Full Swing Season

San Francisco visitors bring gothic horror ballet to Costa Mesa; legendary modern’s centennial in Northridge; site specific dance celebrated in Westwood, Crestwood Hills, and Downtown; flamenco in Westwood, Malibu and Long Beach; tango in Glendale; contemporary ballet with ‘zah’ in Santa Monica; Irish dance in Irvine, dance in progress downtown and in Culver City; more SoCal dance this week, plus a peek at next week.

Live This Week

It’s ALIVE!

Gothic horror in pointe shoes and rock concert-worthy pyrotechnics are the calling cards as the superb dancers of San Francisco Ballet bring Liam Scarlett’s full-length Frankenstein. The ballet’s success early in San Francisco Ballet’s last season prompted encore performances at the end of the season. The choreographer used a palette of contemporary choreography and stage technology to paint a cautionary tale of unexpected consequences unleashed when tampering with new possibilities of creation. This contemporary return follows SF Ballet’s July Hollywood Bowl performances with the LA Phil that emphasized classical repertoire. This time the Pacific Symphony provides live music for what hopefully augurs for more frequent visits under artistic director Tamara Rojo. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Thurs.-Fri., Oct. 2-3, 7:30 pm, Sat., Oct. 4, 2 & 7:30 pm, Sun., Oct. 5, 1 pm, $59-$179. San Francisco Ballet – Frankenstein

 
Dance gangs

The combined Broadway magic of Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Jerome Robbins captured in West Side Story launches the LA Opera season with a new production that sets a dance company worth of movers soaring to an opera orchestra of a size that most theaters can only envy. Robbins’ drew on his New York City Ballet as well as his Broadway jazz chops creating dances that fit with Bernstein’s melodies and Sondheim’s lyrics in a close knit seldom matched before or since. Production choreographer Joshua Bergasse has set Robbins original choreography, as sharp as the finger snap that ignites this iconic, still contemporary retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Sat., Oct. 4 & Oct. 11, 7:30 pm, Sun., Oct. 5 & Oct. 12, 2 pm, Wed., Oct. 8, 7:30 pm, Sat $32.50-$350. West Side Story

       
It’s in the art

In Searching for Goya, Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca draw inspiration from the paintings of Spanish artist Francisco Goya. The dancers, musicians and singers promise to blend live flamenco dance with video projections that include Goya’s art. Smothers Theater, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu; Thurs., Oct. 2, 7:30 pm, $30.50-$58. Soledad Barrio-Pepperdine. Also at Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Cal State University Long Beach, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach; Sat., Oct. 4, 8 pm, $38.75-$78.75. Noche Flamenca

 
When Graham met Lenny

During their lives, choreographer Martha Graham and composer Leonard Bernstein never worked together, until now. A musical excerpt discovered in correspondence between the dancemaker and the music maker inspired a new commission En Masse, choreographed by Hope Boykin to music by Leonard Bernstein and Christopher Rountree of WildUp (which will play live). The new work is the centerpiece of this performance continuing the centennial celebration of the Martha Graham Company. Also on the program, Graham’s 1947 Night Journey, a rarely seen work based on Oedipus, and We the People choreographed by Jamar Roberts with a folk score by Rhiannon Giddens, a 2024 creation inspired by Graham’s longstanding sociopolitical critique. The Soraya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat., Oct. 4, 8 pm, $59-$117. Graham 100

 
When Verdi did ballet

Under the banner Spellbound, Kenneth Walker Dance Project’s fall repertory show includes Birthday Variations choreographed by the late Gerald Arpino for the Joffrey Ballet. Set to Giuseppe Verdi’s ballet music from his operas, the work for five ballerinas and a solo male dancer has six variations and a pas de deux. Blackbox Theater, Westside Ballet, 1709 Stewart St., Santa Monica; Sun., Oct. 5, 8 pm, $33. Kenneth Walker Dance Project

 
Made where?

