Texas emancipation celebrated in Crenshaw, Mid-City, and the Hollywood Hills, a sold-out preview extends in the Arts District, pandemic-delayed contemporary dance in Culver City, Persian myth retold in Santa Monica, cutting edge dancemakers in a downtown gallery and West LA, more So Cal dance this week and a peek at next week.
Live This Week
Here 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
LA Dance Project. Photo by Rose Eichenbaum
Parsing Partch
Known as much for creating musical instruments as for his innovative compositions exploring unequal intervals and microtonal scales, the enduring allure of the music of Harry Partch is captured by his grammy-award winning namesake PARTCH Ensemble. The musical group teams with choreographer Sarah Swenson and her Vox Dance Theatre for a live performance of Plectra & Percussion Dances. Composed 70 years ago and described as “an evening of dance theatre,” the 45-minute composition had never been choreographed in its entirety, until now. REDCAT at Walt Disney Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Fri.-Sat., June 17-18, 8:30pm, $25, $20 students. https://www.redcat.org/event/partch-ensemble
The messy places
Next up at the Dance at the Odyssey festival, Primavera Generatión Dance Collective brings its distinctive perspective on “mexicanidad(es)” in Nepanthla. Described as an exploration of “nepantla,” Gloria Anzaldúa’s theory of a messy in-between space, the subject seems appropriate as part of continuing efforts to create a new normal after two years of pandemic. The collective’s tone ranges from the serious to the affectionately wry, their oeuvre including a tribute to the lowrider car culture. The Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Thurs.-Sat., June 17-18, 8pm, Sun., June 19, 2pm, $25, $15 students. https://odysseytheatre.com/whats-on/dance-at-the-odyssey/
Primera Generación Dance Collective in “Nepantla” – Photo by Gabriel Gutierrez
Juneteenth #1 (And Texas is still at it)
Joining an array of musicians and singers, Debbie Allen Dance Academy provides a dance component for Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom. A joyful occasion marking the post-Civil War date in 1865 that federal troupes were sent to compel hold-out Texas to accept the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery. The Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood; Sun., June 19, 4:30pm, $20-$260. https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/
JazzAntiqua Dance & Music Ensemble. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Juneteenth #2
For those unable to travel east for the famed Jacob’s Pillow summer dance festival, JazzAntiqua Dance & Music Ensemble offers a free preview as part of this weekend’s Juneteenth festivities. New works and repertoire favorites are scheduled with a Q&A to follow. A lovely chance to give a nice send-off to one of two LA-based companies (BODYTRAFFIC is the other) invited to the prestigious east coast festival. Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 W. Washington Blvd., Mid-City; Sun., June 18, 3pm, free. https://www.ebonyrep.org/
Juneteenth #2
This community celebration combines Juneteenth and Father’s Day festivities in an afternoon of outdoor performances and barbecue. For the occasion, host Lula Washington Dance Theater premieres Pages from Negro History to music by William Grant Still. Other participating performers include The Fernando Pullum Youth Jazz Orchestra, music from Dwight Trible and special guests. The event is limited to 300 guests and advance reservation is required. Lula Washington Contemporary Dance Studios, 3773 Crenshaw Blvd., Crenshaw; Sun., June 19, noon-5pm, free with reservation at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/juneteenth-a-classical-music-and-dance-festival-tickets-351407739007.
Lula Washington Dance Theater. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Live return
After two years constrained to livestream, LA Choreographers & Dancers/Louise Reichlin & Dancers return to live performance. Reichlin’s Urban and Tribal Dances boasts a reworking of all six of its segments. Other announced works include Brandenburg from Tap Dance Widows Club and Reboot! Reboot! 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
Louise Reichlin & Dancers. Photo courtesy of the artists.
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
taisha paggett. Photo by Justin Sullivan.
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/
Marta Corrasco. Photo by David Ruano.
Salsa season
The popular summer series continues with the Latin flavors of salsa. Dance DTLA Salsa offers a free lesson followed by open dancing. Come to dance or to enjoy the music and free show. Music Center, Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., June 17, 7-11pm, free. https://www.musiccenter.org/
Dance DTLA. Photo courtesy of the Music Center.
Bound only by dance
With dancers from professional to aspirational and dance styles ranging from contemporary to ballet to tap to street dance, LA Unbound is known for presenting an eclectic and entertaining showcase for dance. Glendale Community College, 1601 E. Mountain St., Glendale Sat., June 18, 7pm, $18-$26. https://29564.danceticketing.com/r/3193/22624/
Hex Ensemble in “Conference of the Birds.” Photo by Sarah M Golonka.
Soulful birds
Dancers from the Hex Ensemble join musicians, soloist singers, and the C3LA (Contemporary Choral Collective of Los Angeles) in the premiere of The Conference of the Birds. Based on Persian myth and Sufi poet Attar’s text about the soul’s journey seeking the divine, this new oratorio has music by Fahad Siadat, libretto by Sholeh Wolpé, and choreographed/directed by André Megerdichian. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Sat., June 18, 7:30pm, Sun., June 19, 2pm, $35-$60. https://broadstage.org/
A Peek at Next Week
Heidi Duckler Dance hosts Ebb & Flow at LA State Historic Park, 1245 N. Spring St., Chinatown; Sat.-Sun., June 25-26, 3pm, free with reservation at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ebb-flow-chinatown-registration-350470906917.
Vida Flamenca XIa Festival Cumbre Flamenca The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Sun., June 26, 6:30pm, $25-$90 (includes pre-show paella & hors d’oeuvres). https://www.itsmyseat.com/events/789030.html
Teresa Toogie Barcelo Dance at the Odyssey Festival The Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Thurs.-Sat., June 23-25, 8pm, Sun., June 26, 2pm, $25, $15 students.https://odysseytheatre.com/whats-on/dance-at-the-odyssey/
Dance at the Odyssey. Photo courtesy of the artists
SW!NG OUT at the Music Center, Ahmanson Theatre & Jerry Moss Plaza (dance party after the performance), 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri.-Sat., June 24, 7:30pm, Sun., June 26, 2pm. $15-$40. https://www.musiccenter.org/tickets-free-events/tmc-arts/dance/swing-out/
Getty Festival at Pacoima at Pacoima City Hall, 13520 Van Nuys Blvd, Pacoima; Sat.-Sun., June 25-26, 11am-5pm, free https://www.pacoimabeautiful.org/
Oguri & Andrés Corchero. Photo by Pep Daudé
Oguri & Andrés Corchero in Flower of the Season 2022 at Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Fri-Sat., June 24-25, 8pm, Sun., June 26, 4pm, free. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/345092991427
South Bay Festival of the Arts Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance; Sat., June 25, 11am-5pm, free to $150. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/southbay-festival-of-the-arts-tickets-261389903237
LA Dance Moves Back to the Heart Online from August 2021 live performance; June 25-26, $37.50 (viewable for 24 hours) https://www.ladancemoves.com/upcoming-events
Featured Image: LA Dance Project photo by Lorrin Brubaker
Ann Haskins Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
