Hip-hop history downtown, gender explorations in Lincoln Heights, Mexican folkloric dance in East LA, mountain searches in the Arts District, contemporary ballet in Costa Mesa, more SoCal dance, and a peek at next week.
Live This Week (Sept. 9-15)
In residence
The visceral choreography of Bobbi Jene Smith + Or Schreiber reflects their background with Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company, extensive international choreography credits, and a productive, ongoing relationship with LA Dance Project. With their latest, the evening-length Missing Mountain, they continue their choreographic residence with LADP and its dancers. Catch a preview at http://ladanceproject.org/. The dancing is at LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Arts District; Thurs-Sat., Sept. 14-16, & 28-30, $45, $35 seniors & under 35, $25 students. https://ci.ovationtix.com/35353/production/1171001?
Bobbi Jene Smith + Or Schreiber. Photo by Josh Rose
Gender on stage
Two days of performance by six LA-based companies and choreographers are the culminating events of Gender View, a multi-day exploration of dance choreography inspired by gender identity representation in different artistic genres and different cultures. The classes and workshops examine and consider visual and written work drawn from Russia, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas for insights into how gender in art reflects and is reflected in the dominant culture and its undercurrents. The two performances include work derived from those explorations. Participating choreographers include Grethcin Ackerman/Alejandro Perez, Seda Abay with her Kybele Dance Theatre, Andrea Burr/Jules Mara/Himerria Wortham, Brian Frette, Charlotte Katherine and Co., and Deborah Brockus, event producer and artistic director of the host company BrockusRED. A 6:30 pm talk with the artists precedes both shows. Fiesta Hall, Plummer Park, 1166 N Vista St, West Hollywood; Fri.-Sat., Sept. 15-16, 7 pm, $15 at door or venmo@brockusprojectstudios.
Kybele Dance Theater. Photo courtesy of the artist
The folks with the words
Paying tribute to the life of the hip-hop emcee/lyricist, 7NMS / Marjani Forté-Saunders and Everett Saunders bring their latest, Prophet: The Order of the Lyricist. Forté–Saunders is the choreographer/performer and Saunders is the composer/ sound designer. Developed over four years of research, the project also produced a film version commissioned by Jacob’s Pillow that involved D. Sabela Grimes as movement composer/sound archivist, Meena Murugesan as filmmaker/media designer, and photographer Marc Winston. Friday’s performance includes a post-performance talk with the 7NMS creative team moderated by hip-hop musicologist Rahaman “Kil” Kilpatrick. REDCAT at Disney Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Thurs.-Fri., Sept. 21-22, 8:30 pm, Sat., Sept. 23, 1 pm, $30, $24 students. https://www.redcat.org/events/2023/7nms.
7NMS / Marjani Forté-Saunders and Everett Saunders. Photo by Whitney Browne
The mariachis have it
Los Angeles-based folklórico group Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company joins grammy-award winning Mariachi Herencia de México in Herederos, honoring the past and celebrating the future of mariachi music. Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Cal State University Los Angeles, 5151 State University Dr., East LA Sat., Sept. 16, 7:30 pm, $20-$50. https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0B005EC7E1821CBA
Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company. Photo courtesy of the artists.
On tour
Choreographer Dwight Rhoden and dancer Desmond Richardson, co-founders of Complexions Contemporary Ballet are back again after successful Music Center performances this past June. This time the company is at a different venue with a different program: Choke (2006), Elegy (2020), Untitled (2023), Snatched Back from the Edges (2021), The ENDGAME/LOVE ONE (2022) and an excerpt from Hissy Fits (2006). Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., Sept. 16, 7:30 pm, $29-$99. https://www.scfta.org/events/2023/complexions-contemporary-ballet
Complexions Contemporary Ballet – Photo by Rachel Neville
Everybody dance
Live performances and the chance to learn this year’s National Dance Day routine are among the scheduled highlights. Look for workshops and performances from Lauren Lim Jackson, ballet folklorico Alianza Tanslatinx, Arts School for All Abilities, students from American Ballet Theatre’s school, Ballet Academy & Movement, Luis Aragon, Kaba Modern, and Miss Clair Voyance. Full schedule and details at https://www.scfta.org/events/2023/national-dance-day Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Argyros Plaza, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., Sept. 16, 1 to 5 pm, free with reservation at https://www.scfta.org/events/2023/national-dance-day
National Dance Day Photo courtesy of the artists
A Peek at Next Week (Sept. 22-28)
Invertigo Dance Theatre – Walk the Walk at LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Downtown Arts District; Fri.-Sat., Sept. 22-23, 8 pm, $15-$50, https://givebutter.com/c/walkthewalk
Danza Floricanto/USA – Mujer: Ayer, Hoy Y Siempre-Woman: Yesterday, Today and Always, at Floricanto Center For The Performing Arts, 2900 Calle Pedro Infante, Boyle Heights; Sat., Sept. 23, 7:30 pm, $45. https://danzafloricantousa.org/store-1
Danza Floricanto/USA. Photo by Frank Sandoval.
San Pedro Festival of the Arts 2023 at Peck Park, 560 N. Western Ave., San Pedro; Sat., Sept. 23, 1-4 pm, free. https://triartsp.com/
LA Opera – Don Giovanni (aka Don Juan) at the Music Center Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Sat., Sept. 23, 6 pm, Sun., Oct. 1 & 15, 2 pm, Wed., Oct. 4, Sat., Oct. 7, & Thurs., Oct. 12, 7:30 pm, $24-$349. https://www.laopera.org/performances/202324-season/don-giovanni/
Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre – A BALLET SPECTACULAR at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, Sun., Sept. 24, 5 pm, $55-$100. https://www.pbdtla.org/ or https://alextheatre.org/
Pacific Ballet Dance Theater. Photo by Tom Pease
Abriel and Kearian – Peony Picnic at Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Sept. 22-23, 8:30 pm, $15. https://www.highwaysperformance.org/shows
KOLO Dance Show: The Spirit of Modern Ukraine at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, Sat., Sept. 23, 5 pm, $55-$165. https://alextheatre.org/event/kolo-dance-show
Heidi Duckler Dance. Photo courtesy of the artists
Heidi Duckler Dance –Ebb & Flow@The Creek at Ballona Creek at the base of the Julian Dixon Library, 4975 Overland Ave., Culver City; Sat., Sept. 23, 9:30 am (clean-up with Heal the Bay Coastal Clean Up Day), performances at 10 & 11 am, free with reservation at https://heididuckler.org/events-cal/
Inland Pacific Ballet – Fall Dance Fest at Inland Pacific Ballet Academy, 9061 Central Avenue, Montclair; Fri.-Sat., Sept. 22-23, 6 pm, $110. https://ipballet.org/fall-fest;
Lineage Performing Arts – Gala Party at private residence, address provided with reservation; Sat., Sept. 23, $150+. Information & ticket options at https://www.lineagepac.org/
Featured image: BrockusRED – photo by Deborah Brockus
Ann Haskins Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