As part of the biennial Made in LA, choreographer Will Rawls stages monthly site-specific performances titled Unmade. The work promises to take visitors in, around, and outside the museum’s galleries. The dancers include Gurmukhi Bevli, Maya Billig, Ajani Brannum, Jeremy De’jon Guyton, Tiara Jackson, and Kensaku Shinohara. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; Sun., Oct. 5, Sat., Nov. 1, Sat., Dec. 6, Sat., Jan. 17, 2026, Sat., Feb. 7 & 28, 2026, noon to 4 pm, free. Hammer Museum

 
Going home

The site-specific performers of HomeLA present The Weight of a Dream with choreographer Genna Moroni and director Christina Burchard tackling ideas and ideals of affordable homes and resilient community. The MHA Site Office, 990 Hanley Ave., Crestwood Hills  Sat., Oct. 4, 7:30 pm, $35. HomeLA-Genna Moroni

 
Is she blue?

Choreographer Rosanna Gamson, in creative partnership with Gretchen Ackerman and Marissa Brown, previews the new duet Blue. The premiere performance will be at the Feng Dance International Gala in Tainan, Taiwan; SoCal gets the first peek along with a chance for post-performance discussion. Pieter Performance Space, 2701 N. Broadway, Downtown; Sun., Oct. 5, 4 pm, free w/reservation at RGWW-Blue

 
Irish wit

After its debut Off-Broadway last season, A Taste of Ireland stops off at two local venues on its national tour. The show offers a tour of Ireland’s chaotic history in dance and music. Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Thurs., Oct. 9, 7:30 pm, $59-$89. The Irvine Barclay. Also at The Alex Theater, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Sat., Oct. 11, 7 pm, $79-$89. https://www.thealex.com/shows

Making progress

This Monday night series enters its fourth season showcasing emerging dance from LA-based choreographers. Works in Progress (WIP) Season 4 bring work by Mamie Green and Emily Mast to the stage. Wende Museum, Glorya Kaufman Community Center, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City; Mon., Oct. 6, 7:30 pm, free w/reservation at WIP

 
Two to…?

Relatively new Patagonia Tango Company takes the stage with 12 resident company dancers plus guest artists from Argentina. Artistic directors Oscar Mansilla and Romina Rodriguez provide the choreography for Furia Tanguera, with additional repertory by guest choreographers. The Alex Theater, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Fri., Oct. 3, 8 pm, $43-$103. https://www.thealex.com/shows

Audience choice

Choreographer Seda Aybay and the dancers of the contemporary Kybele Dance Theater offer the audience the option to observe or participate in simyaci – Alchemist. Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Dr., Fullerton; Thurs., Oct. 9, 7:30 pm, $35. Kybele Dance Theater

 
Going backstage

With its blend of acrobatics, cirque and mechanicals, Cirque Mechanics promises to take the audience backstage at the circus in Tilt! Pepperdine University, Smothers Theatre, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy.; Tues., Oct. 7, 7:30 pm, $33-$63. Cirque Mechanics

Museum dance

Since 1966, Grupo Folklórico de UCLA has celebrated Mexican heritage and brings a performance of folkloric dance and song for Hispanic Heritage Month. UCLA Fowler Museum, 308 Charles E Young Drive North, Westwood; Wed., Oct. 8, 6 pm, free w/reservation  Fowler folklorico

 
How little?

Choreographer turned playwright Rudi Goblen’s Little Boy/Little Man includes moves from choreographer Christopher Scott. Geffen Playhouse,10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood; Thurs., Oct. 9, then Wed.-Thurs., 7:30 pm, Fri., 8 pm, Sat., 3 & 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm, thru Sun., Nov. 2, $45-$139.  Little Boy/Little Man

 
Offstage gala

For forty years, the vibrant, site-specific assemblage of dancers, musicians, actors, singers, and all around performers that constitute Heidi Duckler Dance have taken audiences on eye-opening journeys through metropolitan LA and its varied cultural history. From historic jails and underground redcar yards, the concrete walls of the LA river to many-masted sailing vessels, HDD has been a force on the LA dance scene. The four decade milestone is celebrated in the company’s annual gala, dubbed 40 Years Off the Stage, appropriately is at an historic downtown building. The California Club, 538 Flower St., Downtown; Sat., Oct. 4, 5 pm, $400 and up.  Heidi Duckler 40th Anniversary

