Finding a New Equilibrium

An al fresco balancing act sails into Marina Del Rey, a sold out preview extends in the Arts District, pandemic-delayed New Yorkers celebrate Mozart in Santa Monica; a sleeping princess awakens in Glendale, a contemporary take on tokenism in West LA, cutting edge dancemakers in a downtown gallery, more So Cal dance this week and a peek at next week.

Live This Week

Sleeping? or just a two year quarantine?

When Covid-19 shut down California in March 2020, Los Angeles Ballet was about to open the curtains on its sumptuous production of the full-length Sleeping Beauty. Two years on, like that slumbering princess, LA’s own professional ballet company has awakened and picked up where it left off when the entire realm of live performance took an involuntary snooze. LAB launched performances in the South Bay and last week moved to West LA. This week the dancers take their toe shoes and tutus on the freeway for the season finale in Glendale. The Alex Theater, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Sat., June 11, 7:30pm, $34-$131 (student, senior & military discounts available). https://www.losangelesballet.org/

Delayed, not dismayed

One may arrive as an enfant terrible, but stick around and stick to a singular vision rooted in the music, and in time, one might be hailed as the pre-eminent living choreographer. That’s what Mark Morris has done over the decades and he brings his Mark Morris Dance Group to town show their stuff in Mozart Dances.  The choreographer affords the dancers ample opportunity to interpret the composer’s music including Mozart’s Piano Concertos Nos. 27 and 11 as well as Sonata for Two Pianos. Originally pandemic-postponed from the venue’s 2020-2021 season, it’s a welcome chance to catch up. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Thurs.-Sat., June 9-11, 7:30pm, Sun., June 12, 2pm, $60-$135. https://thebroadstage.org/

Token consideration

Sporting a new, evening-length work from guest choreographer Roderick George, LA Contemporary Dance Company opens this year’s Dance at the Odyssey Festival with Dancing in Snow. George expanded his consideration of assimilation, cultural appropriation, and tokenism in western society from a solo he created for Jamila Glass. That solo, Tainted, was part of the 2020 Dance at the Odyssey fest. Glass returns in the expanded work along with LACDC dancers Kate Coleman, Nicole Hagen, Colleen Hendricks, JM Rodriguez, Ryan Ruiz, plus guest artists Edgar Aguirre, Sam McReynolds, and Dave x. A full list of festival offerings extending into the summer is at the website. The Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Thurs.-Sat., June 9-11, 8pm, Sun., June 12, 2pm, $25, $15 students. boxoffice@odysseytheatre.com

Ah, the daredeviltry

The dancers, gymnasts and movers assembled by choreographer Jacques Heim, bring their high-flying movement and the architectural structures that are the signature of Diavolo Architecture in Motion to this open-air Culture Jam. The turbo-charged drumming by TAIKOPROJECT opens the at 11:30am with Diavolo at 1:30pm. Burton Chase Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey; Sun., June 12, 11:30am & 1:30pm, free. https://visitmdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Marina-Culture-Jam-Event-Flier.png

Here again, for now

When LA Dance Project announced an April preview of choreographer Benjamin Millepied’s latest, Be Here Now, the shows quickly sold out. These shows, still being described as “previews,” offer additional opportunities to view LADP’s powerful dancers in the artistic director’s new work. LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Arts District; Tues.-Fri., thru June 24, 8pm, $30, $15 under 30 years. http://ladanceproject.org/tickets

High time in Ojai

While music is its emphasis, this year’s Ojai Music Festival includes choreography and dance from Bobbi June Smith, Or Schraiber and Julia Eichten. All three are familiar to LA audiences from their work with LA Dance Project. A complete list of dance and music events at the website with the festival centered at Libbey Bowl, Libbey Park, 210 S. Signal St., Ojai; Thurs.-Sun., June 9-12. https://www.ojaifestival.org/2022-festival-schedule/  https://www.ojaifestival.org/2022-ojai-festival-updates/

Dealer’s choice

This two week assemblage of installation and performance is augmented by workshops and lectures by a dozen LA-based contemporary choreographers. It could be called a festival, instead curators by Jennie MaryTai Liu and Alana Frey dubbed it Exhibition: Knees, Schools, Urges. Cooperatively produced by Pieter and the host venue, the participant line-up includes Neha Choksi, Alison D’Amato, Milka Djordjevich, devika Wickremesinghe, Jacqueline Shea Murphy, Peter Hernàndez, Jmy James Kidd, Tara Jane O’Neil, Sebastian Hernandez, taisha paggett, Perin Hailey McNelis, and Ajani Brannum. The Box Gallery, 805 Traction Ave., Little Tokyo; thru- Sat., June 18, Gallery is open 11am to 6pm, schedule of performers at the website; free with donations encouraged. https://www.theboxla.com/exhibitions.php?show=upcoming

Moving around

Two days of free performances as the Getty Center’s traveling festival goes midtown for The Getty 25:  Celebrates Koreatown Festival. Among the announced dance events look for KOA Dance Federation, Don Kim Korean Classical Music & Dance, and Nueva Antiquera Dance Workshop. Full schedule at the website. Jamison Services’ Liberty Park, 3700 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown; Sat.-Sun., June 11-12, 11am to 5pm, free. https://www.kyccla.org/special-events/getty-25-community-arts-festival/

Something in the way she moves

Set in a shadowy underworld overseen by night watchmen, performance artist Marta Carrasco wrote, produced and performs her latest, Perra de Nadie (Nobody’s Bitch). Latino Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., downtown; Wed.-Sat., June 15-25, 8pm, Sun., June 19 & 26, 4pm, $10-$58. https://www.latinotheaterco.org/

Sounds that move them

Promising a gallery evening of noise and contemporary dance, the dance theater company Volta Collective provides the dance and sound artist Peter Kalish provides the noise for Backwash. The work explores the power and allure of rage. Navel LA, 1611 S. Hope St., downtown; Sun., June 12, 8pm, $15. https://tickets.voltacollective.com/tix

Scholars with talent

Four high school-aged dancers selected as the two finalists in dance and the two finalists in ballet take the stage as part of the Music Center Spotlight performance on the stage of the Ahmanson Theatre, Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Wed., June 15, 7pm, $5. https://www.musiccenter.org/experience-learn/experience-learn/for-high-school-students-young-adults/spotlight/

A Peek at Next Week

Primera Generación Dance in Nepanthla At the Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Thurs.-Sat., June 17-18, 8pm, Sun., June 19, 2pm, $25, $15 students. boxoffice@odysseytheatre.com

Debbie Allen Dance Academy part of Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom at the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood; Sun., June 19, 4:30pm, $20-$260

 DTLA Salsa  at Music Center, Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., June 17, 7-11pm, free. https://www.musiccenter.org/

LA Choreographers & Dancers/Louise Reichlin & Dancers at The Culver City Ivy Substation, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City; Fri., June 17, 7pm, Sat.-Sun., June 18-19, 2pm, $25. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/louise-reichlin-dancers-2-years-of-this-time-without-end-tickets-344401182207

LA Unbound at Glendale Community College, 1601 E. Mountain St., Glendale Sat., June 18, 7pm, $18-$26. https://29564.danceticketing.com/r/3193/22624/

Conference of Birds at The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Sat., June 18, 7:30pm, Sun., June 19, 2pm, $35-$60. https://thebroadstage.org/

Featured Image: Diavolo Architecture in Motion Photo by George Simian

Ann Haskins Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com