An Irish author inspires in Lincoln Heights, lessons from a women’s prison downtown, dance festival week 4 in West L.A., an anniversary celebration in Beverly Hills, Utah visitors tiptoe into Northridge, and more SoCal dance this week.
5. From Salt Lake to the sea
The romantic classic Giselle is the calling card as Ballet West makes its West Coast debut. Once the subject of a television reality show, the respected Salt Lake City ballet company makes its first venture to SoCal. The Soroya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Tues., Feb. 4, 8 p.m., $39-$95. https://www.thesoraya.org.
Ballet West’s “Giselle.” Photo by Beau Pearson.
4. What about Ginger?
Recreations of several classic Fred Astaire dance numbers and a new work from American Contemporary Ballet artistic director Lincoln Jones take the stage in Astaire Dances III. Metropolis Los Angeles, 877 S. Francisco St., Upper Level, downtown; Sat., Feb 1, 8 p.m., Sun., Feb. 2 & 9, 2 p.m., Fri., Feb. 7 & 14, 8 p.m., Sat., Feb. 8, 5 p.m., Thurs., Feb. 13, 8 p.m., Sat., Feb. 15, 5 & 8 p.m., thru Sun., Feb. 16, 2 & 5 p.m., $45-$105. https://www.acbdances.com.
American Contemporary Ballet in “Astaire Dances III.” Photo by Darren Dai.
3. When orange is the new orange
After starting the new year with a promise of a new event every month, Heidi Duckler Dance launches into February with One Leg at a Time which includes a performance, an exhibition, and a panel discussion woven into efforts to involving foundations, local governments and artists to develop opportunities and improve outcomes for women and girls. HDD’s involvement included a three month residency at a minimum security facility for women. Duckler and her ensemble of dancers, musicians, actors and librettists transformed the incarcerated women’s experiences and stories in a performance that is one part of the event. The gallery opens at 5:30 p.m. with a panel discussion at 7 p.m. in between the two performances. Track 16 Gallery, 1206 Maple Ave., Suite 1005, downtown; Sun., Feb. 2, 6 & 8 p.m., free with RSVP at http://heididuckler.org.
Heidi Duckler Dance in “One Leg at a Time.” Photo by Rob Daly.
2. Festival Week 4 by four
A bastion for live theater for four decades, over the past four years the Odyssey Theatre also has extended a welcome mat for dance with Dance at the Odyssey, presenting five weeks of LA-based, mostly contemporary dance companies. Week 4 of the Dance at the Odyssey Festival also launches LA Contempoary Dance Company‘s 15th anniversary season. For the occasion, this LA-based repertory company commissioned new works from Roya Carreras, Alice Klock, Roderick George and WHYTEBERG who tackle topics ranging from vintage video game characters to motherhood, the cycles in nature to identity. More about LACDC at https://www.lacontemporarydance.org//. The closing weekend is Victoria Marks (Feb. 7-9). Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., W.L.A.; Wed.-Fri., Jan. 29-31, 8 p.m., Sat., Feb. 1, 5 p.m., $15-$25. http://odysseytheatre.com/.
Dance at the Odyssey Festival’s LA Contemporary Dance Company. Photo by Taso Papadakis.
1. Lots of Love
With a focus on social and humanitarian issues, particularly from an African-American perspective, Lula Washington Dance Theatre has been a popular and significant force on the L.A. dance scene for more than 40 years. Continuing its laudable presentation of significant L.A.-based dance companies, this venue hosts the world premiere of To Lula with Love by Christopher Huggins and A Testimony by Tommie Waheed Evans. Both choreographers are LWDT alumni. The program also includes excerpts from Washington’s Fragments, Esie Mensah’s Zayo, and hip hop pioneer Rennie Harris’ Reign. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Bram Goldsmith Theater, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Thurs.-Sat., Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m., $29-$79. https://thewallis.org/.
Lula Washington Dance Theatre. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Other dance of note:
It may be a mostly non-verbal artform, but Dialogues and Sensations brings together LA artists committed to dance as a powerful means of communication about the shared human experience. ARC Pasadena, 1158 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; Sat., Feb. 1, 8 p.m., Sun., Feb. 2, 4 p.m., $20. https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4488090.
Jmy James Kidd and Michael Thurin. Photo by Tara Jane ONeil.
Choreographers Jmy James Kidd and Michael Thurin offer several quotes from Irish author Flann O’Brien as an intro to their performance dubbed Mary, God of Jesus. The evening includes three works Enter the Room, sanpush, and Delicate Perversion (babble). Pieter, 420 W. Avenue 33, Unit 10, Lincoln Heights; Sat., Feb. 1, 7 p.m., non-monetary donation to free bar or boutique. https://pieterpasd.com.
The inventive L.A. contemporary troupe BODYTRAFFIC offers a sampling of its repertoire in this performance in Orange County before heading out on a tour of California and Italy. Irvine Barclay Theater, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Thurs., Jan. 30, 8 p.m., $24-$100. https://www.thebarclay.org/buy-tickets/bodytraffic.html.
BODYTRAFFIC. Photo by Rob Latour.
For five decades Simone Forti has been a force in post modern dance, her movement innovations overshadowing her writing and sound works. With help from Tashi Wada, Forti arranged and performs selections from her sound oeuvre in Al Di Là: An Evening of Sound Works by Simone Forti. REDCAT, Disney Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Sat., Feb. 1, 8:30 p.m., $22, $18 students. https://www.redcat.org.
Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México de Silvia Lozano. Photo courtesy of the artists.
In 1960, Silvia Lozano founded Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México de Silvia Lozano, a company that has come to represent Mexico around the world. They have brought their joyous and colorful dances from the many regions of Mexico to more than 30 nations. The ensemble offers the second of two local performances. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Dr., Cerritos; Sat., Feb. 1, 8 p.m., $50-$85. https://tickets.cerritoscenter.com/events.
Cirque du Soleil’s “Volta”. Photo courtesy of the artists.
In its 41st and latest endeavor Volta, Cirque Du Soleil spotlights bicycle street sports and acrobatics associated with the world of BMX including a full-blown BMX park for what is billed as a “breath-taking finale of non-stop acrobatics on wheels.” The action will fill the signature Big Top here before moving to Orange county. Dodger Stadium, 1000 Vin Scully Ave., Elysian Park; Tues. thru Sun., March 8, various dates, times & ticket pricess at https://cirk.me/VOLTA. Orange County Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa; Wed., March 18 to Sun., April 19, various dates, times & ticket prices at https://cirk.me/VOLTA.
Cirque Fabrique. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Entertaining cirque troupes seems to be a major Canadian export. Montreal’s Cirque Fabrique arrives at the first of two local venues with Blizzard conjuring a winter circus. Carpenter Center, Cal State University Long Beach, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach; Sat., Feb. 1, 8 p.m., $40. http://carpenterarts.org. Also at Smothers Theater, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu; Thurs., Feb. 6, 8 p.m., $22-$45, $22 age 17 & under. https://arts.pepperdine.edu.
Golden Dragon Acrobats. Photo by Amitava Sarkar.
Acrobatics are the main attraction along with dance, colorful costumes and an array of traditional and contemporary music. It’s China’s Golden Dragon Acrobats. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Dr., Cerritos; Fri., Jan. 31, $40-70. https://www.cerritoscenter.com.
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