Choreographers who can do in Long Beach, dancing to the movies in Hollywood, al fresco dance in a downtown park, dancing by the sea in Santa Monica, a festival’s fringe moves to Lincoln Heights, and more SoCal dance this week.
5. And the librarian won’t shush them!
It’s a busy weekend for Fuse Dance Company as director Joshua D. Estrada-Romero and the dancers open this mountainside venue’s annual dance series, then the next day take part in the L.A. Dance Festival Fringe Festival. Under the banner Home, this performance showcases the dancers in a collection of pieces considering families and interpersonal connection. Curated by Jamie NIchols, this season’s library series also includes Grayscale (May 11) and the hip hop company Versa-Style (May 18). Brand Library & Art Center, 1601 W. Mountain St., Glendale; Sat., Apr. 27, 6 p.m., free. https://www.brandlibrary.org.
4. Can’t we just get along?
Nearly 27 years after riots racked Los Angeles, the Friendship Concert IV marks efforts to promote tolerance, diversity and love with a line up of artists reflecting this city’s diversity and community potential. Presented by The Artists Platform (TAP), announced participants include James Mahkween, Joy Williams, Sonia Ochoa, Evelyn Ifiegbu, Sunjoo Yeo, Michael Kim-Sheng, Pat Taylor, Ramja Harishankar, Juli Kim, Stephanie Cheung, Haihua Chiang, Yuanyuan Jiao, Joseph Wiggans, and Isabella Weiss. The dance genres range from Korean to contemporary to Afro-Cuban and South Asian. Ari Hall, Korean Cultural Center, 5505 Wilshire Blvd., 3rd Floor, Mid-City; Sat., Apr. 26, 7:30 p.m., free with reservations at www.kccla.org.
3. Defying/defining the times
The 1980’s in New York’s East Village saw the growth of gender performance art, decimation by the AIDS epidemic, and the rise of label-defying John Kelly as a leader and survivor. Trained as a dancer, then as a visual artist, Kelly is unconstrained by labels in Time No Line as he offers text from his four decades of journals along with songs from Joni Mitchell, Henry Purcell and Charles Aznavour, video and live drawing. The New York Times described Kelly as packing “a lot in about 75 minutes, yet he also knows when to let things breathe…Time, then, is not just nonlinear but magically suspended.” REDCAT at Disney Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Thurs.-Sat., Apr. 25-27, 8:30 p.m., $18-20, $14-$16. https://www.redcat.org.
2. By the Sea
Fans of live dance and folk who like the beach will find both at this year’s To the Sea: Dance Concerts on the Pier. After maneuvering through the crowds on the Santa Monica pier, enjoy the Pacific Ocean rolling by and watch high-energy, live dance performances curated by choreographer Jacob Jonas and his eponymous Jacob Jonas The Company. The Friday show includes the high-flying gymnastic troupe Diavolo, plus Marco Goecke, the Groovalos and the host company. Saturday and Sunday’s line up includes the 7 Fingers, Ryan Heffington, Walter Painter, Katherine Helen Fisher, BalletWorks, Mike Tyus, Cyberotica, Sabrina Phillip, and Jonas’ troupe. Free but reservations are strongly recommended for what has become a popular event. Details at http://jacobjonas.com/home/tothesea. The western end of the Santa Monica Pier, 200 Santa Monica Pier A, Santa Monica; Fri.-Sun., April 26-28, 6 p.m., free with reservation. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/to-the-sea-dance-concerts-on-the-pier-tickets-60205429059.
1. A festival’s finale
After opening with a dazzling three nights showcasing 20 significant L.A.-based companies, the Los Angeles Dance Festival’s Fringe Festival moves to a more informal Arts District space for 20 more companies divided among three nights, with two showings of the that night’s line-up. Friday includes Jordan Sanez, AkomiDance, SIZa Dance Company, SAUMA/m v m t, Charlotte Katherine@ Co, Carpool Dance Collective, and fabe dance. Saturday’s participants are Nannette Brodie Dance Theater, Project21Dance, Bodies in Play, Ken Morris Project, THE ASSEMBLY, Bernard Brown/bbmoves, Eternity Dance Theatre, and Mecca Vazie Andrews. Sunday’s festival finale boasts Emergent Dance Company, Deborah Rosen and Dancers, JESS HARPER & Dancers, Pony Box Dance Theatre, and FUSE Dance Company. Each night also includes a quartet of performers from South Korea who participate as part of an exchange between the LADF and the Seoul International Folk Dance Festival. Details and links to the companies at https://ladancefest.org. Diavolo Studio Black Box, Brewery Arts Complex, 616 Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; Fri.-Sat., Apr. 26-27, 7 & 9 p.m., Sun., Apr. 28, 5 & 7 p.m., $24. https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4107535.
