Dancemakers launch in the Arts District, innovative collaborating in West LA, a singular earthquake event in Northridge, a San Francisco visitor in Costa Mesa, reconsidered street dance in Santa Monica, more SoCal dance this week, and a peek at next week.
Live This Week
The day after
It’s a one-of-a-kind, maybe once in a lifetime event, as this venue re-teams with choreographer Jacques Heim and his always astonishing Diavolo Architecture in Motion for Existencia. The work marks the 30th anniversary of the devastating earthquake that gave Cal State University Northridge the dubious honor of experiencing the most destructive event at any U.S. college campus. Heim moves beyond the seismic destruction to the human response filled with grit and resilience as the campus, like the surrounding community, emerged after the shaking stopped. Expect enormous towers collapsing as dancers dodge the danger in split second choreography, symbolic of how a community can come together and triumph. Because of the weight of the towers, this may be the only existence for Existencia. The Soraya, Cal State University Northridge; Fri. Jan. 19, 8 pm, $39-$129. https://thesoraya.org/en/
Diavolo Architecture in Motion. Rehearsal photo by George Simian
All together now
The six-week long Dance at the Odyssey festival moves into its second week as seven artists combine their talents under the banner Archetype, created by Lily Chumas with choreography contributed by Sadie Guthrie, Mekinna Knight, Nia Mason, Iyana Monet, Robby Olmos, Madi Ostratch, Olivia Vannucci, and Chumas. The performance expands Chumas’ dance film Red Football, considering an individual through various stages of life. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Fri.-Sat., Jan. 19-20, 8 pm, Sun., Jan. 21, 2 pm, $25. Full festival at www.OdysseyTheatre.com
“Archetype.” Photo courtesy of the artists
Getting launched
This month, the JA Collective and Jamal Kamau White have been in residence at LA Dance Project as part of LADP’s Launch series. Earlier this month, each had an open rehearsal and this week, they share a double bill. JA Collective is Jordan Johnson and Aidan Carberry, who have worked together since college, accumulated an impressive list of commercial credits, and now are moving into concert dance, including working with esteemed choreographer William Forsythe. White has performance experiences in the U.S. and Europe along with a growing list of choreography credits including for LA’s BODYTRAFFIC. LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Arts District; Fri-Sat, Jan. 19-20, 8 pm, Sun., Jan. 21, 2 & 6 pm, $20, $15 students & seniors. https://ci.ovationtix.com/35353/production/1186236
Jamal Kamau White. Photo courtesy of the artist
A San Francisco King
An increasingly frequent visitor to local stages, the San Francisco-based contemporary ballet company Alonzo King Lines returns with a program of works not previously seen in prior visits to this venue. Known for dancers that range from elegantly long-limbed to dynamic and explosive, King always brings a distinctive choreographic voice. The works scheduled this visit are Following the Subtle Current Upstream, Dust and Light, Writing Ground, Resin, Suite Etta, and Child of Sky and Earth. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., Jan. 20, 7:30 pm, $29-$89. https://www.scfta.org/
Adji Cissoko and Robb Beresford in LIGHTENED – Alonzo King LINES Ballet – Photo by RJ Muna
A view of the street
Inspired by Krump and street dance viewed through the lens of contemporary dance, Mark is choreographer Marianna Varviani’s full length work being premiered this week by her Selcouth Dance Theater Company. Originally from Greece, Varviani worked there and in London before coming to the U.S. The company’s main dancers are Chris Andrews, Maya Peterson, and Tyler Law. Highways, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri-Sat., Jan. 19-20, 8:30 pm, $25, $20 students. https://www.highwaysperformance.org/events
Selcouth Dance Theater Company. Photo courtesy of the artists
Men in tutus
The secret of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is they are serious ballet dancers who happen to be men in toe shows as they offer seriously funny send-ups of classical ballets from Swan Lake to Don Quixote. They may play the classical ballets’ plots for laughs, but they can go toe to toe (pun intended) with any professional ballet company. Granada Theater, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara; Thurs., Jan. 25, 8 pm, $41-$106. https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu/. Also at at McCallem Theater, 7300 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert; Wed., Jan. 31, 7 pm, $40-$90. https://www.mccallumtheatre.org/. Also at Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Cal State University Long Beach, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach; Sat., Feb. 3, 8 pm, $55. https://www.carpenterarts.org
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo in “Swan Lake” – Photo by Zoran Jelenic
Film fest plus
Long regarded as one of the premiere dance film festivals, Dance Camera West 2024 returns with a line-up of 40 films from 20 countries, each making its debut on the international, U.S., or Los Angeles stage. Curated from 320 submissions, the 40 screenings are the center of the festivities that include workshops, artist talks, and receptions. Full details on the films and related events at the website. Barnsdall Art Park, 4814 Hollywood Blvd., E. Hollywood; Thurs.-Sun., Jan. 25-28, various times, $15 single tickets $150 festival pass. https://dcw2024.eventive.org/welcome
Dance Camera West 2024. Photo courtesy of the artists
Your table’s waiting
Those slinky ladies are back to dance around the Kit Kat Club as Lineage Dance presents Cabaret. The theater has been transformed into the 1930’s German cabaret with the audience seated at tables to observe and be part of the hi-jinks and ominous political rumblings as Sally Bowles, the emcee, and those dancers perform. Lineage Performing Arts Center, 920 E. Mountain St., Pasadena; Thurs.-Sun., Jan. 18-21, 7 pm, $50. https://www.lineagepac.org/performances
A Peek at Next Week
Punto de Inflexión – 3×3 at Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Fri.-Sat., Jan. 26-27, 8 pm, Sun., Jan. 28, 2 pm, $25. https://odysseytheatre.com/
Camile A Brown & Dancers at Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University 415 N. Glassell, Orange; Fri., Jan 26, 7:30 pm, $32.75 to $73. https://muscocenter.org/
Matthew Bourne’s Romeo & Juliet at the Music Center, Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., opens Sun., Jan. 28, then Tues.-Fri., 8 pm, Sat., 2 & 8 pm, Sun., 1 & 6:30 pm, thru Sun., Feb. 25, $35-$155. https://www.centertheatregroup.org/
Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet. Photo by Johan Persson.
Summation Dance + Derion Loman at LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Arts District; Thurs.-Sat., Feb. 1-3, 8 pm, $25-$48 including fees. https://ci.ovationtix.com/35353/production/1183302
Benita Bike’s DanceArt – Science of Dance at Discovery Cube Los Angeles, 11800 Foothill Blvd., Sylmar; Sat., Jan 27, 11 am to 3 pm, free with admission $18, $17 seniors, $16 children. https://www.discoverycube.org/los-angeles/events/science-of-dance/
Versa-Style Dance Company – Freemind Freestyle at Pepperdine University, Smothers Theater, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu; Sat., Jan. 27, 8 pm, $22-$45. https://arts.pepperdine.edu/events/2023-2024-season/versa-style-dance-company.htm
Versa-Style Dance Company – Photo courtesy of The Ford Theatres
Limón Dance Company at Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara; Sat. Jan. 27, 8 pm, $41-$106.
https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu/events-tickets/events/23-24/limon-dance-company/
Benise – Fiesta! at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., San Diego; Sat. Jan. 27, 7:30 pm, $22-$65.50. Also at Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Cerritos, Fri., March 15, 8 pm, $49-$84. https://www.benise.com/
Anointed Feet Dance Company at El Camino College, Campus Theatre, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance; Fri.-Sat., Jan 26-27, 7 pm, $35, $10 students. https://www.anointedfeetdance.com/
Featured image: JA Collective – courtesy of the artists.
