A New York visitor dances R&B in Long Beach, a contemporary choreographer in a downtown livestream, Australians tackle Stravinsky in Irvine and Santa Monica, flamenco in San Pedro, a new take on storybook characters in Pasadena, eclectic performances in Venice, plus a peek at next week and Covid updates.
Live Dance
(Note: as of press time, these events are live, but as Omicron does its thing, theaters are pivoting, postponing, and cancelling in response. Check with the venue for the latest)
Who needs a title?
The R&B music of Grammy-award winner D’Angelo is the score for An Untitled Love. Described as a celebration of Black love and unity, the evening-length work is the calling card of the contemporary company A.I.M by Kyle Abraham. At Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Cal State University 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach; Sat., Feb. 5, 8pm, $45. Info, tickets, & Covid protocols at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/carpenterarts/6773/event/1239165
Abraham.In.Motion. Photo by Carrie Schneider
Everything sacred
Ever since its 1913 ballet premiere provoked a riot, Igor Stravinsky’s Sacra du Printemps has been grist for ballet and contemporary choreographers. Australia’s Circa Contemporary Circus claims its Sacra is the first time the masterwork has gone “cirque.” Under the artistic direction of Yaron Lifschitz, the ten dancer/acrobats incorporate new music from Phillipe Bachman to augment the Stravinsky score. At the Irvine Barclay, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Wed.-Thurs., Feb. 2-3, 8pm, $30-$130. Info, tickets, & Covid protocols at https://www.thebarclay.org https://ci.ovationtix.com/35720/production/1064908. Also at The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Feb. 4-5, 7:30pm, $45-$65. Info, tickets, & Covid protocols at https://thebroadstage.org/performances/2021-22/dance/sacre
Circa Contemporary Circus – Sacre by Circa – Photo by David Kelly
From the stage to a stream
Originally scheduled as a live performance, Doug Varone & Dancers shift to a livestream event. The contemporary choreographer with credits in dance, opera, theater, and film has been artist-in-residence at USC. The performance includes company repertoire and a new work featuring dance department graduate students. A post-performance discussion with the choreographer is scheduled. At USC, Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center, 849 W. 34th St., downtown; Fri., Feb. 11, 7pm & Sat., Feb. 12, 5pm, free w/reservation at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/doug-varone-and-dancers-registration-214889780117
Doug Varone & Dancers. Photo courtesy of the artists
Going Electric
Scheduled to coincide with First Fridays on trendy Abott Kinney Boulevard, High Voltage offers an eclectic line up of dance, music, comedy and other performances at the Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Fri., Feb. 4, 8pm, $10. Info, tickets, & Covid protocols at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/high-voltage-tickets-249770017847
Max 10. Photo courtesy of the artists.
It’s a 10!
Dance is often among the ten performances, each ten minutes that make up the monthly series Max 10 at the Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Mon., Feb. 7, 7:30pm, $10. Info, tickets, & Covid protocols at https://www.electriclodge.org/#
Lineage Dance’s “Curiosity Tales” Photo courtesy of the artists
From the page to the stage
Dancers from the contemporary company Lineage Dance join actors in Curiosity Tales, a family-friendly retelling of familiar storybook characters and their adventures. At Lineage, 920 E. Mountain St., Glendale; Sat., Feb. 6 & 13, March 6 & 13, 4 p.m., $40, $20 students & seniors. Info, tickets, & Covid protocols at https://lineagedance.secure.force.com/ticket/#/instances/a0F3o00000pgqx5EAA
Loyola Marymount University Dance Department. Photo courtesy of the artists
By your students you’ll be taught
The dance department presents the Loyola Marymount Dance Program in Impulse—A Student Directed Dance Concert. The al fresco concert is free with reservation at Loyola Marymount Drollinger Family Stage in Lawton Plaza, Loyola University Dr., Westchester; Sat.-Sun., Feb. 5-6, 3pm, free with reservation. Info, tickets, & Covid protocols at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/impulse-a-student-directed-dance-concert-tickets-241291899567
Taking it to the tablao
Flamenco is on the menu with Esencia Flamenco Dance Company at Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. 6th St., San Pedro; Sun., Feb. 6, 2pm, $25-$50. Info, tickets, & Covid protocols at https://grandvision.org/events-tickets/warner-grand-events/
Yamato-the Drummers of Japan. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Not drummed out
All is not lost for fans of the touring Taiko ensemble Yamato—the Drummers of Japan. January’s scheduled performance in Northridge was cancelled (along with all January shows at that venue). Still the tour continues, with another SoCal show that is going ahead as scheduled at Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Dr., Cerritos; Fri., Feb. 4, 8pm, $50-$70. Info, tickets, & Covid protocols at https://www.cerritoscenter.com/
A Peek at Next Week
(Note: Details, tickets, & Covid protocols at websites)
Dimitris Papaioannou at CAP UCLA online; Sat., Feb. 12, 7pm, free w/registration at https://online.cap.ucla.edu/checkout/subscribe/signup.
Covid Updates
Award winner Covid-cancelled
Award-winning dancer/choreographer Faye Driscoll and her latest Thank You for Coming: Space, scheduled for REDCAT, Fri.-Sun., Feb.4-6, has been postponed. New dates to be announced. https://www.redcat.org/
US premiere Covid-cancelled
The U.S. premiere of Aakash Odedra Company with Hu Shenyuan in Samsara, scheduled for The Broad Stage on Thurs. & Sun., Feb. 10 & 13, was cancelled due to increased travel restrictions. Info at https://thebroadstage.org/performances/2021-22/dance/samsara
Dance Camera West. Photo courtesy of the artists.
A festival postponed, but still coming in March
As the Covid public health emergency shuttered theaters for live performance over the past two years, the world of dance film, video and streamed performances has flourished. Long before Covid, filmed dance was the specialty of LA-based Dance Camera West, recognized as one of the premiere dance film showcases. DCW’s 20th anniversary edition was to earlier this month with more than 75 films lined up for a dozen programs at two venues. Out of caution and safety concerns with the current surge in Covid cases, DCW postponed the festival to late March. Stay tuned or find details on the new schedule at http://www.dancecamerawest.org/.
Featured Image: A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham. Photo courtesy of artists
Ann Haskins Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
