Networks of Mutuality

Live dance on an arts district rooftop, folkloric for Día de los Muertos at Grand Park, illuminated umbrellas at the Music Center, the 19th amendment celebrated in Culver City, last week for a Disney Hall festival, plus museum dance in Leimert Park and Westwood, new dance films, dance classes, and more SoCal dance this week with a peek at what’s coming.

Live This Week

Up on a rooftop

After the pandemic lockdown, Jacob Jonas The Company was one of the first to explore outdoor performance in a parking lot with the audience in their cars and the dancers surreally illuminated by cars’ headlights. Jonas’ efforts then turned to producing a series of short films drawn from around the world, rolled out on a weekly basis. That Films.Dance spawned a second round running weekly into December (see below). The company now pivots back to its own dancing with three outdoor performances with live music under the banner ACTIVATE LA. The series opened between two Century City high rise office buildings and moves this week to a downtown arts district rooftop performing Juxtapose, with music by LA-based composer Anibal Sandoval. In mid-November, the finale shifts west to a Santa Monica garden nestled amid tech hub office buildings for At Work with music by another LA-based composer Steve Hackman. Jonas provided all the choreography. Supported by the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, the series is another example of that theater’s laudable support for LA-based dance companies. At Row DTLA, 777 S. Alameda St., downtown; Fri., Oct. 22-24, 7:30 pm., $35. Details on tickets, meal options, & Covid protocols at https://thewallis.org/ROW. Also at The Water Garden, 1620 26th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Nov. 12-13, 7:30 p.m., $100-$280 (tickets sold for 2, 4 or 9) Details on tickets, lawn or chair seating, picnicking, alcohol, and Covid protocols at https://thewallis.org/WaterGarden

Three-way dance

The 18th annual REDCAT New Original Works (NOW) Festival concludes three weekends of innovative dance and other performing arts. The three artists in this final Week 3 found their starting points in melodramatic soap operas, hate crime victims, and Black social dance. Choreographer Jobel Medina translates soap operas into physical theater while Jasmine Orpilla focuses on hate crime survivors, and choreographer Amy O’Neal employs house and hip hop culture to explore social concepts of gender. Online viewing is an option for all Saturday shows. At REDCAT, Disney Hall, 631 W.2nd St., downtown; Thurs.-Sat., Oct. 21-23, 8:30 pm, $20, $16 students.1 Online stream – Sat., Oct. 23, 8:30 p.m., $15, $12 students. Details on the artists, scheduled works, tickets, & Covid protocols at https://www.redcat.org/

When tech dances

When the science geeks at MIT developed color-shifting LED-lit umbrellas, then turned them over to Pilobolus and its crew of gymnastic modern dancemakers, the eventual result was UP! The Umbrella Project. The synergistic science/dance effort is a carefully choreographed event with participants armed with those umbrellas creating colorful patterns that light up the night. Pilobolus and the umbrellas arrive for six performances, two per night on each of three evenings. And the company is recruiting audience members to be participants in the choreography. Each show is limited to 100 participants with the colors, patterns, and shapes projected on screens in the venue’s plaza. Be part of the spectacle or just come watch. Requirements to participate and Covid protocols are on the website. At the Music Center, Jerry Moss Plaza,135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Thurs.-Sat., Oct. 21-23, 8 & 9:30 pm, $5.  https://www.musiccenter.org/tickets/events-by-the-music-center/up-the-umbrella-project/

Before he repents

Originally, Richard Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser did not have a ballet. One was added for the opera’s Paris premiere, because a ballet was expected, perhaps required, by Paris, usually somewhere in the second act. Verdi added a ballet in the first act, a bacchanalian excursion after which the hero starts on a road to repentance. Among its several new elements for its current production, LA Opera recruited in-demand Canadian choreographer Aszure Barton to create a new ballet for that scene. The result is on view live, with two shows also offered livestream. Details, tickets and Covid-19 protocols at https://www.laopera.org/, At the Music Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Sun., Oct. 24 & 31, 2 p.m., Wed., Oct. 27 & Nov. 3, 7:30 pm, Sat., Nov 6, 7:30 pm, $23-$292. https://www.laopera.org/ Livestream on Sun., Oct. 24, 2 pm & Wed., Oct. 27, 7:30 pm, $30.  https://tickets.laopera.org/booking/production/bestavailable/6005

Post-modern rituals

Continuing its acquisition and exhibition of the work of post modern choreographers, the Getty Research Institute unveiled the first-ever retrospective of the work of choreographer and video artist Blondell Cummings: Dance as Moving Pictures. Known for translating everyday activities into dance movements, Cummings’ work often focused on food, family, major life events, and daily life rituals, especially Black life. Initiated as part of the GRI’s African American Art History Initiative, the exhibit includes videos, interviews, and photographs. On view at Art+Practice, 3401 W. 43rd Pl., Leimert Park; Wed.-Sat., noon-6 pm, to Feb. 19, 2022, free. Research guide at https://getty.libguides.com/BlondellCummings, Exhibition at https://artandpractice.org/exhibitions/exhibition/dance-as-moving-pictures/.

