Avatars from Switzerland downtown, beyond Bollywood in Beverly Hills, tragic lovers die again in Costa Mesa, post-museum dance in Pasadena, AAPI dance in El Sereno, bayside ballet goes hillside in Glendale, a post-modern legend reprised in Little Tokyo, more SoCal dance this busy week (May 12 to 18), and a peek at next week.
Live This Week
Bollywood blue
Blending hip-hop, modern, and South Asian dance with a soupçon of Bollywood, Achinta S. McDaniel brings her Blue13 Dance Company to the stage. This time, Bollywood inspired five of the dances on the program that includes a preview of a new work in progress that she promises will continue the company’s pledge to dance “at the intersection of diaspora and disruption.” Wallis Annenberg Center for the Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Fri.-Sat., May 12-13, 7:30 pm, $29-$79. https://thewallis.org/show-details/blue13-dance-company-2023
Blue13 Dance Company. Photo courtesy of the artists
A sweetly sad suite
After its sold-out premiere last year in France, LA Dance Project presents the U.S. premiere of Benjamin Millepied’s Romeo and Juliet Suite for three performances this weekend. This is a streamlined version of Millepied and LA Dance Project’s first edition of Romeo and Juliet at Disney Hall in 2018 and the second version in summer 2019 at the Hollywood Bowl. Some may quibble as to whether this is a brand new work or a third edition, but reviews from the Paris performances are strong evidence that the work retains the core of those initial efforts, including the triple threat casting, while going in adventurous directions with more extensive dancing, an abbreviated version of the Prokofiev score, and expanded, innovative the use of live-streamed video. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Fri., May 12, 7:30 pm, Sat., May 13, 2 & 7:30 pm, $39-$99. https://www.scfta.org/shows-events
LA Dance Project – Photo courtesy of La Seine Musicale
From the bay to the foothills
Mostly seen in the South Bay, this time Kenneth Walker Dance Project (KWDP)’s contemporary dance company performs in this historic venue set in the San Gabriel Foothills. The company repertoire runs from neo-classical to post-modern. Walker and his dancers promise to bring that spectrum to this enduring series curated by Jamie Nichols. Brand Library & Art Center, 1601W. Mountain St., Glendale; Sat., May 13, 5 pm, free. https://www.brandlibrary.org/dance-series
Kenneth Walker Dance Project. Photo courtesy of the artists
A baker’s dozen
Overseen by Derrick Paris, this edition of Voices showcases dance and performance by 13 Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) artists. Announced performers include Chelsea Roquero Stephanie Dai, Azuki Umeda, Ryan Ruiz, Teresa Declines, Miko Hornilla, and Jamin Anne Kim. Stomping Ground LA, 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno; Sat., May 13, 7:30 pm, $15 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/voices-aapi-artists-showcase-tickets-627249448987
Azuki Umeda. Photo courtesy of the artist
Through the door
Under the banner THRESHHOLDS, this program from Nancy Evans Dance Theatre reprises IMPRINT, originally performed at the Norton Simon Museum. The line-up also includes three new works considering war’s indiscriminate destruction, pondering the deep effects involved in confronting change, and taking inspiration from a 1919 satire written by Rose Macaulay. At ARC Pasadena, 1158 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; Sat., May 13 & 20, 8 pm, Sun., May 14 & 21, 4 pm, $20. http://www.nancyevansdancetheatre.com/events
Nancy Evans Dance Theatre. Photo courtesy of the artists
A wide array
Expect a diverse array of dances styles when LA Unbound takes the stage. This spring edition promises 20 performances spanning the dance spectrum. AGBU Performing Arts Center, 2495 E Mountain St., Pasadena; Sat., May 13, 1:30 pm, $22-$32 https://agbupac.ticketspice.com/unboundspring
MOMentum Place. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Perfect for the right kind of Mom
For an entertaining, halcyon alternative to crowded restaurants on Mother’s Day, consider MOMentum Place. Taking over a stage that hosts summer Shakespeare under the oak trees, this mostly annual event offers an array of dancers, acrobats, aerialists, and other entertainers curated by Lexi Pearl. Bring a picnic or opt for the spring-themed brunch (additional charge). Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Rd., Topanga Canyon; Sun., May 14, brunch at noon ($30), show at 2pm, $35 advance, $40 at door, $15 students, $10 12 year & under. https://theatricum.com/momentum-place/
“Cosmogony” – Photo courtesy of Cie Gilles Jobin
Capture that motion!
