Street dance in Culver City and the Hollywood Hills; contemporary dance in East LA and El Sereno; Mexican folkloric in Santa Monica and the Hollywood Hills; Korean dance in Hancock Park; dancing musicals in Hollywood, Downtown, and Santa Monica; more dance this week, and a peek at next week.
Live This Week
A sign of summer
Several Arvo Pärt compositions anchor choreographer Raiford Rogers’ Islands in the Sea, this summer’s new work for his annual concert. Also on the program, Glassworks, set to Philip Glass and Restless to music by Zbyněk Matějů. Rogers recruits excellent professional dancers on summer hiatus from their companies to essay the architectural movement of his Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet. This year’s dancers include a number of current and former members of Los Angeles Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, and LA’s vibrant freelance ballet community. The company this year includes Gustavo Barros, Marco Biella, Sadie Black, Bobby Briscoe, Joshua Brown, Laura Chachich, Sarah-Ashley Chicola, Cassidy Cocke, Poppy Coleman, Lillyan Fife, Lester Gonzales Ramos, Anna Jacobs, Julianne Kinasiewicz, Tetyana Martyanova, Jasmine Perry, Lucas Segovia, Jacob Soltero, Mate Szentes, and Paige Wilkey. Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Cal State University Los Angeles, 5151 State University Dr., East LA; Sat., Aug. 16, 7 pm, $24-$63. Ticketmaster.
Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet – photo courtesy of the artists
For(d) the present
Compared with the past when it was an informal summer dance festival for LA-based companies, this venue has given dance short shrift in recent summers. But a few dance events are finally coming up, starting this week as Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company with guest choreographer César Macíme takes the stage with Serenatas y Bodas de México. The LA-based folkloric ensemble continues its 20 year effort to preserve and champion Mexican culture along with contemporary explorations. Onstage help comes as Teocalli Ballet Folklórico México and Mariachi Tesoro de San Fernando join the festivities that include a new dance inspired by Oaxaca’s muxes, who are recognized as a third gender within the Zapotec culture. The Ford Theater, 2851 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Sat., Aug. 16, 8 pm, $75-$102. Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet
Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company. Photo courtesy of the artists
A tale of endurance
As part of the ongoing celebration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Korea at the end of WWII, Kim Eung Hwa & Korean Dance Academy bring the dance drama, Gwanghui. Dancers and musicians fuse movement, music and Korean tradition to tell the story of Korean dancers who endured until that liberation. Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 743 S. Lucerne, Hancock Park; Sat., Aug. 16, 7 pm, $30-$100. Gwanghui
Kim Eung Hwa & Korean Dance Academy. Photo courtesy of the artists
Commercial to concert
Led by directors MaryAnn Chavez and Monika Felice Smith the LUME Collective pursues contemporary dance with a commercial edge. The four shows present work by five choreographers under the banner Desolation. The choreographers include Marco Palomino, Macy Swaim, MaryAnn Chavez, Mikey DellaVella, and Felice Smith. Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno; Sat.-Sun., Aug., 16-17, 6 & 8:30 pm, $12-$25, Zoom $14 (6 pm shows only). https://www.lumedance.com/
Marco Palomino. Photo courtesy of the artist
Like a tapestry
In ancient Mexico, the word for dance was itotia. Now in its 6th year, the World Itotia Festival is hosted by Ballet Folklorico Flor de Mayo and provides a spotlight for a range of international dance groups here in SoCal. The event annually celebrates the cultural mosaic of America with groups bringing dance from around the world in a ticketed Friday concert and a free, outdoor Saturday performance. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Fri., Aug. 15, 7 pm, $25. Ballet Folklorico Flor de Mayo. Also at 3rd St. Promenade, 1351 3rd St., Santa Monica; Sat., Aug. 16, 3 pm, free.