Museum moves

Performance and dance are the metier of several artists in both of the Hammer Museum’s big fall exhibits opening this week. Presented jointly with the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (ICA LA), Witch Hunt surveys 16 artists focused on feminist, queer, and decolonial approaches to consider current and historical events. Among the artists who are movers look for Okwui Okpokwasili, Pauline Boudry & Renate Lorenz, and Beverly Semmes. The second opening, No Humans Involved, includes the performance duo Las Nietas de Nono. The exhibit’s title draws on ideas of cultural theorist Sylvia Wynter whose panegyric writings advocated non-Western knowledge and spiritual practices. Exhibit info, tickets and Covid protocols at the website. UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; Tues.-Sun., 11 am – 6 pm to Jan. 22, 2022, free no reservation required. https://hammer.ucla.edu/

It’s how they voted

The all-female identifying dance troupe MashUp Contemporary Dance Company annually explores National Women’s Equality Day with thoughtful and often provocative programming commemorating the passage of the U.S. constitution’s 19th amendment. This year, the ensemble tackles the hot-button issue of racial tensions within the feminist movement, commissioning three LA-based BIWOC choreographers to each create a portion of a film. The dance company and the three choreographer/filmmakers–Victoria Brown, Marissa Osato, and Carissa Songhorian–unveil the cinematic result at this outdoor premiere. The evening includes a panel Q&A with the trio of choreographers/filmmakers. At (ed note: time and location was changed, as requested by the artist, 1 day prior to show) 2926 Gilroy St, Los Angeles DOTS Space, OUTDOOR Meeting Rooms & Events 3951 Higuera St., Culver City ;Sat., Oct. 23, 8 pm 7 pm, $25.https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bound-less-a-dance-film-premiere-honoring-womens-equality-day-tickets-158828972733

Going to the birds

Machines meet acrobatics as a depression era factory is transformed in Cirque Mechanics’ Birdhouse Factory. At Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu; Wed., Oct. 27, 7:30 pm, $22.50-$50. https://arts.pepperdine.edu/

Deadly dance

Among the performances and activities scheduled for Día de los Muertos, look for the Aztec dance troupe Danza Divina de Los Angeles with guest artist Lazaro Arvizu. At Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Sat., Oct. 23, 7 pm, free. https://grandparkla.org/

A Peek at Next Week:

Danza Floricanto/USAFiesta delDía de los Muertos~Day of the Dead Celebration at Casa Del Mexicano, Floricanto Center for the Performing Arts, 2900 Calle Pedro Infante, East LA; Sat., Nov. 6, 8 pm, Sun., Nov. 7, 6 pm, $20 at door, $15 pre-sale; $10 seniors & $5 children under 10 at door only. Tickets and Covid-19 protocols at http://www.danzafloricantousa.org/store.php

Live Arts Exchange – 2021 LAX Festival at Warehouse space dubbed “Frankie,” 300 Mission Rd., Arts District; Thurs.,-Sat., Nov. 4-6, 8 pm, Sun., Nov. 7, 6 pm, Tues.-Sat., Nov. 9-13, 8 pm, Sun., Nov. 14, 7:30 pm; $8-$20. Info, tickets and Covid-19 protocols at https://performancepractice.la/festival/.

homeLAEmbodying Empathy at the Box parking lot, 822 E. 3rd St., Arts District; Thurs., Nov. 4, 6-9 pm, free. Info and Covid-19 protocols at add website

TL Collective at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Fri.-Sat., Oct. 29-30, 7:30 pm, $29-$79.  Info, tickets & Covid019 protocols at https://thewallis.org/TLC

Laurie Sefton Creates and Transversal Theater Company at Experimental Media Building (xMPL), 101 Mesa Arts Building, Irvine; Fri., Oct. 29, 7 pm, Sat.-Sun., Oct. 30-31, 2 & 7 p.m., $10. Info, Covid protocols and tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/curie-curie-women-fire-and-dangerous-things-tickets-179490088687.

