Confronting a Supreme Court decision in Pasadena, Indian Kathak storytelling in Venice, contemporary dance in El Sereno, Costa Mesa and West LA, flamenco in Santa Barbara, Hancock Park, and Costa Mesa, Day of the Dead festivities in Long Beach and East LA, more SoCal dance in this busy week, and a peek at a busy next week.
Live This Week
Spanish influencers
A trio of new works under the banner If These Walls Could Talk is the calling card as the highly regarded L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC) relishes the return to live performance. Artistic director Jamila Glass offers and then life was beautiful, Elias Aguirre contributes INSECTOS: arte y vida, and Iker Karrera brings an untitled work. Aguirre and Karrera’s participation is sponsored by a Spanish Cultural Office program supporting Spanish contemporary dance. This is the first West Coast collaboration. Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno; Fri., Nov. 4, 7:30pm, Sat., Nov. 5, 2 & 7:30pm, Sun., Nov. 6, 2pm, $15-$40. https://ifthesewallscouldtalk.funraise.org/
Dancing to Dean Martin and Peggy Lee
Some good news for anyone who missed out on BODYTRAFFIC’s recent performance at Beverly Hills’ Annenberg Theater. LA’s attention-getting contemporary company offers an encore program this week in an even larger theater. Two premieres and two audience favorites make for an audience-pleasing mix. After the company’s success with her 2019 Snap, Micaela Taylor has become the company’s first artist-in-residence. Her newest work is described as a modern reconfiguration of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly. The second premiere,The One to Stay With, was choreographed by Baye & Asa and debuted in the troupe’s well-received shows at New York’s Joyce Theater this past summer. Two legendary pop singers provide the soundtrack for the company’s splendid dancers. Dean Martin was Alejandro Cerrudo’s choice for the male trio Pacopepepluto and Matthew Neenan opted for classic Peggy Lee for A Million Voices. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Thurs., Nov. 3, 7:30 pm, $29-$109. https://www.scfta.org/
Encore, one night only!
Led by choreographer Seda Aybay, the contemporary dance company Kybele Dance Theater returns as part of this venue’s dance season. Aybay and her ensemble always brings lush, compelling dance infused with elements of Aybay’s Turkish-birth and international travels. Theatre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., W.L.A.; Thurs., Nov. 3, 8pm, $25-$50. https://www.theatreraymondkabbaz.com/upcomingevents/2022/11/3/kybele-dance-theater
Courting a decision
If the title After Roe doesn’t give it away, the collaboration with the local Planned Parenthood chapter does, as choreographer Hilary Thomas and her Lineage Dance present its latest dance theater piece drawn from true stories of women and their difficult paths to choose an abortion. Who knew their stories would suddenly belong to an historic “before time” and also now? Lineage Performing Arts Center, 920 E. Mountain St., Pasadena; Sun., Nov. 6 & 13, 5pm, Tues., Nov. 15, 7pm, $15-$115 (portions benefit to Planned Parenthood). https://lineagedance.secure.force.com/ticket/#/instances/a0F3o00000p5OxUEAU
Día de los Muertos #1
Over two decades, the deservedly popular Danza Floricanto/USA’sFiesta del Día de los Muertos has become one of SoCal’s longest running Day of the Dead celebrations. The family-friendly rendition showcases the ensemble’s signature folkloric dance along with other traditional festivities. Center For The Performing Arts, 2900 Calle Pedro Infante, East LA; Sat., Nov. 5, 8pm & Sun., Nov. 6, 6pm, $15-$25 presale, $20 at door, $10 at door only. https://danzafloricantousa.org/store-1/ols/products
Día de los Muertos #2
Led by three-time Grammy award-winner Jimmy Cuéllar the musicians of Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar perform and provide music for the dancers of Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles in A Día de los Muertos Celebration. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Cal State University Long Beach, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach; Sat., Nov. 5, 8pm, $45. https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/carpenterarts/6773/event/1270850
A trio with a duo
Flamenco dancers Maria Bermudez, Manuel Gutiérrez and Timo Nuñez join with Latin Grammy-nominated musicians Idelfonso de los Reyes (“Pelé”) and Francisco Carrasco (“Curro”) who perform as Navajita Plateá for two SoCal shows. Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara; Fri., Nov. 4, 7:30pm, $30-$80. https://checkout.lobero.com/17582. Also at Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 743 S. Lucerne Blvd., Hancock Park; Sat., Nov. 5, 8pm, $50-$90. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/navajita-platea-noches-de-bohemia-friends-tickets-391156538737
