Soaring Into Summer

A delayed New York contemporary company arrives in Santa Monica; Asian-American Pacific Islanders dance in Glassell Park; a sleeping princess awakens in Westwood, taking on tokenism in West LA, flamenco visitors in Hancock Park, cutting edge dancemakers in downtown, ballet stars bow at the Hollywood Bowl, more So Cal dance this week and a peek at next week

Live This Week

Sleeping? or just a two year quarantine?
When Covid-19 shut down California in March 2020, Los Angeles Ballet was about to open the curtains on its sumptuous production of the full-length Sleeping Beauty. Two years on, like that slumbering princess, LA’s own professional ballet company has awakened and picking up where it left off when the entire realm of live performance took a involuntary snooze. Last weekend, LAB launched performances in the South Bay and this week the dancers take their toe shoes and tutus on the freeway for shows at UCLA. Next week, LAB wraps things up in Glendale. At UCLA Royce Hall, 10745 Dickson Court, Westwood; Fri., June 3, 7:30pm, Sat., June 4, 2pm. Also at the Alex Theater, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Sat., June 11, 7:30pm, $34-$131 (student, senior & military discounts available). https://www.losangelesballet.org/

Delayed, but welcomed return
One may arrive as an enfant terrible, but stick around and stick to a singular vision rooted in the music, and in time, one might be hailed as the pre-eminent living choreographer. That’s what Mark Morris has done over the decades and he brings his Mark Morris Dance Group to town show their stuff in Mozart Dances.  The choreographer affords the dancers ample opportunity to interpret the composer’s music including Mozart’s Piano Concertos Nos. 27 and 11 as well as Sonata for Two Pianos. Originally scheduled as part of the venue’s 2020-2021 season, it’s a welcome chance to catch up. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Thurs.-Sat., June 9-11, 7:30pm, Sun., June 12, 2pm, $60-$135. https://thebroadstage.org/

Hardly looks its age
The LA Phil, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and singer Gwen Stafani may be the headliners for the gala program launching this beloved venue’s centennial season, but for dance fans, the draw is La Scala Ballet heartthrob Roberto Bolle paired with the dynamic New York City principal dancer Tiler Peck. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood;  Fri., June 3, 8pm, $39-259.  https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/events/performances/1938/2022-06-03/opening-night-at-the-bowl

A take on tokenism
Sporting a new, evening-length work from guest choreographer Roderick George, LA Contemporary Dance Company opens this year’s Dance at the Odyssey Festival with the premiere of Dancing in Snow. George expanded his consideration of assimilation, cultural appropriation, and tokenism in western society from a solo he created for Jamila Glass. That solo, Tainted, was part of the 2020 Dance at the Odyssey fest. Glass returns in the expanded work along with LACDC dancers Kate Coleman, Nicole Hagen, Colleen Hendricks, JM Rodriguez, Ryan Ruiz, plus guest artists Edgar Aguirre, Sam McReynolds, and Dave x. A full list of festival offerings extending into the summer is at the website. The Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Thurs.-Sat., June 2-4 & June 9-11, 8pm, Sun., June 5 & 12, 2pm, $25, $15 students. boxoffice@odysseytheatre.com

 
AAPI Talent
This AAPI Artists Showcase presents Asian American and Pacific Islander dancemakers and visual artists. Announced dance participants include Aisha Reddick, Allie Miks, Aparna Kumar, Chelsea Roquero, Hope Spears, Jestoni “Jet” Dagdag, Joan Fricke, Kaia, Makihara, Kat Cheng, Liv Mai, Miel Lei Apostol, Miko Hornilla, Richelle Navales-Yau, and Sorah Yang. The Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave.,  El Sereno; Sat., June 4, 8pm, donations go to performers. https://www.stompinggroundla.org/events/aapi-artists-showcase

Flamenco visitors
This elegant venue hosts the return of Siudy Garrido Flamenco Company. In 2015 and 2019, the ensemble performed with the LA Phil. This visit features the ensemble’s own musicians and original compositions showcasing Garrido’s contemporary flamenco interpretations. Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. 8th St., Hancock Park; Fri., June 3, 8pm, $55-$95. https://flamencointimoint.ticketmundo.com/show/siudy-garrido—flamenco-intimo/6816/?host=

