Enigma math in Santa Monica, Algerian tradition sourced downtown, New York City club dance at University Park, folkloric celebration in the Hollywood Hills, the 1960s onstage in Santa Monica, diversity dance in El Sereno, more SoCal dance this busy week and a peek at next week.
Live This Week
Déjà vu, again
Choreographer Laura Karlin had a long-simmering fascination with English mathematician Alan Turing that predated the 2014 film with Benedict Cumberbatch. Over several years the choreographer and her contemporary company Invertigo Dance Theatre previewed segments that went beyond the mathematician’s World War II role in decoding the German Enigma machine and post war persecution for homosexuality, to draw insights from how Turing’s fascination with Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs intertwined with his work, his life, his sexuality, and his death. Over time, those considerations were refined and expanded. In fall 2019, the finished Formulae & Fairy Tales premiered to critical praise for the concept, choreography, dancing, and interweaving of movement and visual technology. A scheduled spring 2020 tour, like so much else, was cancelled with the onset of the pandemic. Fortunately, the company is back to full performance mode, returning Formulae & Fairy Tales to the venue where it so successfully premiered. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Oct. 13-14, 7:30 pm, $25-$70, Sat. (preshow soiree $250). Invertigo tickets.
Invertigo Dance Theatre – Formulae & Fairy Tales – Photo by Joe Lambie
And then they are 20
Among senior members of LA’s vibrant folkloric community, Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company celebrates its 20th anniversary with a special concert. Since 2003, the troupe founded by Jose Vences has brought Mexican folk dance to SoCal stages. This anniversary program includes dance from Mexican regions of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Tabasco, and the LA premiere of the Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) suite, just in time for the upcoming holiday. The Ford Theater, 2850 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Sat., Oct. 14, 8 pm, $49. The Ford.
Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company. Photo courtesy of the artists
And then they are one
This museum is turning one year old and celebrates with with a chance to enjoy the museum and a weekend of free events, including a performance by the excellent contemporary dance company Backhausdance. A full list of events at the website. Orange County Museum of Art, 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa; Sat., Oct. 14, 4 p.m. Orange County Museum of Art.
Backhausdance. Photo by Kira Bartoli
Four who blend
Drawing on ritual Algerian dance, in L’Onde (The Wave) the French Algerian choreographer Nacera Belaza brings a quartet of dancers who blend traditional and modern minimalist movement. The Saturday show includes a post-performance conversation Belaza. REDCAT, Disney Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Thurs.-Sat., Oct. 19-21, 8:30 pm, $30. REDCAT.
Nacera Belaza. Photo by Isabelle Levy-Lehman
Son of the 60’s
The hope, the hippies, the music, and the turmoil that marked the 1960’s are the focus of DRIFTER, a new work from Keith Johnson/Dancers. As a choreographer, Johnson brings a personal perspective. Born in 1960, the son of Vietnam veteran, Johnson confronted the issues that gave rise to the era and its events. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Oct. 13-14, 8:30 pm, $20. Highways Performance.
Keith Johnson & Dancers. Photo by Gregory RR Crosby.
Opera meets telenovela
Part of the LAX Festival presented by LA Performance Practice, Asunción: A Workshop offers an operatic telenovela from San Cha. LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown Arts District; Thurs., Oct. 19, 8 p.m. $14-$29. Asunción tickets.
San Cha. Photo courtesy of the artists
Style in the house
To capture the club scene in New York City from the 1970s to now, the choreographer Ephrat Asherie recruited dancers aged 28 to 80, plus three NYC club legends to join the Ephrat Asherie Dance company dancers. Rare archival footage is included as UNDERSCORED tours dance styles through the decades including funk, disco, house, hip hop, vogue, waacking, and hustle. USC Bovard Auditorium, 3551 Trousdale Pkwy., University Park; Thurs., Oct. 19, 7:30 pm, free. https://visionsandvoices.usc.edu/allevents/
Ephrat Asherie Dance – (L-R) Matthew West and Omari Wiles – Photo by Matthew Murphy
Giving voice
Under the banner Latine and Indigenous Artists Showcase, the periodic event Voices provides a showcase for a changing line-up of dance and other performance artists. The Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno; Sat., Oct. 14, 7:30 pm, derrick@stompinggroundla.org.
Weirdo Night. Photo courtesy of the artists
Going for variety
One of the performance elements in this museum’s biennial Made in LA, the variety show Weirdo Night, curated by Dynasty Handbag (a.k.a. Jibz Cameron) features dance by HAAGS (Cameron in a dual role with Emilia Richeson of Ponysweat). The line-up also includes LA performers Marcel Alcalá, Pippa Garner (in absentia), Page Person, and Xina Xurner (Young Joon Kwak and Marvin Astorga) with travesdee. The Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; Sat., Oct 14, 7:30 pm, free. Hammer Museum.
