High-flying ballet in Hollywood, moon inspired contemporary dance in Culver City, Macedonian apple fables retold in Torrance, romantic ballet in Santa Barbara, Kipling redeux in Santa Monica, experimental dance in multiple downtown venues, site specific dance and marathon dance film fest in Cheviot Hills, more SoCal dance this busy, busy week and a peek at next, equally busy week.
Live This Week
Not an ordinary rock
Inspired by an actual piece of moon rock gifted by Apollo 15 astronaut David Scott, choreographer Donna Sternberg is at it again. Sternberg and her Donna Sternberg & Dancers have a long history translating science into dance. The company’s newest, MoonRock was developed in collaboration with Dr. Kenneth Phillips, curator of the California Science Center’s aerospace science program and takes place at the museum where that piece of the moon resides. Wende Museum, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City; Sat., Oct. 21, 2 pm, free w/required reservation at https://dsdancers.com/moonrock
Donna Sternberg & Dancers. Photo courtesy of the artists
Uncommon dances and others
Under the banner Common Transcendence, choreographer John Pennington and his Pennington Dance Group are joined by dancer/choreographer Liz Hoefner Adamis for this performance. The program includes new contemporary dance, plus music and film from Taso Papadakis. El Camino College Center for the Arts, Marsee Auditorium, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance; Sat., Oct. 21, 8 pm, Sun., Oct. 22, 3 pm, $22. https://elcaminotickets.universitytickets.com/
Foothills Dancemakers’ Pennington Dance Group. Photo by Denise Leitner.
An apple a day
Drawing on a Macedonian folk tale, choreographer Regina Klenjoski and her Regina Klenjoski Dance Company offer the west coast debut of The Golden Apple. The narrative follows a rural protagonist who teams with nature’s allies to defy a kingdom’s control over wealth, land, and people. James R. Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance; Sat., Oct. 21, 8 pm, $35-$45. https://torr-internet.choicecrm.net/templates/TORR/?prod=TOCA/GoldenApple#/events
Regina Klenjoski Dance Company. Photo courtesy of the artists
Dance like someone is watching
A live site specific performance by Ryan Green and Kyra Cole highlight a full day of dance films from 17 countries as Sarah Elgart reveals Round 6 of Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival (D2D). Among the films, look for LA-based Heidi Duckler Dance’s film The Tender Body Sings. Three separate film programs. More details at the website. Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center at Vista Del Mar, 3200 Motor Ave., Cheviot Hills; Sat., Oct. 21, performance at 5:45 pm, film programs at 2 pm, 4 pm, 6:30 pm, $20-$60. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dare-to-dance-in-public-film-festival-round-6-tickets-718687753417
Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival (D2D). Photo by Guan Fang
Dance with the animals
In Jungle Book reimagined, choreographer Akram Khan and his Akram Khan Company rework Rudyard Kipling’s tale of Mowgli and his adventures. It’s a family friendly version where Mowgli navigates a world impacted by climate change. The Broadstage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Thurs.-Fri., Oct. 26-27, 7:30 pm, Sat., Oct. 28, 4 pm, $55-$95. https://broadstage.org/
Akram Khan Company. Photo courtesy the artists
Taking to the air
In this performance and benefit gala, Luminario Ballet brings its signature blend of ballet and aerial dance in Zarathustra! The evening includes Grammy winning singer Thelma Houston on stage in a work choreographed by Bianca Sapetto. Violinist Jesus Florido. Avalon Hollywood, 1735 N. Vine St., Hollywood; Sun., Oct. 22, 8 pm performance, $35-$125, 5:30 pm gala reception $350-$550. https://luminarioballet.org/
Luminario Ballet in L’Invalide choreography by Judith FLEX Helle – Photo by Ted Soqui
Turning it up
New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck launches a four city SoCal tour of Tiler Peck & Friends with a program titled Turn It Out that includes choreography from Alonzo King, William Forsythe, Peck, and tapper Michelle Dorrance. Expect contemporary ballet side by side with tap dance. The Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara; Wed., Oct. 25, 8 pm, $51-$106. https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu/events-tickets/events/23-24/turn-it-out/. Also at the Soraya, Cal State Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat., Oct. 28, 8 pm, Sun., Oct. 29, 3 pm, https://thesoraya.org/. Also at San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego; Wed., Nov. 1, 7:30 pm, $25-$125. https://sandiegotheatres.org/. Also at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., Nov. 4, 7:30 pm, Sun., Nov. 5, 2 pm, $29-$69. https://www.scfta.org/events/2023/turn-it-out-with-tiler-peck.