Onstage gala

A curated ballet performance by State Street Ballet, plus the usual gala dinner and auction highlight Santa Barbara’s professional ballet company’s 31st Anniversary Gala. Music Academy of the West, 1070 Fairway Rd., Santa Barbara; Sat., Oct. 4, 5 pm, $350 and up. RSVP for Annual Gala — State Street Ballet

 
It’s a ten

Ten performers, including dancers, each with ten minutes to win over the audience. It’s the mostly monthly, first Monday series, Max 10. Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Mon., Oct. 6, 8 pm, $15,  Max10

A Peek at Next Week  (Oct. 10-16)

Andrew Pearson/bodies in play – The Making of Our Dancer’s Project at Pieter Performance Space, 2701 N. Broadway, Downtown; Sat., Oct. 11, 7:30 pm, free w/reservation at Bodies in Play reservations

USC Kaufman & Paris Conservatory – City of Angels/City of Light (sneak peak and Q&A) at USC Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center, 849 W. 34th St., University Park; Thurs.-Fri., Oct. 16-17, 7:30 pm, free. USC Kaufman

BODYTRAFFIC at Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; Fri., Oct. 10, 8 pm, $42-$77.  BODYTRAFFIC

 
Reborn Arts – Dance for Peace at The Academy of Dance, 2431 N. Tustin Ave., Suite Q, Santa Ana; Thurs., Oct. 16, 6:30 pm, free w/reservation at Reborn Dance

American Contemporary Ballet – Death and the Maiden and Burlesque: Variation IX at ACB Studios, Bank of America Plaza, Co-150, 333 S. Hope St., Downtown; Opens Fri., Oct. 10, then Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, to Sat., Nov. 1, $65-$140. ACB

Ballet Project OC – Starbound at Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Thurs., Oct. 16, 8 pm, $41.25 -$90. Ballet Project OC

Nancy Evans Dance Theatre & Pasadena Dance Theatre – Convergence at Pasadena Dance Theatre, 1985 Locust St., Pasadena; Sat., Oct. 11, $5:30 pm, $65 (includes pre-show reception) NEDT & Pasadena Dance Theatre

Keshet Chaim Dance Ensemble with the Jewish Symphony – LA Voices at Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. 8th St., Hancock Park; Sun., Oct. 12, 4 pm, free, waitlist at Keshet Chaim Dance Ensemble

Benita Bike DanceArt at Los Angeles Mission College, AMP Theatre, 13356 Eldridge Ave., Sylmar; Tues., Oct. 14, 4 pm, free. Benita Bike’s DanceArt

Diavolo – Escape at L’Espace Diavolo Studios, 616 Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 6 pm, thru Sun., Nov. 23, 6 pm,  $51.74-$93.14. Diavolo – Escape

 
Pennington Dance Group, Benita Bike DanceArt and other dance groups part of Artnight Pasadena at ARC Pasadena, 1158 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; Fri., Oct. 10, 6-10 pm, free. Benita Bike’s DanceArt

Brian Golden, Illeana Vasquez Giselle Boustani-Fontenele, and Annette Torres – Demand to Be Heard at Wisteria Theater, 7061 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood; Sun., Oct. 12, 6 pm, $25. Demand to Be Heard Artists Showcase

Benise – 25 Years of Passion at Lobero Theatre,  33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara; Fri., Oct. 10, 7:30 pm, $46.50-$102.50. https://www.lobero.org/events/benise-25-years-of-passion-2025/. Also at Fred Kavli Theatre, Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; Sat., Oct. 11, 7:30 pm, $33-$113. https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0B006174D9C42537        

Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final at Intuit Dome, 3930 W. Century Blvd., Inglewood; Sat., Oct. 11, 7:30 pm, $27-$80. Red Bull Dance Your Style Finals

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Featured photo:  San Francisco Ballet in Frankenstein. Photo by Lindsey Rollo

Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com