Dualities
Opening its 2023-2024 season, American Contemporary Ballet brings two ballets from artistic director Lincoln Jones. Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring provides the score for The Rite while Burlesque draws on music from several composers.The winter brings ACB’s Nutcracker Suite and spring promises ballets titled Jazz and Sapphires. ACB Studios, Two California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., Suite 2850, downtown; Thurs.-Sat. Oct. 12-14 & 19-21, Fri.-Sat., Oct. 27-28, 8 pm. $100-$140. American Contemporary Ballet.
American Contemporary Ballet. Photo by Caleb Thal
They are
Four choreographers are featured in We Are, a collaborative one night event involving Congress and LA Dance Project. The quartet of choreographers include Mike Tyus + Luca Renzi, JA Collective, Bret Easterling, and Bobbi Jene Smith + Or Schraiber. The evening includes paid bar and tacos at 6:30 pm and an after party with paid bar. The show may be sold out. LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown Arts District; Thurs., Oct. 12, 8 pm, $45, $25 students. LA Dance Project.
Bret Easterling. Photo by Sophie Kuller.
Just rehearsing
Last week, No)one Art House and Chris Emile began exploring the possibilities of a continuous rehearsal in a gallery space. The ongoing collaboration is planned for viewing Wednesdays through Sundays, now until January 14, 2024. Announced participants include Shauna Davis, Marcella Lewis, Jobel Medina, Jordan Slaffey, Qwenga, and Emile. Institute of Contemporary Art, Project Room, 1717 E. 7th St., downtown; Wed.-Sat. to July 14, free, time and other details at ICA LA.
LA Opera’s “Don Giovanni.” Photo by JC Olivera
Don Juan’s last arias
Choreographer Signe Fabricius provided the dance moves as LA Opera‘s 2023-2024 season opens with Mozart’s Don Giovanni (aka Don Juan). The Music Center Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Thurs., Oct. 12, 7:30 pm, Sun., Oct. 15, 2 pm, $24-$349 LA Opera.
A Peek at Next Week
Donna Sternberg & Dancers: MoonRock at Wende Museum, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City; Sat., Oct. 21, 2 pm, free w/required reservation at https://dsdancers.com/moonrock
Joaquín Cortés:The Essence of Flamenco at the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood & Highland, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Sat., Oct. 21, 8 pm, $65-$205.https://www.dolbytheatre.com/events/details/joaqun_corts
Regina Klenjoski Dance Company: The Golden Apple at James R. Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance; Sat., Oct. 21, 8 pm, $35-$45. https://torr-internet.choicecrm.net/templates/TORR/?prod=TOCA/GoldenApple#/events
Regina Klenjoski Dance Company. Photo courtesy of the artists
Akram Khan Company: Jungle Book reimagined at The Broadstage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Thurs.-Fri., Oct. 26-27, 7:30 pm, Sat., Oct. 28, 4 pm, $55-$95. https://broadstage.org/
Luminario Ballet: Zarathustra! At the Avalon Hollywood, 1735 N. Vine St., Hollywood; Sun., Oct. 22, 8 pm performance, $35-$125, 5:30pm gala reception $350-$550. https://luminarioballet.org/
Tiler Peck & Friends: Turn It Out at The Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara; Wed., Oct. 25, 8 pm, $51-$106. https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu/events-tickets/events/23-24/turn-it-out/ Also at the Soraya, Cal State Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat., Oct. 28, 8 pm, Sun., Oct. 29, 3 pm, https://thesoraya.org/ Also at San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego; Wed., Nov. 1, 7:30 pm, $25-$125. https://sandiegotheatres.org/ Also at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., Nov. 4, 7:30 pm, Sun., Nov. 5, 2 pm, $29-$69. https://www.scfta.org/events/2023/turn-it-out-with-tiler-peck
Tiler Peck. Photo courtesy of the artist
State Street Ballet: Giselle at the Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara; Sat., Oct. 21, 7:30 pm, Sun., Oct. 22, 2 pm, $38-$121, $26 children. https://ticketing.granadasb.org/18596/18601
Folklórico de Los Ángeles: Ofrenda at Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, 415 N. Glassell, Orange; Sun., Oct. 22, 3 pm, $37-$78. https://muscocenter.org/Online/default.asp
LAX Festival: Hide & Hide at LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown Arts District; Fri., Oct. 20, 8 pm, $14-$19. https://performancepractice.vbotickets.com/event/hide__hide_by_roger_q._mason/106592
Marissa Brown / Lone King Projects: How lonely sits the city at LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown Arts District; Sat., Oct. 21, 8 pm, $14-$29. https://performancepractice.vbotickets.com/event/howlonelysitsthecitybymarissabrownlonekingprojects/106443.
Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival (D2D). Photo by Guan Fang
Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival (D2D): Round 6 at Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center at Vista Del Mar, Cheviot Hills; Sat., Oct. 21, 2 pm, 4 pm, 5:45 pm, 6:30 pm, $20-$60. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dare-to-dance-in-public-film-festival-round-6-tickets-718687753417
Featured photo: Invertigo Dance Theatre – photo by George Simian
Ann Haskins Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