Heir to flamenco greats
Regarded as the heir to a legendary gypsy flamenco family dynasty, Juan Manuel Fernández Montoya, best known as Farruquito brings his compelling, flamboyant performing style to town in Intimo. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Wed., Nov. 9, 8pm, $39-$99. https://www.scfta.org/
Dancing balladeers
The tradition of Kathak dance in India is rooted in nomadic dancing storytellers. With shows at two venues, Leela Dance honors that Kathak tradition in Storytellers and Nomads, telling the iconic tale of the kidnapped Sita from the Indian epic Ramayana. Studio A Dance, 2306 Hyperion Ave., Silverlake; Sat., Nov. 5, 7pm, $15. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/storytellers-and-nomads-tickets-407082533817. Also at Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Sun., Nov. 6, 7pm, $15. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/electric-lodge-amp-leela-dance-50926385653
From the street and for the men
After workshops, pre-professional performances and other events, the Palm Springs International Dance Festival wraps up with two nights of professional dance. First up on Friday, high energy street dance from LA’s Versa-Style Dance Company. The Saturday finale offers two performances of Male Aesthetic, celebrating male choreographers and dancers from around the world. (Note: As of publication, the website shows the Saturday 3pm show as sold out.) Nickerson-Rossi Dance, 611 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Suite 11, Palm Springs; Fri., Nov. 4, 6pm, $45; Sat., Nov. 5, 3 & 6:45 pm, $75. https://www.nickersonrossidance.com/festivaltickets
A monthly mix
The first Monday monthly assemblage of ten performances, ten minutes each with dance, music, improv, you name it. Right, you name it Max 10. Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Mon., Nov. 7, 7:30pm, $10. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/november-max10-tickets-443764971977
A rose is a rose is a rose
Formerly known as the LA Dance Shorts Film Festival, the renamed 6th Annual Los Angeles Dance Film Festival brings 14 films that can be viewed at the screening or there is an online option. Mimoda Studio, 5774 W. Pico Blvd., Pico-Robertson; Sat., Nov. 5, 7:30pm, $20. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/la-dance-film-festival-tickets-427729178487
Elbows on the table
As part of its series of “end of the year movie pop ups,” Invertigo Dance screens How We Emerge, Kitchen Table Project. Wed., Nov. 9, 7pm, free with zoom link reservation at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/invertigos-end-of-year-movie-pop-ups-tickets-435887670757
Take 3
One of the notable dance film series that emerged during the pandemic lockdown was Films.Dance, with new, international dance films released one-at-a-time on Monday. Curated by choreographer Jacob Jonas and collaborators from his troupe Jacob Jonas/The Company, the debut series launched a second series, and now this third. Thankfully, live performance has returned, but dance films, especially international dance films, are a window into how others move and how differently movement is viewed around the world. A new film released each Monday through Nov. 14, then joins those from preceding weeks for viewing on the website. Sign up to receive weekly link or view released films at https://www.films.dance/.
A Peek At Next Week
Jacob Jonas/The Company Early Bird (premiere) & Juxtapose at The Water Garden, 1620 26th St., Santa Monica; $35. Wed.-Fri., Nov. 16-18, 7:30pm, $15. https://www.jacobjonas.com/
Reunited in Dance at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., Nov. 12, 8pm, $59-$79. https://www.scfta.org/
LA Unbound at Studio A, 2306 Hyperion Ave., Silverlake; Sat., Nov. 12, 7 & 8:30pm, https://www.launbound.com.
Deborah Rosen and Dancers in Pollen…at ARC (A Room to Create), 1158 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; Fri.-Sat., Nov. 11-12, 8pm, $20. https://pollen1122.brownpapertickets.com/, https://arcpasadena.org
CONTRA-TIEMPO’s ¡AZÚCAR! at Helms Bakery, Washington Corridor Gallery, 8723 Washington Blvd., Culver City; Sat., Nov. 12, 1-3pm, free with reservation at https://contratiempo.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/contratiempo/event.jsp?event=30&
Featured Image: LA Contemporary Dance Company. Photo courtesy of the artists
Ann Haskins Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com