Wars and their impacts considered in Westwood; AIDS’ ongoing influence considered at University Park; Bollywood launches a new dance series in Altadena; New York contemporary companies visit Beverly Hills and Irvine; LA contemporary troupes set up in Santa Monica and Hollywood; visual artists incorporate dance in Hancock Park and downtown; more SoCal dance this week, plus a peek at next week.
Welcoming stage
This historic, intimate venue continues to expand its performance offerings with its first ever dance season showcasing seven of LA’s top companies. This week, Blue 13 Dance Company, known for its blend of contemporary and Bollywood influences, is the first of the seven. Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre; Sat., April 12, 2 & 7:30 pm, $12-$35. https://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org/calendar
Blue13 Dance Company (April 12) – Photo by Jordan Strauss courtesy of Sierra Madre Playhouse.
On target
In addition to his own celebrated contemporary choreography for the dancers of his A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, the namesake dancemaker brings a program with commissioned works by other choreographers. Considering logic and information,Year was choreographed by Andrea Miller along with the dancers. In The Shell of a Shell, company alum Rena Butler explores how external forces shape individuals. Paul Singh’s Just Your Two Wrists tackles loss and spontaneity, while Abraham contributes 2 x 4, set to a Shelley Washington score for two baritone saxophones. The Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Fri., April 11, 7:30 pm, Sat., April 12, 2 pm, $75.90-$86.90. A.I.M BY KYLE ABRAHAM
A.I.M by Kyle Abraham – Keturah Stephen and Kar’mel Antonyo Wade Small in “5 Minute Dance (You Drivin’?)” – Photo by Christopher Duggan
First-hand perspectives
Two female artists, both choreographers and both filmmakers, collaborate in the performance What is War. Wen Hui who grew in China during Mao’s Cultural Revolution and Eiko Otake who grew up in Post-WWII Japan began exploring how the shadow of war was inculcated into their bodies. The result, a film No Rule Is Our Rule and also this multi-media performance What is War commissioned by CAP UCLA and the Walker Center. UCLA, The Nimoy, 1262 Westwood Blvd., Westwood; Thurs., April 17, 8 pm, $38.08. Eiko Otake / Wen Hui: What is War | Apr. 17, 2025 | CAP UCLA
Eiko Otake and Wen Hui – Photo courtesy of the artists.
Contemporary with wry
Since founding his New York-based Parsons Dance Company in 1985, David Parson has choreographed an array of highly praised contemporary dances. Ironically, one of the most popular and inventive, captures airborne stillness, not movement. In Parson’s Caught, a solo dancer has a series of leaps in the dark, each momentarily illuminated in strobe light, as if the dancer is suspended in mid-air, an effect that invariably delights the audience. Parsons has shared that the effect involves timing and technology. That same blend of technique, theatricality, and often a wry sense of humor has become the popular company’s distinguishing characteristics. Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Thurs., April 17, 8 pm, $34-$130. https://www.thebarclay.org/Online/default.asp
Parsons Dance Photo by Lois Greenfield
In a rut
In this shared bill under the banner Double Bind, choreographers Steph Dai and Sophia Oddi unveil new contemporary works exploring what happens when one is stuck in body, mind, or both. Graduates of USC’s Kaufman School of Dance, they have danced with notable SoCal choreographers, and now spotlight their own ideas. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Apr 11-12, 8 pm, $25.63. https://www.highwaysperformance.org/events/steph-dai-and-sophia-oddi-double-bind-2025-04-11-20-00
Stephanie Dai. Photo courtesy of the artist
Impactful
Spanish dancer/choreographer Aimar Pérez Galí teams with Venezuelan dancer Daniel Méndez Piña to focus on AIDS’ impact on the queer dance world. Performance of A System in Collapse Is a System Moving Forward is followed by a discussion and reception. USC, Joyce J Cammilleri Hall, 3620 McClintock Ave., University Park; Wed., April 16, 7 pm, free w/reservation at https://visionsandvoices.usc.edu/events/46668983991694
Aimar Pérez Galí & Daniel Méndez Piña. Photo courtesy of the artists
Fairy tale on pointe
The respected OC training company Festival Ballet presents the classic story ballet The Sleeping Beauty. Professional guest artists Liudmila Konovalova from Vienna’s Wiener Staatsballett and Vsevolod Maievskyi from English National Ballet perform the leads with the highly polished pre-professional company dancers. Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Sat., April 12, 7 pm, Sun., April 13, 2 pm, $54-$74. Official Website | Irvine Barclay Theatre
Festival Ballet. Photo courtesy of the artists
Greek roots
Choreographer/dancer Esther Mira is part of the creative team and also dances in the cast of Hellas. Written and directed by Christopher William Johnson, this new play surveys the Greek roots of western civilization, complete with dance and fight choreography. The saga is present in part on Fridays, while Saturday and Sunday offer the full marathon production. The Broadwater Mainstage, 1076 Lillian Way, Hollywood; Fri., 7:30 pm, Sat.-Sun, 2 pm, thru May 11, $25-$30, $20-$25 students. https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/school-of-night/hellas
Will Rawls. Photo by Jared Sorells
Noting the gaps
His art installation Drama 1882 just wrapped at MOCA’s Geffen Museum in Little Tokyo. Now, just a few blocks up Bunker Hill, Will Rawls‘ siccer provides the artist’s dance perspectives on the documentation and distortion of Black bodies. Rawls uses stop-action film as a metaphor for gaps in surveillance. The title siccer references the Latin word “sic” that usually appears in brackets to indicate incorrect spelling, part of Rawls’ exploration of inaccuracies in the depiction of Black bodies. REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Thurs.-Sat., April 10-12, 8:30 pm, $27. https://www.redcat.org/events/2025/will-rawls
LA Dance Project and Doug Aitken’s “Lightscape.” Photo courtesy of the artists
Shifting to the light
LA Dance Project joins with artist Doug Aitken for his art installation Lightscape. Aitken launches five LADP dancers to make real time movement responses as they navigate a shifting visual and immersive sonic environment. Daphne Fernberger is the movement director. Lorrin Brubaker, Jeremy Coachman, Courtney Conovan, Audrey Sides and Hope Spears are the LADP dancers. At press time, both shows are close to sold out. Marciano Art Foundation, 4357 Wilshire Blvd., Hancock Park; Sat., April 12, noon & 2 pm, free w/reservation at https://marcianoartfoundation.org/event/doug-aitken-workshop-kcrws-live-activation-l-a-dance-project/
A Peek at Next Week 4-18 to 24
Mariana Valencia – Jacklean (in rehearsal) at REDCAT, Disney Hall, 631 2nd St., downtown; Thurs.-Fri., April 24-25, 8:30 pm, $27, $22 students. https://www.redcat.org/events/2025/mariana-valencia
Featured image: Kyle Abraham – photo courtesy of the artists
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