Other dance of note:
One of SoCal’s most respected dance departments, Cal State University Long Beach attracts an impressive faculty roster covering a spectrum of styles from classic to cutting edge. Not only are the faculty admired teachers, they are also accomplished choreographers whose work is displayed on their students in the annual CSULB Dance in Concert. This year, concert director Keith Johnson presides over performances that include Summer Brown’s quicksilver movement in This, Colleen Dunagan’s In Common offering an alternative to the commodification of dance, and Julio Medina’s Respirando Agua considering the space between breaths. Johnson contribute a new work The Unbearable Weight of Falling Ashes and guest artist Teresa Jankovic sets a dozen women in motion in Eyes Closed and Traveling. Info at http://www.csulb.edu/dance. CSULB Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theater, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach; Wed.-Fri., Apr. 24-26, 8 p.m. Sat., Apr. 27, 2 & 8 p.m., $20, $16 students, seniors & Dance Resource Center members. 562-985-7000. https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/dept/1174/1554091200000.
The theme is the silver screen as this month’s Choreographer’s Carnival Goes to the Movies. The roster of professional choreographers showcasing their work includes Fresh Redding, She Street, Phlex, Brinn Nicole, Friidom, Monika Felice Smith, Jstylz, Seluvia Fonua, Liezel Marie, Dexter Mayfield, Salome Valdez, Reza Mina, Gio Tisera. and Atilio Jamerson & Clinton Kyles. Avalon Hollywood, 1735 N. Vine St., Hollywood; Mon., Apr. 29, 10:30 p.m., $17 over 21, $27 age 18-20, http://www.choreographerscarnival.com/?fbclid=IwAR2oNZjDX8bQj2dlNuAz_Zhjjz0_zErCc7On6wyzKMmzwpvlpSAj2SP3N0k.
Developed in collaboration with the performers, choreographer Maya Gurantz unveils Ritual for Mass Suicide, considering recently reported links between hot weather and suicidal anxiety as well as the potential for and consequences of climate-related suicides. The press material notes this is an “in-process workshop showing”. Pieter, 420 W. Avenue 33, Suite 10, Lincoln Heights; Sat., Apr. 27, 8:30 p.m., non-monetary donation to free bar or boutique. https://pieterpasd.com.
The all-male troupe Che Malambo performs traditional Argentine gaucho dancing and drumming. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach. Sat., Apr. 27, 8 p.m. $35. (562) 985-7000. www.carpenterarts.org
Amid a flurry of workshops, demonstrations and performances that are part of Grand Park’s Our L.A.: Spring Arts Festival, look for dance performances by Viver Brasil, pop up dance experiences from NoOne Art House, and an L.A. Dance Film Showcase curated by Sarah Elgart. Details, including event times and specific locations, at https://grandparkla.org/event/ourlavoices2019/?instance_id=98728. Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Sat.-Sun., Apr. 27-28, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m., free. https://grandparkla.org/event/ourlavoices2019/?instance_id=98728.
Students majoring and minoring in dance as well as non-majors who love to dance all perform in Dance Showcase, with works developed in the dance department’s technique classes. Cal State University Long Beach, Dance Center, Studio 3, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach; Wed., May 1, 6 p.m., free.
Two duets and a new solo highlight choreography from Chantal Cherry under the banner Promulgare. The title comes from the Latin “pro” meaning out or publicly and “mulgere” which translates as exposed to public view. Highways Performance space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., April 26-27, 8:30 p.m., $20, $15 students & seniors. https://highwaysperformance.org/events.
Choreographers Eric Skinner and Daniel Kirk transport Inland Pacific Ballet under the sea and onto the shore in this retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen’s classic The Little Mermaid. Bridges Auditorium, Pomona College, 450 North College Way, Claremont; Sat. Apr. 27, 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun., Apr. 28, 2 p.m., $26-$52. http://www.ipballet.org/mermaidPage.php.
Promising to distill millennia of Chinese culture in a swirl of colorful costumes and in sync dancing, the touring production Shen Yun 2019 continues is visit to local venues. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Tues.-Sun., Apr. 16-28, (dates & times at Shen Yun website), $80-$200. Also at The Soroya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Tue.-Wed. Apr. 30-May 1, $80-$165. Also at Dolby Theatre, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Fri., May 3, 7:30 p.m., Sat., May 4, 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun., May 5, 1 p.m., $80-$200. Also at McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert; Thu. & Sat., May 9 & 11, 7:30 p.m., Fri.-Sat., May 10-11, 2 p.m., $80-$165. https://www.shenyun.com/la.
Feature photo: L.A. Dance Festival’s Pony Box Dance Theatre. Photo courtesy of PBDT.
Ann Haskins Blog appears at CulturalWeekly.com