An LA icon celebrates in the Hollywood Hills; a Spanish siren on pointe in Santa Monica; street dance in Culver City; contemporary dance confronts grief in El Sereno; dancing musicals in Hollywood and Downtown, more dance this week, and a peek at next week.
Live This Week
LA’s vibrant, long-lived Lula Washington Dance Theatre celebrates the 45th anniversary of its 1980 founding with a program drawing from Martha Graham, Donald McKayle, and Talley Beatty, plus new works from associate director Tamika Washington-Miller and company co-founder Lula Washington. Expect LWDT’s signature dynamic, Afrocentric modern dance that has garnered national awards and was captured in the film Avatar. 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
Sultry seductions
That sultry Spanish siren Carmen, with choreography by director Natasha Middleton, has been a popular part of the repertoire of Burbank-based Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre. In this performance, Elen Harutyunyan takes the lead as Carmen with Eduard Sargysyan as Don Jose, the soldier she tragically seduces. This Santa Monica performance holds extra significance for PBDT which traces its roots to the Santa Monica Civic Ballet founded in 1954 by Middleton’s father Andre Tremaine. Led by Middleton, the ballet company remerged with various name changes, but always within the family. 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
Ten telling minutes
Seven choreographers each offer a ten minute glimpse at a new work as MashUp Contemporary Dance Company hosts a new edition of Choreography Open Mic Night. The series continues to showcase choreographers and give audiences an early look at what is coming in dance. This installment’s choreographers are Makenna Tondoro, Kennedy Arnold, Emily Fabretti, Margeaux Gex, Jenna Batchelder, Elaina Greenwalt, and MashUp co-founder Victoria Brown. The Pickle Factory, 2828 Gilroy St., Frogtown; Sat., Aug. 23, 8 pm, $15. MashUp Open Mic Night
MashUp Contemporary Dance Company. Photo courtesy of the artists
Closure
Choreographed by Dani Burd, Rik Soto, and Madi Thomas, Indigo Dance Company presents Husk, a 44-minute work exploring grief, memory, and transformation. Each of the two performances also includes two different works by guest choreographers Aisha Reddick and Ashley Tomaszewski. Stomping Ground LA, 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno; Sat., Aug. 23, 4:30 & 7:30 pm, $27 (w/fees) Indigo Dance Company – Husk
Darrel “Friidom” Dunn’s “Mosaic” with Alyse Rockett. Photo by Steven Vargas
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
“& 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 Center Dr., Sept. 9-21, Tues.-Fri., 7:30 pm, Sat., 2 & 7:30 pm, Sun., 1 & 6:30 pm, $54-$184. https://www.scfta.org/events/2025/juliet
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. 29-Sept. 4)
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
Jacob Jonas/The Company & Ate9 – Fog at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City; Fri.-Sat., Aug. 29-30, $57.75. Jacob Jonas/Ate9
Ate9. Photo by Victoria Sendra
Yamuna Samendra Lech – Arangetram at Sharon Disney Lund Dance Theater, CalArts, 24700 McBean Parkway, Santa Clarita; Sat., Aug. 30, 5 pm, ticket price not posted. Rangoli
Max 10 at Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Mon., Sept. 1, 8 pm, $15, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/max10-tickets-1326040124709
Featured photo: Lula Washington Dance Theatre photo courtesy of the artists
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
