A melange of star crossed lovers in Beverly Hills, giving voice to autism in Santa Monica, contemporary dance in West Adams, Sylmar, Pasadena, and Atwater Village, the 1960’s revisited in Brentwood; Vogue ball in Little Tokyo, first of the season’s vampires in Hollywood; more SoCal dance this week, plus a peek at next week.
Live This Week
Reconnections
From the reviews of the recent La Jolla Playhouse performances, Jenn Freeman’s dance/theater piece Is It Thursday Yet? effectively uses dance, narration, video and tape to tell the exterior story of the diagnosis of her Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at age 33, while dance evokes the interior story of her feelings and efforts to navigate a puzzling exterior world. A dancer/choreographer in her own right, Freeman called on Tony-winning choreographer Sonya Tayeh to shape this telling. The BroadStage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica, Thurs.-Sat., Oct. 3-5, 7:30 pm, $40-$85. https://broadstage.org/
Jenn Freeman in “Is It Thursday Yet?” – photo by Matthew Murphy
Deja vu all over again?
The LA Dance Project performances of Romeo & Juliet Suite are described as the Los Angeles premiere, yet it strongly resembles earlier iterations in 2018 and 2019 performed at Disney Hall and the Hollywood Bowl with the LA Phil, now described as ‘previews.’ Choreographed by LADP artistic director Benjamin Millepied, this, like the prior versions, presents a combination of dance onstage and then Millepied following the dancers with a steady cam that livestreamed dancing in offstage portions of Disney Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and now this historic post office turned theater. Once again, there are three casts of lead lovers—male/female, male/male and female/female. All elements seem to be present, perhaps reworked and expanded, yet no LA Phil. Whatever the work’s evolution, LADP’s superb dancers are always worth a watch. The Wallis, 9390 N Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Thurs.-Sat., Oct. 10-12, $49-$109. https://tickets.thewallis.org/overview/19231
LA Dance Project. Photo by Josh Rose
Demystifying
Launching its 44th season, Benita Bike’s DanceArt continues its local touring under the direction of founder/choreographer Benita Bike. The modern dance troupe brings a program of dance and discussion that seeks to demystify the art of dance and dancemaking. The dancers include Sarah Chan, Lauren Gold, Dakota Merritt, Dalya Modlin, and Emily Wallace. LA Mission College, AMP Theater, 13356 Eldridge Ave., Sylmar; Wed., Oct. 9, 7 pm, free. www.danceart.org
Benita Bike’s DanceArt. Photo by Dean Walraff
Not Alone
In 1967, engineers teamed with avant garde artists in the groundbreaking Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.), now the subject of an archival exhibition Sensing the Senses. Two afternoon performances of Sensing the Future, complement the exhitbition and include choreographer Deborah Hay’s Solo Two (2024), revisiting her Solo choreographed for 16 dancers in 1966. Getty Center, Museum Courtyard, 1200 Getty Center Dr., Brentwood; Sat., Oct. 5, 4 pm, Sun., Oct. 6. 2 pm, free. https://www.getty.edu/visit/cal/events/eat_live.html
Deborah Hay. Photo by Peter Moore
Salon dancing
Under the banner Speakeasy-Orange Dog Review, the ever-insightful choreographer Rosanna Gamson and the dancers of Rosanna Gamson/WorldWide offer contemporary dance in an intimate setting. Residence, 2757 Clyde Ave., West Adams; Sat., Oct. 5, 7 pm, $25-$100. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rgww-speakeasy-the-orange-dog-review-tickets-1013227228917
Rosanna Gamson/World Wide. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Time to heal
Drawing on women from all over the U.S., Lineage Dance presents Healing Blue, focused on women’s struggles and triumphs confronting cancer. Lineage Performing Arts Center, 920 E. Mountain St., Glendale; Sun., Oct. 6, 5 pm, $25. https://www.lineagepac.org/
Lineage Dance. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Enter through the alley
Opening its third season, Work in Progress/LA spotlights Stephanie Dai and Keilan Stafford. Organized by choreographers Kate Wallich, Stephanie Zaletel and Belize Wilheim, this artist-run collective partners with this venue to “stir up deep dance discourse” in the LA dance community. The changing line up for the monthly Monday events runs through next April, each providing a peek and preview of what some of LA’s cutting edge choreographers are up to. G-Son Studios, 3218 Glendale Blvd., Atwater Village (enter through the alley); Mon., Oct. 7, 7:30 pm, $15. https://checkout.square.site/merchant/CWWH0RATQCZC2/checkout/R5VC5QYJJ4PBJYG42Z2UWD3U
Stephanie Dai. Photo courtesy of the artist
And now they are 11
For more than a decade, Banjee Ball Foundation has built a following for LA Ballroom and Vogue. Partnering with MOCA, Build This House opens this season’s Wonmi’s WAREHOUSE Program with a ball. The event also offers a free Friday evening workshop before Saturday’s ticketed ball. Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, 152 N. Central Ave., Little Tokyo; Sat., Oct. 5, 5-10 pm, $12. https://moca.ticketapp.org/portal/product/253/events, info at https://banjeeball.com/
Banjee Ball. Photo by RyB Productions
Will there be blood?