Ballet Folklórico Flor de Mayo. Photo courtesy of the artists
Immersive moves
For Mosaic: A Night of Cinematic Music, Live Strings, and Movement, dancer Darrel “Friidom” Dunn is featured, joined by dancers/choreographers Gvmby (Gum-Bee), Allie Costello, Cassandra Tsolis, and Jon Gifted. Each brings dance moves to the stage with Emersion Music playing live. Kirk Douglas Theater, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City; Thurs., Aug. 21, 7:30 pm, $28.52-$55.20. Mosaic
Darrel “Friidom” Dunn’s “Mosaic” with Alyse Rockett. Photo by Steven Vargas
Street and stories
Bring a hat and sunscreen for a sunny (hopefully), family-friendly morning with UniverSOUL Hip Hop as the street dancing story-tellers presents WonderLAnd. Expect the stage performance to morph into a communal dance party. As an LA Soundscapes event, the 10 am pre-show offers interactive activities and art-making aimed, like the show, for ages three years and up. Ford Theater, 2850 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Sun., Aug. 17, 11:30 am, $13. UniverSOUL Hip Hop
“& Juliet” – photo by Matthew Murphy
Two chances for “What if?”
Exploring what would have happened if, after finding Romeo dead, she had decided not to die with him, the Tony-nominated & Juliet opens for a month-long run downtown before moving to Costa Mesa for several more weeks. Preview clips at the venue website. Ahmanson Theater, Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown; Tues.-Thurs., 7:30 pm, Fri., 8 pm, Sat., 2 & 8 pm, Sun., 1 & 7 pm, thru Sun., Sept. 7, $51-$259. Center Theater Group- & Juliet Also at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Sept. 9-21. https://www.scfta.org/events/2025/juliet
Raven Scott in “The Fantasticks” – photo courtesy of the artist
Easy to remember
History’s longest running play, The Fantasticks, currently is steps away from the runway at Santa Monica airport. The song source for Try to Remember, Much More, and Soon It’s Gonna Rain, this is not known as a dancing musical, but choreographers Jennifer Oundjian and Erik Hall make the most of the dancing sections in this compact space (after this show, the respected Ruskin Group Theatre moves nearby where it will have two theaters, perhaps with space to add dance to its theater offerings, following the lead of West LA’s Odyssey and the Sierra Madre Playhouse). The cast, all strong singers, also can move, particularly Raven Scott who has CalArts in her background. She hasn’t a line or a song, yet as “The Mute” occupies space in a way that commands the eye whether she’s dancing, or a wall, or a witness propelling the musical along. Ruskin Group Theatre, 3000 Airport Ave., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm, thru Sun., Aug. 24. $30-$45. The Fantasticks
Shucked. Photo courtesy of the artists
Let the corn puns begin
This is the first time a dancing corn cob chorus line has been included among upcoming dance events, but it is one of the highlights of Shucked, the Tony-nominated musical about a farm town where the corn is dying and a swindling ‘corn doctor’ offers dubious help. A bit like The Music Man with corn instead of a boys band. The reviews from the Broadway run suggest lots corn puns, some hopeful fun, and Sarah O’Gleby’s choreography, including that corn cob kickline. After this national tour moves on, it returns in November for an Orange County run. An extended YouTube clip from Good Morning America (Shucks on GMA) provides a corny taste. Pantages Theater, opens Tues., Aug. 19, 7:30 pm, then Tues.-Thurs., 7:30 pm, Fri., 8 pm, Sat., 2 & 8 pm, Sun., 1 & 6:30 pm, thru Sun., Sept. 7, $44-$246. https://www.broadwayinhollywood.com/events/detail/shucked
A Peek at Next Week: (Aug. 22-28)
Lula Washington Dance Theatre – 45th Anniversary Celebration at The Ford, 2850 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Sat., Aug. 23, 8 pm, $29-$48. Lula Washington Dance Theatre
Lula Washington Dance Theatre in HALLOWED by Kyle Abraham – Photo: Timothy Norris, Courtesy of Ford Theatres
Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre – Carmen at The BroadStage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Sun., Aug. 24, 5:30 pm, $60.54-$125.23. Home | PBDT•LA
Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre. Photo by Cheryl Mann
16th Annual MixMatch Dance Festival at Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Aug. 29-30, 7 pm, Sun., Aug. 21, 2 pm, $25.99 (w/fee). MixMatch Dance Festival
MashUp Contemporary Dance Company – Choreography Open Mic Night at The Pickle Factory, 2828 Gilroy St., Frogtown; Sat., Aug. 23, 8 pm, $15. MashUp Open Mic Night
Featured image: Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet – photo courtesy of the artists
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
