A lovestruck festival opens in Laguna Beach; dueling festival finales in West LA; French/North African urban dance in Beverly Hills; swans flutter into four SoCal venues, guitarist amid dancers in Cerritos; faculty dancemakers in Irvine; more SoCal dance this week, and a peek at next week.
Live This Week (thru February 19)
From French streets
With its distinctive blend of urban street dance, Capoeira, polished contemporary movement, and an enormous swath of gold fabric that can create worlds, the French/North African Compagnie Hervé Koubi concludes the four city California leg of its current U.S. tour. The calling card is the critically acclaimed Sol Invictus, described by the choreographer “as a celebration of hope in dark times that comes from antiquity, celebrating bonds that unite intertwined with the cycle of the seasons.” The Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 19-20, 7:30 pm, Sat., Feb. 21, 2 pm, $42.90-$110.90. The Wallis
Compagnie Hervé Koubi in “Sol Invictus” – Photo by Melanie Lhote.
Odyssey wrap up #1
Early movies are the subject as choreographer Jennifer Jonassen and her Intrepid Dance Project unveil Silent Fiction. The world premiere features dancers Rachel Carlson-Zuniga, Nate DeLuca, Ari DeSano, Loreena Garcia, Doug Goldstein, Lise Hart, Juan D. Mendoza, Oneiros Villarreal-Burns, who also receive collaborator credit. Dance at the Odyssey at Odyssey Theatre 2, 2955 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Fri.-Sat., Feb. 13-14, 8 pm, Sun., Feb. 15, 2 pm, $25 (+$3 for credit cards). Dance At the Odyssey
Intrepid Dance Project – Silent Fiction – Photo by Lotta Photos
Odyssey wrap up #2
Under the direction of co-founder Barbara Műller-Wittmann, the Dance at the Odyssey festival closes out six weeks of dense programming that this year expanded to two theaters. The final festival entry, from Hannah Millar + Imprints, includes the world premiere of One World, with a special performance of Way in Over My Head choreographed by Peter Chu. Dance at the Odyssey at Odyssey Theatre 3, 2955 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Sat., Feb. 14, 8 pm, Sun., Feb. 15, 2 pm, $25 (+$3 for credit cards). Dance At the Odyssey
Hannah Millar’s Imprints Dance Company. Photo courtesy of the artists
Backstage and onstage
This year’s jam-packed Laguna Dance Festival opens four days of dance. First up on Thursday, the festival offers an informal “backstage” showcase with Ohio’s Dayton Contemporary Dance in advance of its mainstage performance on Friday. Saturday’s Valentine-themed show Heart 2 Heart, features pas de deux from a line up of visiting dancers. Several SoCal dance companies take the stage on Sunday. Check the website for more details. All performances at Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach; Backstage with Dayton Contemporary Dance–Thurs., Feb. 12, 6 pm, free with ticket; Dayton Contemporary Dance–Fri., Feb. 13, 7 pm, $75, $25 students; Heart 2 Heart (multiple companies in pas de deux program)–Sat., Feb. 14, 7 pm, $75-$250, $25 students, So Cal dance companies–Sun., Feb. 15, 3 pm, $75, $25 students. Laguna Dance Festival
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Photo courtesy of the artists
Those who teach, also do
Choreography by the faculty of UCI Claire Trevor Department of Dance is showcased in Dance Visions 2026. artistic directors Kelli sharp and Linsay Gilmour assembled a program reflecting a range of contemporary and classical dance. UC Irvine, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 19-20, 8 pm, Sat., Feb. 21, 2 & 8 pm, $34, $30 seniors, $13 students. The Barclay
UCI Dance Visions Photo courtesy of UC Irvine Dance Department
Swans a-flutter
The LA-based touring company World Ballet brings its Swan Lake to four SoCal venues, two with a live orchestra. The Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Tues.-Wed., Feb. 17-18, 7 pm, $67.05-$147.45 (w/fees). Swan Lake The Alex. Also at Fred Kavli Theatre (with live orchestra), 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; Wed., Feb. 19, 7 pm, $61.25 – $143.25. Swan Lake Fred Kavli Theatre. Also at Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita; Fri., Feb. 20, 7 pm, $50-$115 (w/fees) Swan Lake – Santa Clarita. Also at Irvine Barclay Theatre (with live orchestra), UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Tues.-Wed., Feb. 24-25, 7 pm, $91-146 (w/fees). Swan Lake-Irvine Barclay Theatre.
World Ballet. Photo courtesy of the artists
Guitar dancing
Known as a stunning guitarist and consummate showman, Benise is also known for surrounding his music with dancers adept at flamenco, tango, the many other genres he explores. This visit, the show is 25 Years of Passion. And yes, there will be dancers. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Dr., Cerritos; Sat., Feb. 14, 7:30 pm, $48-$142. Benise
Benise. Photo courtesy of the artists
Ballet benefit
A half dozen ballet dancers perform in Gala of Love, a benefit for American Dance Project and its Reseda-based ballet program for Special Needs children. The Learning Center Blackbox Theatre, 7915 Lindley Ave., Reseda; $100 & $150, Sat., Feb. 14, 5 pm, American Dance Project, Sun., Feb. 15, 2 pm, American Dance Project, $100-$150.
A Peek at Next Week (February 20-26)
Kyreeana Breelin Alexander – We Cool at UCLA, The Nimoy, 1262 Westwood Blvd., Westwood; Sat., Feb. 21, 8 pm, $38.08-$48.67. Kyreena Breelin Alexander
BODYTRAFFIC at Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., West LA; Thurs., Feb. 26, 8 pm, $42.85. BODYTRAFFIC
Grupo Corpo/LA Phil – Revolución diamantina at Disney Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown; Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 26-27, 8 pm, Sat.-Sun., Feb. 28-March 1, 2 pm, $84-$364.50. https://www.laphil.com/
Grupo Corpo. Photo courtesy of the artists
USC Kaufman Dance – Fresh Sesh at USC Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center, 849 W. 34th St., University Park; Thurs., Feb. 26, 5:30 & 7:30 pm., free with reservation USC Kaufman
Lineage Dance – Healing Blue at Lineage Performing Arts Center, 920 E. Mountain St., Pasadena; Sun., Feb. 22, 4 pm, $33.42, $23.02 students/seniors. Lineage Dance-Healing Blue
Grand Kyiv Ballet – Snow White at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. 8th St., Hancock Park; Fri., Feb. 26, 7 pm, $49-$79. https://booking.showimpulse.com/event-details/snow-white-los-angeles-02262026/
Alonzo King LINES Ballet – Ode to Alice Coltrane at the Soraya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat. Feb. 21, 8 pm $46-$94. LINES Ballet
Alonzo King LINES Ballet. Photo courtesy of the artists
Thuy Vân Dance at Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre; Sun., Feb. 22, 4 pm, $25. Thuy Van Dance
Colburn Tap – Tap Fest: Listen to This at Zipper Hall, Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Sat., Feb. 21, 7 pm, $35. Colburn School Tap
Featured image: Hannah Millar + Imprints – photo by Hannah Millar
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