Twilight Saga meets Faust, with a twist, in Blood/Love: A Vampire Popera. The immersive rock musical opens this week at the aptly named Crimson, a Hollywood pop up gothic nightclub. Running through November 2, the vampire-meets-rock-star event injects a devilish romance into the spooky season. The Crimson, 6356 Hollywood Blvd., First Floor, Hollywood; Thurs.-Sat., thru Sat., Oct. 19, 7 & 9:30 pm, then, Wed.-Sat, Oct. 23-Nov. 2, 7 & 9:30 pm, $59-$119. https://bloodlove.com/
Blood/Love. Photo by Graham Washatka
Animalia
A bit of dance, some sleight of hand, and a lot of fun as Liz Toonkel returns with her Magic for Animals. Elysian Theater, 1944 Riverside Dr., Echo Park; Sat., Oct. 5, 10 pm, $20-$25. https://www.elysiantheater.com/shows/magicforanimals
Liz Toonkel in “Magic for Animals” -Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Performance Practice
Taxing
In the satiric Urinetown, puns and double entendres take over a town that charges for bathroom privileges. Liz Hoefner Adamis choreographs and Daniel Nakawatase directs for CAL REP. Studio Theater, Cal State University Long Beach, north side of the Theatre Arts Building, accessible via 7th Street and East Campus Drive, Long Beach; Wed.-Sat., Oct. 2-5 & 8-12, 7:30 pm, Sat., Oct. 5 & 12, 2 pm, Sun., Oct. 13, 2 pm, $25, $23 seniors. Tix – Ticket Sales
Max 10. Photo courtesy of the artists.
It’s a 10
The mostly monthly program Max 10 gives ten performers ten minutes each onstage. Hosted by venue director Joel Shapiro and curated by the staff, dance is a mainstay in the line up of performances. A post-show reception gives a chance to chat with the artists. Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Mon., Oct. 7, 7:30 pm, $10. https://www.electriclodge.org/
The Empire Strips Back. Photo courtesy of the artists
Teasing
The title says it all. The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody. The show returns after its 2022 run at this venue. The Montalbán Theatre, 1615 Vine St., Hollywood; Opens Thurs, Oct. 11, 7:30 pm, then Thurs., 7:30 pm, Fri., 7 pm, Sat., 7 & 9:30 pm, Sun., 4 pm, thru Dec. 1. $44-$109. https://theempirestripsback.com/los-angeles/
A Peek at Next Week (October 11-17)
Jay Carlon with Micaela Tobin – WAKE at Don Quixote, 2811 E. Olympic Blvd., Boyle Heights; Fri., Oct. 11, 8:30 pm, $35. WAKE at Don Quixote, Los Angeles ⟋ RA Tickets
West Coast Ballet – Dracula at El Segundo Performing Arts Center, 640 Main St., El Segundo; Sat., Oct. 12, 7 pm, $43.45. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/west-coast-ballets-dracula-tickets-913665316557
Organización Secreta Teatro – A Girl Grows Wings at LA Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., downtown; Sat., Oct. 12, 8 pm, then Thurs.-Sat., Oct. 17-19, 8 pm, Sun., Oct. 13 & 20, 4 pm, $10-$45. https://www.latinotheaterco.org/
A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham at the Carpenter Center, Cal State University Long Beach, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach; Sat., Oct. 12, 8 pm, $40. Carpenter Performing Arts Center
A.I.M by Kyle Abraham. Photo courtesy of the artists
Wildhorse Native American Association – Celebrating Indigenous People’s Day at the Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr., Brentwood; Sat., Oct. 12, 11 am, free w/parking. https://www.getty.edu/visit/cal/performances.htm
ICBT Pace Ballet – Swan Lake at the Wilshire Ebell, 4401 W. 8th St., Sat., Oct. 12, 2 & 7 pm, $73.34-$137.36, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/swan-lake-tickets-900698683007. Also at the Long Beach Terrace Theatre, 300 E. Ocean Ave., Long Beach; Sun., Oct. 13, 2 & 7 pm, $112-$155. https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0B0060C2164F2E03. Also at the Alex Theater, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Thurs., Oct. 17, 7 p.m., Fri., Oct. 18, 2 & 7 pm, $71-$169. https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0B00609AAE793C65. Also at La Mirada Theatre, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada; Sun., Oct. 20, 2 & 7 pm, $15.40-$121. Swan Lake ICBT Pace Ballet
American Contemporary Ballet at CBS Television City, 7800 Beverly Blvd., Fairfax; Fri.-Sat., Oct. 11-12, 18-19, 25-26, Thurs., Oct. 17, 24 & 31, 8 pm, $65-$140. XIII Inferno, The Rite, & Burlesque — ACB
Laye Rhythm – Switch at USC, Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center, 849 W. 34th St., University Park; Wed., Oct. 16, 7:30 pm, free w/reservation at https://visionsandvoices.usc.edu/eventdetails/?event_id=46667343376709&s_type=&s_genre=Dance .
Featured image: Jenn Freeman in “Is It Thursday Yet?” – photo by Matthew Murphy
Ann Haskins Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
