, $20, $10 students, $10 livestream. https://www.salastina.org/concerts/2023/4/8/happy-hour-with-leela-dance
Leela Dance Collective’s Son of the Wind – Photo courtesy of the Collective
All electric
Timed to coincide with First Friday events on nearby Abott Kinney Boulevard, High Voltage offers an eclectic, ever-changing line-up of performers, often with dance. Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Fri., April 7, 8 pm, $10. https://www.electriclodge.org/high-voltage/
A Peek at Next Week
Los Angeles Dance Festival 2023 at at Brockus Project Studios,618 B Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; Sat.-Sun., April 15-16, 8 pm, Fri.-Sun., April 21-23, 8 pm, and Fri.-Sat., April 28-29, 8 pm, Sun., April 30, 6:30 pm, $15. https://ladancefest.org/
The Realm Company at Stompling Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno; Sat., April 15, 6 pm, $50-$200 https://red-riot-entertainment.ticketleap.com/synergetic/
Backhausdance at L.A. Dance Project Studios, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Arts District; Sat. April 15, 8 pm, $30, $20 students http://www.backhausdance.org/events
Backhausdance in “Scene Unseen” choreography by Jennifer Backhaus – Photo by Shawna Sarnowski
Riverdance 25th Anniversary Tour at McCallum Theatre, 7300 Fred Waring Dr. Pam Desert; Fri., April 14, 8 pm, Sat., April 15, 2 & 8 pm, Sun., April 16, 2 & 7:30 pm, $55-$125. https://www.mccallumtheatre.com Also at Dolby Theatre, Hollywood & Highland, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Wed.-Fri., April 19-21, 8 pm, Sat. April 22, 2 & 8pm, Sun., April 23, 1 & 6 pm, $39-$149. https://www.dolbytheatre.com/events/details/riverdance
Hillel Kogan & Mourad Bouayad – We Love Arabs at Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., West LA; Thurs., April 20, 8 pm, $30-$40. https://www.theatreraymondkabbaz.com/upcomingevents/2023/4/20/we-love-arabs
Of Note
SoCal dance out of town – Orange County contemporary troupe Akomi Dance performs in New York City this week, invited to be part of the New Wave Dance Festival. https://www.akomidance.com/
More SoCal dance on tour – Contemporary troupe Invertigo Dance performs Formulae and Fairytales at North Carolina’s Wilson Center, roughly three years after the originally scheduled 2020 tour was cancelled by the onset of Covid.
Get the application ready – LA-based Blue13 dance company invites proposals for a two-week residency program to increase the visibility of Asian American Pacific Islander-identifying choreographers to create new work. Deadline is April 25 for the residency in June that concludes with performances. Info and application at https://www.blue13dance.com/playdate/
Featured image: Ashwini Ramaswamy Let the Crows Come – Photo by Jayme Halbritter
Ann Haskins Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
