A chaotic dance fest opens in Santa Monica; contemporary ballet one night only in East LA; a flamenco fest returns in Silverlake; Mexican folkloric on stage in Hollywood and Orange; disco hosted downtown; benefit dance events in West Adams and Santa Monica; more SoCal dance this week, plus a peek at next week.
Live This Week
Summer company
Professional ballet dancers on summer hiatus means top notch dancers are available for short term summer projects like Molly Lynch’s National Choreographers Initiative at UC Irvine and Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet that performs each summer at this venue. This year Roger’s dancers include a strong showing of current and alumni of Los Angeles Ballet to tackle works set to music by Philip Glass. Rogers’ architectural choreography is on view in the premiere of Glassworks with live music by pianist Hui Wu and the encore of Etudes. The dancers include Sadie Black, McKenzie Byne, Bobbie Briscoe, Joshua Brown, Laura Chachich, LilIy Fife, Lester Gonzales Ramos, Anna Jacobs, Hannah Keene, Tate Lee, Santi Paniagua, Elise Pekarek, Jasmine Perry, Lucas Segovia, and Mate Szentes. Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Cal State LA, 5151 State University Dr., East LA; Sat., Aug. 17, 8 pm., $38-$67. https://www.ticketmaster.com/raiford-rogers-modern-ballet-tickets/artist/924829
Forever-ing
Over three decades, Deborah Culver Lawlor was lauded for incubating Tony-award winning theater as the Fountain Theatre’s co-artistic director with Stephen Sachs. During those 30 years, Lawlor also indulged in a not-so-secret passion, mostly once a month, when the 80-seat theater hosted Forever Flamenco. Lawlor curated the series behind the scenes while artistic direction of each show moved among a roster of LA’s flamenco notables who brought in local and visiting flamenco-istas for an evening of live dance and music. With Lawlor’s death last year and Sach’s announced retirement, the fate of the flamenco series was bleak until the recent announcement that Forever Flamenco will return with weekly shows throughout August in honor of Lawlor and her legacy. This week, dancer/artistic director Laksmi Basile, “La Chimi” takes the helm for Casta Flamenca, joined by dancers Cristina Moguel and Briseyda Zarate, guitarist José Tanaka, and singer Pelele Mendez. The series’ future after August is up in the air, but at this moment, Forever Flamenco is for now. The Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., Silverlake; Sat., Aug. 17, 8 pm, $40-$50, $35 seniors, $25 students. https://www.fountaintheatre.com/
Doing some more
Four performances offering one encore and otherwise different works each weekend are the hallmark of CHAOS! fest Vol II. Hosted by Psychopomp Dance, each evening includes the company’s newest, Der Golem from artistic director Shenandoah Harris. This weekend also includes Stephanie Mizrahi’s VULGAR, Catilin Vanderveen’s SAFE, Mara Hancock and Harry Peterson’s Unable to Take You Off, Kat Lin’s light of our lives. Next weekend, the host company is joined by Stevie Lamblin’s Lair’s Mane, Lydia Mcdonald’s Artifice , Elsie Nielson’s Yutori, and a collaborative project titled The Wasteland. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Aug. 23-24, & 30-31, 8 pm, $35. https://www.highwaysperformance.org/
Piano dancing
The inspired pairing of long-legged tap dancer Caleb Teicher with pianist Conrad Tao entranced audiences last October at UCLA’s Nimoy Theater. The duo takes to another stage with Counterpoint II, spotlighting their signature interplay of music and tap dance. Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla; Fri., Aug. 16, 7:30 pm, $48-$108. https://theconrad.org/events/page/2/
Bellydance benefits ballet
Special bellydance guests and Middle-Eastern musicians join Ansuya in Cabaret Soirée. The bellydance showcase is a benefit for Westside Ballet. Announced guests include Amber Gamal and Soraya Jamal. Westside Ballet, 1709 Stewart St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Aug., 16-17, 7 pm, $33.85 Fri. tix at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/914906047617, Sat. tix at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/914923680357
For the culture
Dance suites celebrating the culture of Mexico come to the stage as Relámpago del Cielo Grupo Folklórico is joined by Mariachi Santa Monica in La Cultura Colorida. Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, 415 N. Glassell, Orange; Sat., Aug. 17, 7:30 pm, $63. https://muscocenter.org/Online/default.asp
About that revolution
Paying tribute to the freedom fighters of the Mexican Revolution, Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company unveils 100 Años de Libertad (One hundred years of Liberty). The dancers get musical help from Mariachi Tesoro de San Fernando. As of press time, no seats were available. The Ford Theater, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Sat., Aug. 17, 8 pm. https://www.theford.com/events/performances/3396/2024-08-17/100-anos-de-libertad
Remembering
This performance/gala dubbed Remember My Name Ball features dancers from the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. The evening will judge contestants on categories including vogue performance, runway model effect, and best dressed spectator. Details at the website. Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Rhimes Performing Arts Center, 1850 S. Manhattan Pl., West Adams; Sat., Aug. 17, 6 pm, $65-$100. https://www.debbieallendanceacademy.com/
Summer dancing
Part performance, part participatory event, the free, al fresco summer series Dance DTLA winds down the season with disco. A beginner/refresher lesson at 7 pm is followed by a chance to dance or just watch and enjoy until 11 pm. If this week is not your style, the full line up of upcoming dance options is at the website. Music Center, Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., Aug. 16, 7 pm, free. Music Center | Dance DTLA
A Peek at Next Week (August 23-30)
Bodies in Play – Dance is Pleasure at LA LGBT Center, 1125 N. McFadden St., Hollywood; Fri., Aug. 30 & Fri., Sept. 28, $25-58. https://ci.ovationtix.com/36684/production/1205350
Forever Flamenco – Caminos Flamencos at The Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., Silverlake; Sat., Aug. 24, 8 pm, $40-$50, $35 seniors, $25 students. https://www.fountaintheatre.com/
Dance DTLA – Birthday Bash Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., Aug. 23, 7 pm, $60. Music Center | Dance DTLA
Featured image: Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet – courtesy of the artists
Ann Haskins Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com