Dealer’s choice
This two week assemblage of installation and performance augmented by workshops and lectures by a dozen LA-based contemporary choreographers could be called a festival, instead curators by Jennie MaryTai Liu and Alana Frey dubbed it Exhibition: Knees, Schools, Urges. Cooperatively produced by Pieter and the host venue, the participant line-up for the opening event includes including Neha Choksi, Alison D’Amato, Milka Djordjevich, and devika wickremesinghe. Subsequent events include Jacqueline Shea Murphy, Peter Hernàndez, Jmy James Kidd, Tara Jane O’Neil, Sebastian Hernandez, taisha Paggett, Perin Hailey McNelis, Ajani Brannum. The Box Gallery, 805 Traction Ave., Little Tokyo; Fri. June 3- Sat., June 18, Gallery is open 11am to 6pm, schedule of performers at the website; free with donations encouraged. https://www.theboxla.com/exhibitions.php?show=upcoming

More dancing in the plaza
The popular summer series returns showcasing moves from the Motor City. Dance DTLA Motown  offers a free lesson followed by open dancing. Come to dance or to enjoy the music and free show. Music Center, Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., June 3, 7-11pm, free. https://www.musiccenter.org/

Moving around
Two days of free performances as the Getty Center’s traveling festival goes south for The Getty 25:  Celebrates Long Beach Festival. In addition to the music and choral performances dance participants include Pony Box Dance Theatre, Dembrebrah Drum & Dance Ensemble, JD Dance, and Modern Apsara Dance. Full schedule at the website. Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave, Long Beach, Sat.-Sun., June 4-5, 11am, free. https://www.creativeclasscollective.org/gettylongbeach

The mic is open
The promising new quarterly series MashUp Open Mic previews new contemporary choreography presented in brief excerpts. After the previews, the evening includes a Q & A with the dancemakers. Frogtown Creative Space, 2926 Gilroy St., Elysian Valley; Sat., Sat., June 4, 7pm, free w/registration https://www.eventbrite.com/e/choreography-open-mic-night-tickets-313840474307

Around the Bach
A program of new choreography and excerpts from a legend highlight the Colburn Spring Dance Festival. Ballet chair Kelly Ann Sloan and modern dance chair Tamsin Carlson each contribute premieres set to music by J.S. Bach alongside dance legend Jerome Robbins’ Goldberg Variations set to that Bach composition. The Colburn Dance program is the first time the Robbins Trust has permitted students to perform that work. Luckman Theatre, Cal State LA, 5151 State University Dr., EastLA;  Sat., June 4, 2 & 7pm, $30.  https://www.colburnschool.edu/calendar/events/spring-dance-festival-2/

When it’s sacred
Timed to coincide with the bustle of First Friday along Abbot Kinney Boulevard, this edition of High Voltage includes the sacred dance and music group Rainbow Body Matrix, along with a musician, and two comedians.  Electric Lodge, Kelman Theatre, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Fri., June 3, 8pm, $10. https://www.electriclodge.org/

 
Taken to the max
Ten performers, each with ten minutes on stage, is the recipe for the long-running Max 10. This edition of the mostly monthly showcase features an eclectic line up of Dani Lunn, Corina Kinnear, The Dive, LUCIE FURR, Matt Gaffney Experience Improv Group, Jennifer Jonassen Goldstein, Faith Jones, Brianna Leigh, Bradley Bobbs, and Katelyn Sanchez. A discussion and reception follows. Electric Lodge, Kelman Theatre, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Mon., June 7, 7:30pm, $10. https://www.electriclodge.org/

The young have it
The admirable youth program The Wooden Floor celebrates its emerging dancers at the 39th Annual Concert. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Thurs.-Fri., June 2-3, 8pm, Sat., June 4, 2:30 & 8pm,  $10-$50. https://thewoodenfloor.org/annualconcert

More than mariachi
The performances are dominated by musical groups, yet folkloric troupes also take the stage as the Heartbeat of Mexico Festival. Check the website for the schedule of free and ticketed dance and music events. Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, 415 N. Glassell, Orange; Sat., June 4, schedule at the website.  https://muscocenter.org/Online/default.asp

A Peek at Next Week

The Getty 25:  Celebrates Koreatown at Jamison Services’ Liberty Park, 3700 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown; Sat.-Sun., June 11-12, 11am to 5pm, free. https://www.kyccla.org/special-events/getty-25-community-arts-festival/

Marta Carrasco in Perra de Nadie (Nobody’s Bitch) at Latino Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., downtown; Wed.-Sat., June 15-25, 8pm, Sun., June 19 & 26, 4pm, $10-$58. https://www.latinotheaterco.org/

Diavolo Architecture in Motion and TAIKOPROJECT  at Burton Chase Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey; Sun., June 12, 11:30am & 1:30pm, free. https://visitmdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Marina-Culture-Jam-Event-Flier.png

Music Center Spotlight at the Ahmanson Theatre, Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Wed., June 15, 7pm, $5. https://www.musiccenter.org/experience-learn/experience-learn/for-high-school-students-young-adults/spotlight/

Featured Image: Featured photo New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck Photo courtesy of the artist

Ann Haskins Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com