Taking the Avatar concept of motion-capture into the realm of dance, three Swiss dancers are digitally altered in Cosmogony with their performance then streamed to giant LED screens here in LA. The dancers are Susana Panades Diaz, Rudi Van der Merwe, and Jozsef Trefeli. The title refers to the study of the origin of the universe. A video preview is at . The event is at the Music Center, Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., May 12, Sat., June 3, 10 & 17, 7 pm, free w/reservation at https://themusiccenter.typeform.com/to/a3H8zZEj?typeform-source=www.musiccenter.org
Rudy Perez – Photo by Aram Jibilian
Talk about lineage
Choreographer Rudy Perez made his mark as part of the post modern dance energy center on New York’s Judson Church, then headed west where he continued to choreograph for his Rudy Perez Performance Ensemble. Tamsin Carlson, who danced with Merce Cunningham as well as Perez’ company, is currently chair of modern dance at the Colburn School’s Trudi Zipper Dance Institute. In that last role, she has reconstructed Perez’ Cheap Imitation for the Dance Institute’s students. The free performance offers a rare opportunity to see a work by Perez. Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, 152 N. Central Ave., Little Tokyo; Thurs., May 11, 6:15 & 7:15 pm, free with reservation at https://www.moca.org/program/the-colburn-school-dances-at-the-geffen.
Go for a spin
Vinyl records and their aficionados are the main event at the day-long On the Record: Vinyl Fair, but the day includes two performances by UniverSoul Hip Hop. The Music Center, Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Sat., May 13, 11:30 am & 1:15 pm. musiccenter.org/ontherecord
A Peek at Next Week
Bernard Brown/bbmoves at Brand Library & Art Center, 1601W. Mountain St., Glendale; Sat., May 20, 5 pm, free. https://www.brandlibrary.org/dance-series
Ate 9 at Live Arts Los Angeles, 4210 Panamint St., Glassell Park; Sat., May 20, Tues.-Wed., May 23-24, Fri.-Sat., May 26-27, 9 pm, $30, https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTgxODc4
MOMIX-Alice at the Music Center, Ahmanson Theater, 135 N. Grand Ave., Venice; Fri.-Sat., May 19-20, 7:30 pm, Sun., May 21, 2 pm, $20-$87. https://www.musiccenter.org/tickets-free-events/tmc-arts/dance/momix/
MOMIX – Alice – Photo courtesy of The Carpenter Center
Benita Bike’s DanceArt at Stomping Ground LA, 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno, Sat., May 20, 8 pm, Sun., May 21, 7:30 pm, $25, $20 seniors, $15 students. https://benitabikesdanceart.eventbrite.com
Martha Graham Dance Company and Long Beach Opera in The Feast at Noguchi Garden and Samueli Theatre, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat.-Sun., May 20-21, 7:30 pm, $89-$165. https://lbop-internet.choicecrm.net/templates/LBOP/#/events
Heidi Duckler Dance Time for a Slow Dance at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital Campus on Sat., May 20, 4:30- 6 pm, free. https://www.heididuckler.org
Re:born Dance Interactive in Home at Sugar Bank, 4414 W. 2nd St., Hancock Park; Sat., May 20, 4 & 7 pm, Sun., May 21, noon & 3 pm, $ www.reborndance.org
LA Phil’s The Beast with choreography by Chris Emile Walt Disney Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown; Sat., May 20, 4 pm, $20-$64. https://www.laphil.com/events/performances/1907/2023-05-20/stranger-love
Pony Box Dance Theatre gala. Private residence in Long Beach; address provided with ticket purchase; Sat., May 20, 6 pm, $80-$100. https://www.ponyboxdance.org/
Palm Springs Dance Project Communities’ Finest Dance Showcast at Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 Baristo Rd., Palm Springs; Sat. May 20, 5 pm, $15, $8 students, free children under six years. https://www.palmspringsdance.org/communities-finest
Dance Notes
In memorium – Deborah Lawlor, longtime supporter of SoCal flamenco died earlier this month at the age of 83. Co-artistic director of the Fountain Theater, Lawlor was responsible for the Fountain’s extensive dance program, including the company’s renowned Forever Flamenco series.
Deadlines: May 24 for applications for the 2023 Choreographers Showcase October 7 and 8 in in Carmel. Founded by artistic director Fran Spector in 1997, the festival showcases work by local, national and international dancemakers in an historic outdoor theater. Information and application at https://www.spectordance.org/choreographers-showcase.html.
Featured Image: Blue13 – photo courtesy of the artists
Ann Haskins Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