Fiesta La Ballona hosts multiple dance troupes at Veterans Memorial Park, 4117 Overland Ave., Culver City; Sat.-Sun., Oct. 30-31, free, Complete line up of troupes, times & Covid-19 protocols at https://www.fiestalaballona.org/.

Brazilian Nites’ Samba Halloween at Rancho Cordillera Del Norte, 9015 Wilbur Ave., Northridge; Fri., Oct. 29, 5 pm, $35-$70. Info, tickets and Covid protocols at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/samba-halloween-tickets-186328472477.

Inland Pacific Ballet Academy– Seussical Jr. Livestream and limited in person at Studio Theater 7, 9061 Central Ave., Montclair; Fri.-Sat., Oct. 29-30, 7 pm, Sun., Oct. 31 & Nov. 7, 2 pm, Thurs. & Sat., Nov. 4 & 6, 7 pm, $25, $15 children under 12; digital livestream $35 per device. Program info & Covid protocols at http://www.ipballet.org/Seussical.php; tickets at https://ipballet.secure.force.com/ticket/#/

The Fall Galas Begin

Invertigo Dance Theater Fall Soirée,  online, Thurs., Oct. 21, 7:30 pm, reservations and donation levels at https://www.invertigodance.org/fall-soiree-2021/

Heidi Duckler Dance Gather Together at Wilfandel Club, 3425 W. Adams Blvd., West Adams; Sat., Oct. 23, 5 pm-9 pm, $250. bit.ly/hdd36

Dance films in theaters and online

Broken, more beautiful in repair

As a practical technique, the Japanese mending method kintsugi involves reattaching pieces of broken pottery or porcelain then visibly coating the fracture with gold, often creating a gold veining effect on the repaired exterior. The “golden repair” as kintsugi is often translated, is also an artistic philosophy which the Japan America Cultural and Community Center commissioned five artists to explore in videos. JACC has now posted the results of The Kintsugi Spirit online including choreographer Jennifer Leung Johnson’s film capturing dancers Katy Dahl and Marina Hutchinson artistically finding the beauty in the broken and how to fill the spaces between. Free, online at https://www.jaccc.org/kintsugi

A myth resonates 

Drawing a contemporary perspective on ancient Persian mythology, The Scarlet Stone (Moher-ye Sorkh) combines traditional and contemporary Persian dance, music and animation to find parallels between the myth and the 1979 Iranian Revolution along with its aftermath. The 80-minute film in Persian with English subtitles concludes its month-long run. Fri.-Sun., thru Oct. 31, online at https://tirgan.ca/event/the-scarlet-stone.

Back for more

When theaters shuttered with the pandemic, dance and its audiences went online and began expanding the possibilities of dance on film. LA choreographer Jacob Jonas and his Jacob Jonas/The Company gathered artists from around the world to produce 15 original short dance films under the banner Films.Dance. In January 2021 the films started rolling out over four months, one each Monday, all free. The project earned boasting rights as many of those films went on to win awards at other film festivals. Now comes Films.Dance Round Two, again with dance, dancers, and filmmakers from around the world. The original films, a preview, and e-mail sign up for free weekly film delivery at https://www.films.dance/

In case you missed it the first time

Continuing its roll out of encore videos from past performances, Viver Brasil adds Aguas set in a Grand Park fountain to the examples of the rich repertoire reflecting efforts to preserve Brasil’s African culture in dance and music. Free at Viver Brasil. The ensemble also is part of KCET’s Southland Sessions streaming at KCET.

L.A. dance gets a little love

The third season of the Music Center’s digital series For the Love of L.A. keeps adding new videos filled with curated dance, music, and visual arts. The season includes South Asian-American dance with Shalini Bathina and 17-year old Shreya Patel, Japanese influenced dance in a film directed and performed by Kyoko Takenaka, contemporary dance set in Leimert Park from Brianna Mims, an excursion between beach and backyard from Maya Alvarez-Coyne, Albertossy Espinoza’s LA Fusion Dance Theater, and more. Online free, at Music Center.

Online Dance Classes

Not quite ready for class in person?

On-line dance classes continue on zoom, instagram, other on-line platforms, and increasingly in person. Many classes free, low cost or suggesting a donation. One central, constantly updated source on dance classes and in-depth reporting on SoCal dance, LA Dance Chronicle lists on-line dance classes including any cost and contact info. Grab a chair or clear off a corner of the room and use this time to dance. LA Dance Chronicle.

Featured image: MashUp Contemporary Dance Company photo courtesy

Ann Haskins Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com