New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck – Photo courtesy of the artist
Rising from ashes
Choreographer Chasen Greenwood and his new chamber ballet ensemble, The Realm Company, unveil The Phoenix, Greenwood’s first story ballet. Press material indicates the work promises to literally set fire to the stage. The cast includes Cesar Ramirez Castellano, Kathryn Morgan, Matisse Love, and David Protas. Westside Ballet Black Box Theater, 1709 Stewart St., Santa Monica; Sun., Oct. 22 & 29, 6 pm (happy hour at 5 pm) $40-$200. https://www.therealmscompany.com/
The Realm Company. Photo courtesy of the artists
Peasants on pointe
The Santa Barbara Symphony provides live music as State Street Ballet brings Giselle, the two-act romantic ballet of love, betrayal and forgiveness. Guest artist Nerea Barrondo dances Giselle with Ryan Lenkey as Albrecht, who loves but betrays her. Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara; Sat., Oct. 21, 7:30 pm, Sun., Oct. 22, 2 pm, $38-$121, $26 children. https://ticketing.granadasb.org/18596/18601
State Street Ballet. Photo courtesy of the artists
Starting the season
Celebrating Dio de Los Muertos, Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles brings Ofrendawith live music by Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar. Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, 415 N. Glassell, Orange; Sun., Oct. 22, 3 pm, $37-$78. https://muscocenter.org/Online/default.asp
Nochebuena En Casa -Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles – Photo by Luis Luque, courtesy of The Soraya
Hide and find
Choreographer Jay Carlon provided the movement for Roger Q Mason’s Hide & Hide. The work explores two immigrants fleeing the law and finding each other. Part of the LAX Festival. LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown Arts District; Fri., Oct. 20, 8 pm, $14-$19. https://performancepractice.vbotickets.com/event/hide__hide_by_roger_q._mason/106592
Jay Carlon. Photo by Nyah Rodriguez
Layerings
In How lonely sits the city, Marissa Brown / Lone King Projects layer live dance and dance film. Part of the LAX Festival. LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown Arts District; Sat., Oct. 21, 8 pm, $14-$29. https://performancepractice.vbotickets.com/event/howlonelysitsthecitybymarissabrownlonekingprojects/106443.
Marissa Brown. Photo courtesy of the artist
Looking for love
Choreographer Raja Feather Kelly collaborated with musician serpentwithfeet and MacArthur Foundation fellow Wu Tsang for Heart of Brick. The dance and musical performance tells the story of two men who find themselves and fall in love in a gay dance hall. The Ford Theatre, 2850 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Sat., Oct. 21, 8 pm, $36-$48. At the Ford – serpentwithfeet: Heart of Brick
Raja Feather Kelly. Photo courtesy of the artist
Four who blend
Drawing on ritual Algerian dance, in L’Onde (The Wave) the French Algerian choreographer Nacera Belaza brings a quartet of dancers who blend traditional and modern minimalist movement. The Saturday show includes a post-performance conversation Belaza. REDCAT, Disney Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Thurs.-Sat., Oct. 19-21, 8:30 pm, $30. REDCAT.
Nacera Belaza. Photo by Isabelle Levy-Lehman
Style in the house
To capture the club scene in New York City from the 1970s to now, the choreographer Ephrat Asherie and her Ephrat Asherie Dance recruited three NYC club legends to join the company dancers. Rare archival footage is included as UNDERSCORED tours dance styles through the decades including funk, disco, house, hip hop, vogue, waacking, and hustle. A pre-performance event starts at 6 pm. USC Bovard Auditorium, 3551 Trousdale Pkwy., University Park; Thurs., Oct. 19, 7 pm, free with reservation at https://visionsandvoices.usc.edu/allevents/
Ephrat Asherie Dance – (L-R) Matthew West and Omari Wiles – Photo by Matthew Murphy
Dualities
Opening its 2023-2024 season, American Contemporary Ballet brings two ballets from artistic director Lincoln Jones. Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring provides the score for The Rite while Burlesque draws on music from several composers.The winter brings ACB’s Nutcracker Suite and spring promises ballets titled Jazz and Sapphires. ACB Studios, Two California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., Suite 2850, downtown; Thurs.-Sat. Oct. 19-21, Fri.-Sat., Oct. 27-28, 8 pm. $100-$140. American Contemporary Ballet.
American Contemporary Ballet. Photo by Caleb Thal
Tap on tap
Among the music, dance, and art events at this year’s the family-friendly Grand Ave Arts All Access, look for the Colburn School Student Tap Ensemble at noon. Check the website https://www.grandavearts.org for a full schedule and locations. Colburn’s student tap ensemble at The Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown; Sat., Oct. 21, noon, free. https://www.colburnschool.edu/calendar/
Postponed!!
Joaquín Cortés‘ highly anticipated flamenco dance show Esencia (The Essence of Flamenco) scheduled for Sat., Oct. 21 has been postponed to Dec. 9 at the Hollywood’s Dolby. Tickets for this Saturday will be honored for the new date. https://www.dolbytheatre.com/events/details/joaqun_corts
A Peek at Next Week
Moriah Evans: Remains Persist at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, 152 N. Central Ave., Little Tokyo; Sat.-Sun., Oct. 28-29, Thurs.-Sat., Nov. 2-4, 4 pm to 8 pm, $10. https://www.moca.org/program/moriah-evans-remains-persist
West Coast Ballet: Dracula at El Segundo Performing Arts Center, 640 Main St., El Segundo; Sun., Oct. 29, 6 pm, $39 https://westcoastballet.org/
Dimitri Chamblas and Kim Gordon: takemehome at REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Wed.-Thurs., Nov. 8-9, 8:30 pm, $30. https://www.redcat.org/events/2023/takemehome
Wild Roots Dance: Dialogues + Sensations 2023 at ARC Pasadena, 1158 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; Fri.-Sat., Oct. 27-28, 8 pm, $20-$25 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dialogues-sensations-2023-tickets-713811287777
World Ballet Day online Wed., Nov. 1, all day, info at https://worldballetday.com/welcome
Dorothée Munyaneza: Mailles at REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown;Thurs.-Sat., Nov. 2-4, 8:30 pm, $30. https://ci.ovationtix.com/34348/production/1172628
homeLA: Together Fire at location in Riverside disclosed to ticket holders; Oct. 28, 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm, $25. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/togetherfire-tickets-721545270327.
Heidi Duckler Dance: I Will Remember What I Forgot at Martin Luther King Jr. Behavioral Health Center, 12021 Wilmington Ave., Suite 2B, Wilmington; Thurs., Nov. 2, 12:30 pm, free with registration at https://heididuckler.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/heididuckler/eventRegistration.jsp?event=296&
Dancing Through Prison Walls: Undanced Dances Through Prison Walls During a Pandemic at Desert Hotsprings Public Library,14380 Palm Dr., Desert Hotsprings; Sat., Oct. 28, free. https://www.dancingthroughprisonwalls.org/calendar
DaEun Jung: Nori at LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown arts district; Thurs.-Fri., Nov. 2-3, 8 pm, $24-$29. https://performancepractice.vbotickets.com/event/norri_by_daeun_jung/106515
Lineage Dance: A Matter of Time at Lineage Performing Arts Center 920 E. Mountain Ave., Pasadena; Fri.-Sat., Oct. 27-28, Thurs.-Sun., Nov. 2-5, 7 pm, $25-$40. https://www.lineagepac.org/matter-of-time
Spenser Theberge: Intimates at LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown arts district; Sat., Oct. 28, 8 pm, $24-$29. https://performancepractice.vbotickets.com/events
Featured photo Regina Klenjoski Dance Company – courtesy of the artists
Ann Haskins Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
